Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-02

her lap; pallor as Of faintness shot
over the wild eyed face, only TO Ike in
stantly succeeded by flush that surged
up TO her very brows. Startled she
might have been for an instant; scared
mot bit OF I'll One instant only Of
hesitation. then she rose and swept gal
lantly forward TO meet him.
Instinctively Pcrry's hand went up to
the visor Of his forage cap and barred the
bright, curling crop OF hair. Speechless
with amaze, he could only bow before
her and wait her question; but it was n
moment before she could speak. Brave
as she was, the sudden apparition Of q
stranger staring in upon her solitude
from an open easement was shock that
served to paralyze the vocal cords. He
could sec that she was making gallant
effort TO control the tremor that had
seized upon her and to inquire the pur-
pose OF his coming. lie could see, too,
that the sight of the uniform had reas-
sured her. and that there was neither In
dignation nor displeasure In her beauti-
ful eyes, Reserve, Of course, he expected.
"Did you wish TO see any oner' was
finally tho form her question took; and
Perry had time to comment TO himself,
English. by JoveT before he answered.
ii did; but let me first ask your par
don for this intrusion. ] had no idea
there was a woman at Dunraven. My
knocking at the front brought no answer,
and hearing tho piano, followed tho
veranda. Believe me, am as surprised
as you could possibly have been"
Perrys voice was something greatly In
his favor. II was modulatcd and gentle
when In conversation, and with even a
caressing tone about it when he spoke to
women. Evidently the sound was not
unwelcome to this one. She stood erect.
her fingers interlacing as she clasped her
hands In front of her and looked him
well over with her brave eyes. The color
cbbed and flowed through the creamy
whitcness Of her face, but the roses were
winning every moment-the red roses OF
the house Of Lancaster
"And-you wished to see-whom?"
she presently asked, with courtesy in
every word
"Why, hardly know" answered
Perry, with a smile that showed his
white teeth cleaning through the curl
ing blonde mustache. "a sergeant Of
my troop has been missing since morn
ing. His horse came back to the fort
just as we were on parade at sunset,
bleeding and without his rider We
have searching parties out all over the
prairie. and was ordered to come here
to the ranch to make inquiries"
She hesitated q moment-thinking.
my father is Mt home, but fear he ID
not well enough to see you. Mr.. Even
is with him, and he might know. viii
you-would you step in one moment, and
will 80 and ask2"
THANK you very much. wish you
would not trouble yourself. presume
can go over to those stable building, or
wherever 1t is the men sleep; they would
be most apt to know IL our sergeant has
been seen."
'Oh, no! it is no trouble besides, they
are all asleep over there 10y this time,
don't you know"
But Perry had stepped inside even as
he offered to 80 elsewhere-a fact that
the girl had not been slow to notice, for
quizzic;l little shadow Of smile how
cred for an instant at the corners Of her
pretty mouth. pray sit down, she said,
Us she vanished into an adjoining room,
leaving Ned Perry standing gazing after
her, spell bound.
He listened to the swish of her trailing
skirts through the dimly lighted room
beyond, through an invisible hallway,
and then to the quick pit-a-pat of her
feet up some uncarpeted stairway. He
heard her moving quickly, lightly, along
the corridor of the upper story until the
| footballs were lost ut the rear of the
| house, then distant tap upon a door
way. and a soft voice, barely audible,
calling, Papa" He heard her speak
| again, rs though in response TO inquiry
| from within: he heard her raise her
voice, as though to repeat an answer to
previous question, and this time her
words were distinct. IAN officer from
the fort" she announced and then fol-
lowed sensation.
He heard n door quickly opened; he
heard mems voices IN low, eager, excited
! talk; he heard her sweet tones once
more, AS though in expostulation, saying
something about the sergeant, lost or
wounded. and they were merely iHquir-
| ing for him; he heard stern, harsh in
| junction of "Silence! that will dol" some
quick, hurrying footsteps, a mans spur
red boots descending some staircase at
tho back of the house, a colloquy aloft
in fainter tones, and then--closing doors
and silence.
He waited five--ten minutes, and still
no one came; but the murmur of voices
in subducd but earnest controversy was
again audible on the second floor, and
at last u door was opened and no heard
the same stern tones that had command.
ed her silence before, and this time they
said:
THAT is entirely my affair! / will
see tho gentleman myself, and let him
know my opinion of this impudent and
neutrality-suspicious. intrusion"
"Whew" whistled Mr.. Perry to him.
self at sound of these menacing words.
This Is boarding the lion in his den
with vengeance! Now trot out your
Douglas in his hall, and let's see what
it all means I've seen the girl, anyhow,
and he can't take that back. even if he
turns me out"
lie heard heavy step, accented 10y
the sharp, energetic prodding of cane
1t came slowly along the hall, slowly
ara majestically down the stairs, slowly
! into the lower front room, and presently
there loomed forth from the darkness
into the broad glare of the astrals at the
hanging portieres the figure of q tall
gray haired, spectacled, slimly built and
fragile looking Englishman, erect a,
pride and high spirit could hold
man against the ravages o.
age and rheumatism: sharp. sterr