Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-25


street, only three squares from her home
He was so full of hope and faith and love
and gratitude that the whole garrison
seemed to hold naught but cheer and
friendlineSs. He never dreamed of the
stories the men were telling or the conf
dences women were whispering about
the post. Noel had written again to
Mrs. Riggs, and Mrs. Riggs had not
spared her information. 1t was now said
in Queen City society that the engage
ment was Of Mr.. Vincent's making. He
had been associated with Lane in some
speculations that proved disastrous, but
the captain had shown such command of
money and had put up" at such an OPP
Fortune moment that they came out In
good shape after all, and as soon as the
old man found that Lane loved his
daughter he insisted on her accepting
him. The information about Lanes
coming to the rescue with money he had
heard from Mr.. Vincent himself-as in
deed he had. One evening when they
were for the moment alone, in burst of
confidence to the man whom he believed
to be a devoted friend of his prospective
sSn-in-law, Vincent had told the silent
officer the story of that perilous crisis
and Of Lanes prompt and generous loan
but not as Noel told it to Mrs. Riggs.
'Do not distress yourself, my darling
one" wrote Lane to his fancee, because
your letters are a little less frequent Just
now. know how occupied you must
be with preparation and how anxious
you are about the dear old father. Next
week you will be in the mountains; and
then, as you say, people will give you
time to write, and then, too, shall be
happy in your regaining health and
spirits. The papers tell me how intense
has been the heat; it almost equals ours
here in one way, and is much worse in
being moist and muggy. There is a
prospect of my going on two weeks
scout with my whole troop early in the
month; but your letters will reach me
safely"
Why was it that she should experience
feeling almost of relief in reading that
he was going to be absent from the gar
risOn awhile-going out on two weeks
scout?
She had sent him, as she promised,
lovely cabinet photograph of herself that
had been taken expressly for him. 1t
came to the old frontier fort just as the
men were marching up from evening sta
bles, and the messenger, distributing the
mail about the post, handed the packet to
the captain as he stood with little knot
of comrades on the walk. There was i'll
slant demand that he should open it and
show the picture to them, but, blushing
like girl, he broke away and hid him
self In his room; and then, when sure OF
being uninterrupted, he took it to the
window and Toasted his eyes upon the
exquisite face and form there portrayed
lie kept it from that time In silken
case, which he locked in bureau drawer
whenever he left the house, but in the
evening or when writing at his desk he
brought it forth to light again and set it
where every moment he could look upon
and almost worship it.
And then came her letters announcing
their safe arrival at Deer Park:
''Our journey WIS most trying, for the
heat was intolerable until we got well
up among the mountains. Papa came;
but know he is simply fretting his
heart out with anxiety to get back to the
Office. Mr.. Clark only returned from
his vacation the day we started. Cor
don Noel came down to the train to see
Us off, and brought mother basket of
such luscious fruit. He says that he
has no home to go to now that we are
gone. Indeed, he has been very thought
full and kind, and l don't think he is
quite happy despite his efforts to be
always gay and cheerful.
''Do you really mean that you will be
gone fortnight? How 1 shall miss
your dear letters, Fred. And now in
deed l will try to write regularly.
There's no one here 1 care anything
about, though the hotel seems very full.
and there is much dancing and gayetv.
You say that my letters will reach you,
but wonder how"
Lane read this with a sigh Of relief.
He had persuaded himself that it was be-
cause he dreaded the effect of the long
continued hot weather upon her that he
SO desired her to get to the mountains.
Any other thought would have been dis
loyalty to his queen. he wished-justa
little bit-that she had not written of
him as Gordon Noel; he much preferred
that she should call him captain. She
would not write so fully and frankly of
him II he were anything but friendly, he
argued, and she would not tolerate his
visits on any other grounds Yet she
did not tell him that they had walked up
and down the platform together for ten
vr,fr,v1foa hofp,a &ha
that when it was time to part he had
bent down and said, almost in a whis-
per:
''Do you want to send message for
me to Fred Lane in your next letter."
81 viii do so, If you wish, +" she muir
INJURED; but her eyes fell before the gaze
in his, and the hot blood rushed to her
face.
Tell him there's no man in all the
regiment so long TO see, and no man in !
all the world so envy"
Probably conscience smote her, for |
during the week that followed five let |
tiers came-fve letters in seven daysl |
His heart went wild with delight over
their tenderness. The last was written |
Saturday, and then none came for three /
days; and when the fourth day came /
and brought the longed for missive it I
was disappointment, somehow.
Papa left Us to go back to the Office /
last night" she wrote. He could stand
1t no longer. fear it did him little /
good here. The Witherses came on
Saturday, and that strange girl, Miss !;
Marshall, is with them. She always i'm
presses me with the idea that she is