Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-26

day had been delightful and his failure
to accompany her had been of no conse-
quence at all. The utterly unexpected
way in which he took it was simply a
"stunner" to the little lady.
So far from being piqued and jealous
and huffy, as she expected, Mr.. Perry
justified the oft expressed opinion of her
sisterhood to the effect that "men were
simply past all comprehension" by
frightening up instantly and expressing
such relief at her information that for a
moment she was too dazed to speak. By
that time he had pleasantly said good
night and vanished; nor had he been
near her since, except to bow and look
pleased when she walked by with Dana.
She never thought of him as an actor
before, but this, said Mrs. Belknap to
herself, looks ike consummate acting
Had she known of or even suspected the
existence of n woman who had interpesed
and cast her into the shade the explana-
ton would have occurred to her at once;
but that there was goddess in the shape
of Gladys Maitland within a days ride
of Rossiter she never dreamed for an in
slant. Believing that no other woman
could have unseated her, Mrs. Belknap
simply could not account for such utter,
such unutterable, complacency on the
part of her lately favored admirer in his
virtual dismissal. All Sunday and Mon
day she looked for signs of sulking or
surrender, but looked in vain.
Perry seemed unusually grave and
silent, was Parke's report of the situa-
ton; but whatever comfort she might
have derived from that knowledge was ut
terly destroyed by the way he frightened
up and looked pleased whenever they
CHANGED to meet. Monday evening he
stopped to speak with her on the walk,
holding out his hand and fairly beaming
uponhe she icily received these demon
STATIONS, but failed to chill them or him.
Then she essayed to make him suffer the
pangs of the Tilted by clinging to Dana's
arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and
then she suddenly started: "Oh, Mr..
Danal How could have been so thought
less-and this is your wounded sider'
Dana protested that her slight weight
was soothing balm, not additional pain,
and Perry promptly asseverated that if
he were Dana he would beg her not to
quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn
at him as she said, Chow can you know
anything about it, Mr.. Perry? You've
never been in action or got a scratch.
while Mr.. Dana"-and now the dark
eyes spoke volumes as they looked up
80 =,
one of the heroes of the fighting days of
the regiment" Even that failed to crush
him. while it had the effect of making
Dana feel mawkish and absurd. Perry
frankly responded that he only won-
tlcred the women ever could find time to
show any civility whatever to fellows
like him, when there were SO many who
had records" She was completely at a
loss &c fathom him, and when tattoo
came On Monday night. and they were
all discussing the project of run with
the hounds for the coming mOrrow-a
May day celebration on new principles
Mrs. Brlknap resolved upon d change of
tactics
Dana was officer Of the quart and o:er
at the guard house, but nearly all the
other officers were chatting about the
veranda and the gate of the coloners
quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap
escorted his pretty wife, and she was,
as usual, the center of an interested
group. Perry came strolling along after
reporting the result of tattoo roll call 10
the adjutant, and Capt. Stryker called
to him and asked some question about
the men on stable guard. The orders Of
the colonel with regard to watching the
movements Of the men after the night
roll call were being closely observed, and
when the trumpets sounded "taps," few
moments later, several of the troop COM
manders walked away together, and this
left a smaller party. 1t was just at this
juncture that Mrs. Belknap's sweet voice
was heard addressing the commanding
officer:
"Oh, COLONEL Ever since Thursday !
have been telling Capt. Belknap about
those lovely albums of yours; and he is
so anxious to see them. Could he have
a look at them tonight"
"Why, certainly" exclaimed the colo
mel, all heartiness and pleasure. "Come
-ight in, Belknap, come many of you
all of you-where it's good and light"
And he Hospitality held open the screen
door. Perry had seen the albums dozen
times, but he was for going in with the
others, when he felt little hand press
ure on his arm, and Mrs. Belknap's
great dark eyes were gazing up into his
with mournful, incredulous appeal.
Don't you know I want to see your"
she murmured so that only he could |
hear. "WaitV"
And, much bewildered, Mr.. Perry +!
waited.
She stood where she could look |
through the screen door in the parlor be-
yond, watching furtively until the party |
were grouped under the hanging lamps |
and absorbed in looking over one an
others shoulders at the famous albums;
then, reckoning to him to follow, she
fitted, like some eerie sprite, on tiptoe
to the southern end Of the veranda,
where clustering vines hid her from
view from the walk along the parade. |
Perry began to feel queer, as he after
wards expressed it, but he stalked along
after her, declining to modulate the
thunder of his heavy heels upon the re-
sounding gallery. She put her finger to
her lips, and, after nervous glance
around, looked at him warningly, be-
seemingly.
"What on earth's the matter" was all
the perplexed and callow youth could
find to say, and in tone so utterly de-
void of romance, sentiment, tenderness
anything she wanted to hear-that in