Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-08-28

leave to run up from the barracks he
made my quarters his home. Ii you
ever write to him just ask him If he
knows Gorden NoelT
do you know, Capt. Lane, that ]
have found your comrade captain a very
interesting manr' observed Miss Mar
shall; and her eyes turned upon her next
door peighbor In calm but keen scrutiny.
''Noel Is very entertaining" was the
reply; and the dark gray eyes looked I'M
HazohingIy into the challenge OF the
dark brown.
Eyes, have listened to his tales OF
the frontier at breakfast, dinner and
during the evening hours, since Sunday
last. They are full Of vivacity and va
riety."
Zone sees good deal Of strange coun-
try and many strange people in the
| course of ten or dozen years service in
the cavalry"
"And must needs have good MEM
CRY to be able 10 tell Of it all-especially
when one recounts the same incident
more than once" And Miss Marshalrs
lips were twttching at the corners In =
manner suggestive Of mischief and mer-
riment combined.
Lane paused for reply" Here was
evidently a most observant young wo-
| man.
"There! I did not mean to tax your
loyalty to aregimental comrade, captain;
SO you need not answer. Capt. Noel in
terests and entertains me principally. be-
cause of his intense individuality and
his entire conviction that he carries his
listeners with him. Age cannot wither
| nor custom stale his infinite variety but
there should not be quite so much va
riety in his descriptions Of a single event.
This is the fourth time have heard him
. tell of the night ride from Garlic ranch
to Canyon Disblo."
"You have the advantage of me, Miss
Marshall" answered Lane, his eyes
twinkling with appreciation of her de-
mure but dron exposure of Noels weak
point. ut is the first time ever heard
his version Of it."
at is the last time he will mention it
in your presence, if he saw the express
sion in your face, Capt. Lane"
do those interpretive eyes of yours
look clear through and see out of the
back of your head, Miss Marshall? Your
face was turned towards him. You stop
ped short in telling me of your cousin in
the artillery and your visit to the bar
racks, and babe me listen to something
l did not care half aemuch to hear as
your own impressions of garrison life.
Never mind the quadruplex account of
the night ride. Tell me what you
thought of the army"
"Well, of course, the first thing a girl
wants to know is what the shoulder
straps mean; and l learned the very
first day that the blank strap meant a
second lieutenant, single silver bar u
first lieutenant and two bars captain
that is, in the artillery. Now, why this
provoking distinction in the cavalry?
Here's a captain with only one bar, a
captain whose letters from the war de-
partment come addressed to Lieut.. Cor
don NOEL"
"Noel never speaks of himself US cap
tan, I'm sure" said Lane.
Neither do you; and for a year past,
ever since have known you by sight
and here a quick blush mounted to her
temples-"you occasionally came to our
church, you know" she fastened to ex-
plain-"you have been referred to as
Lieut.. Lane or Mr.. Lane; but we know
you are captain now, for we saw the
promotion recorded in the Washington
dispatches fortnight ago. What was
the date of Capt Noel's elevation to that
grade? confess l took him for your
junior in the service and in years too"
Eyes, Noel holds well to his youth"
answered Lane, smilingly.
"And about the captaincyY
well, he is so very near it, and it is
so apt to come any day, that perhaps he
thinks 1t just as well to let people get
accustomed to calling him that. Then
he won't have to break them all in when
the commission does come"
"Then he is your junior, of course"
''On1y by file or so. He entered
the service very soon after me-"
"But was not in your class at West
Point?"
mo; he was not in my class"
'In the next one, then, 1 presumed"
miss Marshall, is your first name
Portia? l should hate to be q witness
whom you had the privilege of cross ex-
amining. There are ladies learned in
the law and expect to read of you as
called to the bar within year or two"
Never mind, Capt. Lane. will ask
you nothing more about him."
mo, Miss Marshall, I presume that
my clumsiness has rendered it totally
unnecessary"
That night, as the guests were dis
persing, Lane did what most of them
entirely omitted; he went over to the
piano and babe Miss Marshall good
night.
"Capt. Lane" she said, 81 beg your
pardon if have been too inquisitive and
too critical, as l know have been; but
you have taught me that you know how
to guard comrades failings from the
world. viii you not forgive woman's
weakness?"
There is nothing to forgive, Miss
Marshall. Ihope sincerely that we may
meet again before I go back to the regi-
ment."
And later, as Lane was walking home
ward from a final peep at the dim light
In a certain window, he had time to
think how intolerable that dinner would
have seemed had it not been for the ao-
cident which placed that dark eyed
governess by his side.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
~ ~ Wa1