Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-04-05


her N that could and musts
When the trumpets rang out their sun.
set call and the boom Of the evening gun
shook the windows In Fort Warrener and
Nellie Travers came running upstairs
again to her room, she started at the
sight that met her eyes. There stood
Mrs. Rayner, like Juno In wrath inflexi-
ble, glaring at her from the commanding
height Of which she was 90 proud, and
pointing in speechle@ indignation ut the
little note that lay upon the open port
folio.
For moment neither spoke. Then
Miss Travers, who had turned very
white, but whose blue eyes never flinched
and whose lips were set and whose little
foot was tapping the carpet ominously,
thus began:
"Kate, do not recognize your right
20 overhaul my desk or supervise my cor
respondence."
understand this first. Cornelia," said
Mrs. Rayner, who hated the baptismal
name as much as did her sister, and used
It only when she desired to be especially
and desperately impressive: 81 found il
by accident. never dreamed Of such
possibility as this. I never, even after
what have seen and heard, could have
believed you guilty Of this; but, now that
have found it, I have the right to ask,
what are its contents?"
II decline to tell you"
"Do you deny my right to inquirer"
II will not discuss that question now.
The other is far graver. will not tell
you, Kate, except this: there is no word
there that an engaged girl should not
write."
"Of that mean to satisfy myself, or
rather
"You will not open It, Kate. Mol
Put that letter downi You have never
known me to prevaricate in the faintest
degree, and you have no excuse for
doubling. l will furnish copy Of that
for Mr.. Van Antwerp ut any time; but
you cannot sec it."
"You still persist in your wicked and
unnatural intimacy with that man. even
after all that have told you. Now for
the last time hear Inc; Ihavc striven not
to tell you this; l have striven not to
sully your thoughts by such revelation;
but, since nothing else will check you.
tell it must, and what tell you my
husband told me in sacred confidence.
though soon enough it will be scandal
~ the whole garrison"
And when darkness settled down on
Fort Warrencr that starlit April evening
and the first warm breeze from the south
came signing about the easements, and
one by one the lights appeared along Of.
ficers' row, there was no light in Nellie
Travers' window. The little note lay in
ashes on the hearth, and she, with burn.
ing, shame stricken cheeks. with black.
scorching, gnawing pain at her heart,
was hiding her face In her pillow.
And yet it was a jolly evening after
all-that Is, for some hours and for some
people. As Mrs. Rayner and her sister
were 80 soon to go, probably by the NOR
rows train IL their section could be &C.
cured, the garrison had decided to have
an informal dance as suitable farewell.
Their announcement Of impending de-
4, parture had come SO suddenly and un
expectedly that thcrc was no time to
prepare anything elaborate, such as a
german with favors, ETC.; but good inu.
sic and an extemporized supper could be
had without trouble. Tho colonel's wife
and most Of the cavalry ladies', on con-
sultation, had decided that 1t was the
very thing to do, and the young officers
took hold with will: they were always
ready for dance.
Now that Mrs. Rayner was really 60
ing. the quarrel should be ignored, and
the ladies would all be as pleasant to her
AZ though nothing had happened, pro-
vided, Of course, she dropped her absurd
airs Of injured womanhood and behaved
with courtesy. The colonel had had a
brief talk with his better half before
starting for the train, and suggested that
it was very probable that Mrs. Rayner
had seen the folly Of her ways by that
time-the captain certainly had been
behaving as though he regretted the
estrangement-and If encouraged by q
"let's-d s-drop-the-whol thing" sort Of man
ner she would be glad to reciprocate
He felt far less anxiety herein than he
did in leaving the post to the command
Of Capt. Buxton. So scrupulously had
he been courteous to that intractabl6
veteran that Buxton had no doubt in his
own mind that the colonel looked upon
him as the model officer of the regiment
1t was singularly unfortunate that ht
should have to be left in command, but
his one or two seniors among the cap
tains were away on long leave, and there
was no help for it. The colonel, seriously
disquieted, had few words Of earnest
talk with him before leaving the post
cautioning him so particularly not tt
interfere with any of the established de
tails and customs that Buxton got very
much annoyed, and showed it.
"If your evidence were not imperative
" necessary before this court declare !
believe I'd leave you behind" said the
colonel to his adjutant. There is M
telling what mischief Capt. Buxton
won't do il left to himself"
It must have been near midnight, anG
the hop was going along beautifully, ant
Capt. Rayner, who was officer of the day
was Just escorting his wife into supper
and Nellie, although bookings trihe tiree
and pale, was chatting brightly with &
knot Of young officers, when q corpora
| Of the guard came to the door: 18th,
commanding officers compliments, ant
he desires to see the officer of the day a
once"
There was general laugh. "Isn't tha
Buxton all over! The colonel woult
never think of sending for an officer il
the dead Of night. except for a FIRE o.
alarm; but old Bux. begins putting OF
frills the moment he gets chance
Thank God, I'm not on guard tonight!
said Mr.. Royce.
| "What can he want with your asket
Mrs. Rayner, pcttishly. 1.-The idea o.
one captain ordering another around Iik,