Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-04-05

| lcjil III all. we nuNt hllONIl MN utdllD
five years and he has ever been in our eyes
| the soul of honor and truth.
''The soul of honor and truth, sir, would
not be writing love letters and destroying the
peace of mind of n young and innocent girl
| when all he has to offer her is n milestone
of debt and furnished name" And with
this parting shot the doctor majestically
turned away.
$50, that's where the shoe pinches?'
thought NJ iller as he entered his quarters,
where presently he was joined by his excited
WIFE,
HE isn't half as Frustrated as you thought
he'd be-, she instantly exclaimed as she en-
tered the room. "Of course 1t wouldn t he
Mac if he were not greatly distressed, but [
have promised him that not word shall
leak out until Captain Forrest gets here and
that then he is to see him himself Isn't it
dreadful about Mr.. Hatton Can nothing
be done ~
~ am to see Bayard again, by and by.
This affair has completely unstrung him, for
he evidently is deeply smitten; never dream
ed it had gone so far. Now that letter must
be written to the general and | am going to
the office. You must not know thing about
it, or about this affair OF course you will be
beseged with questions And so the major
sailed forth.
Darkness was settling down. The sunset
gun had fired just as they left Mclean's. BY
this time the doctor should be entertaining
his guest at dinner and Miller wondered how
even "Chesterfied' would rally to the occa-
sion to preserve his suavity and courtliness
after the shock of the last hour. But Miller
had no idea that it was the last of three
shocks that had assaulted him in quick sue
cnssion and with increasing severity that
very day and never dreamed of the gulf of
distress in which poor Bayard was plunged.
He had gone at once to his library and
thrown himself in the easy chair in an atti-
tude of profound detection, barely paying
attention when Chloe entered to say that
Miss Nellie begged to be excused from COM
ing down to dinner as she felt too i'll. Then
Robert entered to ask should he serve dinner
or wait until Mr.. Holmes came in. 'Wait!'
said Bayard bluntly. But five minutes pas
sed: the dinner would be over done, so Rob
ert slipped out in search of the truant and
Miller saw him going over to Bedlam. But
the upper gallery was empty; Mr.. Holmes
and Miss Forrest had disappeared; the adju
tant came striding up from the guard house
and together the two officers turned
away.
"Orderly,n said the major to the attend
ant soldier following at his heels, find Ser
geant Freeman who is in charge of the cav
airy detachment and tell him | want him at
once. Then go and get your supper"
Meantime, realizing that the dinner hour
was at hand and knowing the punctilious
ideas of his host, Mr.. Holmes had somewhat
abruptly hidden adieu to the young lady
with whom he had been i'll such interesting
conversation. Il must see you again to-
= night about Hatton, if possible, and just as
, soon as ! have found out what this means.
al ~, tln,- al =
room the mischief is probably done, but I'll
see him at once unless it be forbidden" He
was turning away without more words when
something in her deep, dark eyes seemed to
, detain him. He held forth his hand.
"Miss Forrest, | cannot tell you how [
appreciate the honor you have done me in
, this confidence. 1t may be the means of my
making more than one man happy. One
word, where is Celestine now?''
| ''She should be in the dining room setting
, the table for tea. Good bye, then, till tattoo.
See him if you can.
| ''Indeed | will, he answered, and bow
ing over the slender, richly jeweled hand
she so frankly placed in his, he slowly re-
leased it and turned away.
In the dining room, is she ~ muttered
Holmes to himself as he ran lightly through
, the hall and down the stairs IF that was
{ ing in from the direction of the woodpiles
; out yonder I'm vastly mistaken, and she
| was talking with a soldier there: | saw the
CLINT of the sunset on the brasses of his for
age cap. | thought they ali had to be at
retreat roll call, but this fellow missed
- it,.
e Turning at the foot of the stairs he STROBE
to the rear door and looked out through the
, side light upon the picturesqueness of the
, yards: the coal and wood sheds; the rough,
e implanted board fences: the dismantled gate
, propped in most inebriate style aga inst it,
bark covered post and clingng thereto witt
but a single hinge. At this half closed aper-
, ture suddenly appeared the mulatto girl,
stopped, turned, gave quick glance at the
various back windows of Bedlam, waved
/ her hand to a dim, soldierly form just dis
cernible in the twilight, strding towards tho
r northern end of the garrison then she came
e scurrying to the door and burst in pant
q ing.
5 "Ah, Celestine! That you9n asked Holmes
r. pleasantly. Il thought to find you in the
, dining room and stopped to ask for a glass
of water"
AT sight of him the girl had almost re
! coled startled, but his CHEEKY voice reassur-
4 ed her.
/, Laws, Mr.. Holmes! l done thought twas
5 a ghost, - she laughed, but turned quickly
/ from him as she spoke and hurried into the
| dining room, filling goblet with a tremb-
/ ling hand. He drank the water lesurely,
thanked her and stroled with his accustom-
/ ed deliberation through the hall and out
+ across the piazza never appearing to notice
n her breathlessncss or agitation. Once outside
5 the steps however, his deliberation was cast
T. aside and with rapid nervous strides he has
n tened up the walk-out past the old ord
f nance storehouse and the lighted windows of
+? the traders establishment, turned sharply tC
2 the west and sure enough, coming towarC
4 him was brisk dapper, sim-built little
+ soldier in his snugly fitting, undress uniform.
r Holmes stopped short whipped out his cigal
G case and wind matches, thrust Partaga be
- tween his teeth, struck light and as the sol
a der passed him and the broad glare from the
north window fell full upon the dapper SHAPE
4 and we'll carried head. there was the natty
: forage cap, with the cleaning cross sabres
= there was the dark face, there the heavy
| brouS tha ,rittprinO black pVoS thp mons