Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-18

while ago, when Maj. Brace picked me
out to go ahead by night from Carrizo's
asked for detachment from D troop,
and the men seemed to appreciate it.
knew they would follow wherever l
would lead, and would stand by me
through thick and thin. If Lane starts
In right I've no doubt they will do just
as well for him; but expect he is feel
ing mighty blue at having to rejoin just
now. You know I've always been
warm friend of his, and it hurt me to
see him so unwilling to go back. No one
seemed to know him very well in society,
and it's very queer, for this was his old
homeland l was never more delight
fully welcomed anywhere; the people
are charming. But Lane had held him
self aloof good deal, and fellows at the
cl2b say he didn't run with the right
set Then, if all accounts be true, he
had had hard luck in several ways. I'm
told that he lost money in a big wheat
speculation, and everybody says he
totally lost his heart. tell you this in
confidence because know you are de-
voted friend Of his-as indeed you are Of
all in the dear old regiment-but he was
much embarrassed when it came to turn
ing over the funds. There was quite
a heavy shortage, which he had to make
up at time when it was probably most
inconvenient. As to the other loss, it
isn't to be wondered at. She is beau
t1ful and most charming girl, and many
a man, fancy, has laid his heart at her
feet. 1t is said, however, that Lanes
loss is the heavier in this case because
well, fear it will come to nothing A
young lady told me yesterday that there
was something back of it all-that she,
Miss Vincent, was deeply in love with
Mr.. ROssiter, of New York, and had
been for over a year, and they were to
have been married this coming Septem-
Der, but that the gentleman O. learned
that her father had been nearly swamped
In speculation and had not penny to
give her. My informant went to school
with Miss Vincent and knows her init
mately, and she says that Mr.. ROssiter
simply threw her over short time ago,
and that it was through pique and exas-
peration and to hide her heartbreak from
the world that Mabel Vincent began to
show such pleasure in Lanes devotions.
She led him on, so her lady friends say:
and now Mr.. Rossiter has found out that
old Vincent was sharper and shrewder
than any one supposed, and made instead
of losing pile, and now he is suing to be
taken back, and they say that she is so
much in love with the fellow that the
chances are all in his favor. This is why
l feel such sorrow and anxiety for Lane.
"Well, led the german at lovely
party at the Prendergasts' last night
Miss Vincent was there, looking like a
peach blossom, and we danced together
a great deal. When it came time to
break up believe half the people in the
rooms came to say good night to me and
to tell me they had never seen so delight
full q geTman-'everything so depends on
the leader have invitations for some
thing or other for every night for the
next fortnight; and yet l so often long
for the old regiment and the true friends
had to leave 1t did me a world OF
good last night to meet old Col. Gray, of
the retired hist, whose home is here, but
he commanded the -th infantry in the
Sioux campaign, ard whan he saw Inc
he threw his arms around my neck and
Rugged me before the whole throng of
people. Give my love to our chief. al
ways, and believe me, dear, true friend
Of mine. Yours, most affectionately,
GORDON NOEL"
Condensed, edited by feminine hands,
and accented here and there as suited
the writer's mood, this was the letter
which formed the basis of the one re-
ceived by Mrs. Nash. Lane by this time
was cozily ensconcs,d in his quarters, and
was giving all his time to the improve
ment of affairs about his troops bar
racks, kitchens and stables, to drill and
target practice, and to company duties
generally. His days knew no relaxation
from labor, from reveille until retreat
at sunset, and then came the delicious
evenings in which be could write to her,
and read chapters or two of some ia
vorite work before going early to bed.
- After the first week he seldom left his
house after s o'clock, and the garrison
had therefore ample opportunity to dis
cuss his affairs Some color was lent TO
the story of his having lost money in
speculation by letter received from
Cheyenne, written to the new major of
the til infantry, who had recently
Joined by promotion from Fort Russell.
near that thriving town. The writer
said that Lane of the Eleventh cavalry
had sold his property there for fifteen
thousand dollars about the end of June.
and he had bought it for TWENTY-FIVE
hundred only nine years before. He
could have got eighteen thousand Just as
well by waiting few days, but he
wanted the money at once.
No one, of course, could ask the can
tain any direct questions about his affairs
of either heart or pocket, but Lane was
puzzled to account for some of the re-
marks that were made to him-the inter
rogatories about the methods of specula-
ton, the tentatives as to chances Of
making good thing" in that way, and
the sharp and scrutinizing glances that
accompanied the queries. The sweet.
sympathetic, semi-confidential manner.
the inviting way in which the ladies
spoke to him of his present loneliness
and their hopes that soon he would bring
to them charming wife to share their
exile and bless his army home-an this,
too, seemed odd to him; but, as he had
never been in love nor engaged before,
he did not know but that it was ''always
the way with them" and so let it pass.
And then he was very happy In her
letters. They were neither as frequent
nor as long as his, but then she had such
a round of social duties; she was in such
constant demand; there were visitors or
parties every night, and endless calls