Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-20


M9T ~ science because of his
8SgihSse self denial of the morn
ing, Ned Perry scanned the distant prairie
in search Of the hunt. II was nearly lun-
cheon time. and he expected to find the
party making its way to the little stream
whittier the baskets, boxes and hampers
had been dispatched by wagon some
hours before; but when he sighted the
quartermaster driving homeward in his
buggy he learned from that bulky vet
eran that rabbit after rabbit had been
run, and that the whole party had finally
decided to give dogs and horses a cool
drink down in the Monee valley before
starting northward across the prairie.
They must be getting down into the
valley two or three miles east of the
ranch Just about now, and will go due
north from there, unless they stir up
more game along the Monee. If were
you," said the quartermaster, I'D ride
over to the lunch stand. You won't get
there much before the crowd"
Perry thanked him for the information.
but, so far from accepting his advice,
the young officer turned his horses head
in the direction of Dunraven, and was
speedily riding thither with an alacrity
that he himself could hardly explain.
In his brief talk with the colonel after
parade on the previous evening Perry
had told him what he could of the char
acteristics of Messrs. Maitland and Even
The odd letter which had been sent by
them had given the commanding officer
cause for much thought, and he was de-
sirous, evidently, of gathering from
Perry's observations as complete an idea
As was possible of their life and surround
ings. And still Perry had found it i'm
possible to volunteer any description of
Misc Maitland; he could not bear to speak
Of her until-until he knew more of the
doctors purpose in his visits to the ranch.
He had been detained by his commander
Just long enough 10 make it ne essary
for him to 20 direct to the Spragues'
without leaving his helmet and saber at
home. They were waiting dinner for
him as It was. but Mrs. Belknap took no
note of that circumstance; what she saw
was that he had avoided even passing
within hail of her piazza both before and
after parade.
Now, though conscious of no intention
Of avoidance, Perry rode forth TO the
meeting of this day with some little mis-
giving. In the first place, he knew that
he must strive 10 make his peace with
this slighted lady; and yet, in view of
all he had seen and heard in the past
forty-eight hours, how utterly dwarfed
had that affair-his laughing Irritation
with Mrs. Belknap-become! Had any
Que told him his attentions to her and
her marked preference for his society
were matters that people were beginning
TO talk of-soms with sly enjoyment,
others with genuine regret-he would
have been grateful for the information,
instead of resentful, as, with most men,
woald he the case ninety mine times out
of hundred. But he knew nothing of
this, and had too little experience to sus-
pect the comments in circulation. She
was most interesting-up to the day be-
fore yesterday; he loved to ride or dance
with her; he enjoyed a chat with her
more than he could tell. A most sym
pathetic and attentive listener was Mrs.
Belknap, and her voice was low and
sweet and full OF subtly caressing tones.
She had made him talk to her by the
hour OF his home, his hopes and ambi-
tons, his profession and his prospects,
and bad held him in a silken bondage
that he had no desire to escape
And yet. as he rode out on the breezy
plain this brilliant day, he found all
thought OF her distasteful, and his eyes,
far from searching for the flutter of her
trim habit in the distant riding party,
would 60 a-roaming over the intervening
shades and shadows down In the Monee
valley and seek the bare, brown walls of
Dunraven far across the stream. 1t was
odd indeed that he should have sought
this, the longest way round, on his ride
In quest OF his companions from the
fort.
Once again he looked at the isolated
clump of buildings from his post Of OBJ
servation on the bluff; once again he
saw across the stream and through the
trees the barbed barrier that had caused
both him and his men such laceration OF
flesh and temper; once again he saw the
shallow valley winding away to the
fringe work of cottonwood and willow;
but this time. three miles away, its ac-
customed solitude was broken by groups
of riders and darling black specks of
dogs, all moving northward once more
and already breasting the slopes. He
should have turned away eastward and
ridden across country to join them, but
down here in the valley, only short
distance away, absorbed in watching
the hunting party, sat Mr.. Even on q
paving and excited bay. Whatever
GOODNESS his rider might feel at this dis
covery, it was not shared by Nolan; he
pricked up his ears and hailed his fell
low quadruped with cordial and unaf-
fected pleasure, neigh that the English
bred horse was so utterly uninsular as to
whirl about and answer with CORE
spending warmth. Even caught at his
heavy Derby and jerked it off his bullet
head with an air of mingled embarrass-
ment and civility, replacing 1t with
similarly spasmodic haste. Perry coolly,
but with a certain easy grace, raised his
forage cap in response to the salutation,
and then, seeing the manager still look
ing at him as though he wanted to say
something and did not know how to be-
gin, gave Nolan his head and rode down
to short hailing distance.
1--WE meet on neutral ground out here,
Mr.. Even. i suppose your exclusive
employer over yonder can hardly pro-
hibit your answering civil inquiries after
his healthT' And, though he meant to
be-distant, Perry found himself smiling
at the oddity of the situation.
do you know, was just thinking
about YOU" answered Even, land won
dering whether you were with that party
down yondee? The old gentleman is
better, thanks. He had two pretty bad
nights, but is coming around slowly"
"And Miss Maitland-how is she9'
Rather seedy. She has had u good
deal of care and vexation of late, ] fancy,
and this is no place for q young girl.
anvhoxxr