Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-12

distant service 10 this strange Texan sta
ton. The new Corners had been hospita-
bly, welcomed by the officers of the little
garrison OF infantry, and now, in recog-
milton of their many courtesies, the field
officer commanding the arriving troops
had been entertaining the resident Off
GERS and ladies at dinner. The colonel
was host in himself, but preferred not
10 draw too heavily on his reserves Of
anecdote and small talk, so he had called
in two Of his subalterns to assist in the
pleasant duty Of being attentive to the
infantry ladies, and just now, at IL 45 p.
m, he was wondering if Lieut.. Perry
had not too literally construed his in
structions, for that young gentleman
was devoting himself to Mrs. Belknap in
a manner so marked as TO make the cap
tain, her lawful lord and master, mani
festly uneasy.
Mrs. Belknap. however, seemed to en-
joy the situation immensely. She was
a pretty woman at most times, as even
her rivals admitted She was a beauti-
full woman at oil times, was the verdict
OF tho officers of the regiment when they
happened to speak Of the matter among
themselves. She was dark, with lus-
trous eyes and sweeping lashes, with
coral lips and much luxuriance of tress,
and a way OF glancing sideways from
-rndrf-hfr heavily fringed eyelids that
the youngef>snd more impressionable
men found quite irresistible when ac-
corded the rare luxury Of a tete-a-tete.
Belknap was a big and boisterous man;
Mrs. Belknap was small in stature, and
soft-very soft--of voice. Belknap was
either brusquely repelleut or oppressively
cordial in manner; Mrs. Belknap was
either gently and exasperatingly indif-
ferent 10 those whom she did not care to
attract, or caressingly sweet to those
whose attentions she desired.
In their own regiment the young Off
GERS soon found that unless they wished
20 be involved in an unpleasantness with
Belknap II was best to be only very mod
erately devoted to his pretty wife, and
those 10 whom an unpleasantness with
tho big captain might have had no ter
rors 81 consequence were deferred by
tho fact that Mrs. Belkuaps devotee
among the '.youngsters" had invariably
->.c5ome an'object of GOODNESS and aver
sion 10 the other DANES and damsels Of
the garrison. Very short lived, there
fore, had been the little ilirtations that
sprang up from time 90 time in those
frontier posts wherein Capt. and Mrs.
Belknap were among the chief orna-
ments Of society; but now matters
seemed 20 be taking other shape. From
the very day that handsome Ned Perry
dismounted in front OF BeIknap's quar-
ters and with his soldiery salute reported
% the then commanding officer that Col
Brainard and his battalion Of cavalry
would arrive in the course Of two or
three hours, Mrs. Belknap had evinced a
contentment IN his society and assumed
an air Of quasi-proprietorship that served
60 annoy her garrison sisters more than
a little. For the time being all the cav
alrymen were bachelors, either by &C
tual rank or by brevet, as nsc.sss,sy =
ladies' Of the til accoGSss o"e ., u 'ue
ialion on its march,cnPanieu the pat
oected until tand none were ex-
N$a stations s. Of t the FS Ssni,e.
y settled The post surgeon, too, was
living n life Of single blessedness "a the
'arly spring wore on, for his good wife
aad betalsen herself, with the children,
10 tho distant east as soon rs the disap-
psarance OF the winters SHOWS rendered
staging over the hard prairie roads a
matter OF no great danger OF discomfort.
lt was the doctor himself who, seated
In an easy chair at the end of the We
raBda, first called the coloners attention
% Perry's devotional attitude at Mrs.
Belknap's side. She was reclining in a
hammock, one little, slippered foot occa-
sionally touching the floor and impart-
ing gentle, swinging motion TO the
affair, and making n soothing swish
swish Of skirts along the mating under
meath. Her jeweled hands looked very
'slepA<,.end fragile and white as they
M 81 in tho soft light that shone
RourtIno open windows OF the parlor.
!. kres were busted In strengthening out
~ links In the gold cord of his forage
and Ia rearranging n little silken
= ~ 10Rd lGsscl that was fastened in a
<|l<us< <nal1 mr. syshion to one of the
6aitons AZ he hide; y, seated in a camp
rho|< vos vending Forward so that his
.hands1mc. shapely head was only a
|rIG> higher than hers, and the two
~ ~ dark and rich In coloring, his
AR and massive and strong-came
4<he< 900 Close together for the equa-
nimity of Capf. Belknap, who had es-
nyed 70 s1|se1s hand at whist In the par
On " two Of the ladies', also. were
|cnt pfgervers Of the scene-silent as 10
~ e-tbo because, being In conversation
~ DC time with brother officers of Lieut..
Fcrry, they were uncertain as vet how
comments ON his growing Irritation might
/ b. ryceived. That their eyes should oc-
~asionally wander towards the hammock
~ then glance with SYMPATHETIC sig
Bogrnce mt those Of some fan ally and
tern hate was natural enough. But when
mescame presently apparent that Mrs.
n KNAPP was actually christening the
Tie silken braid that had hung ON Ned
-errys cap ever since this day OF his mr.
fival-all the while, too. looking shyly
up IN his eyes M her fingers worked;
when Il was seen that she presently de-
tachod u from the button and then, half
hesitatingly. but evidently an compliance
with his wishes, handed It to him; when
no was seen 10 toss Il carelossiy--even
,ontomptnously-away and then bend
oown lower, as though gazing into her
shaded eyes. Mrs. Lawrence could stand
Il no longer. '''N
"hr. Graham" said she. isn't vour
friend, MIR. Perry, something Of fiirty'
"Nho7-Nedr asked Mr.. Graham. in
vel feigned amaze and with sudden
.la,,.r e toxhrds the object Of his inquiry.
dow On earth should ! know anything
about Il? or course you do not seek ex-
pcrt testimony IN asking me. He tries, l
suppose. 10 adapt himself 10 circum-
,,snccs. But why do you askr'
,-ause see that he has been induc-
.Isellnap to take OH that little
button OF his cap. He has
zen Of duty ever SINCE he
cn suppord It was something
1know she did,
50