Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-04-27


step coming quickly up the path, and
faced the intruder rather unSteadily. 1t
was only the corporal of the guard. and he
glanced at his superior, brought his fur
gaunleted hand in salute To the rifle on
his shoulder and passed on.
The next moment Buxton fairly gasp
ed with amaze: he stared an instant at
the window as though traaSfXed, then
ran after the corporal, called 10 him in
low, stealthy tone ocOme back noisleSS-
ly. drew him by the sleeve to the front of
Haynes quarters, and pointed to the
parlor window. Two shadows were
there now-One easily recognized as
that of the young officer in his Snugly
fitting UndreSS uniform, the other slen-
der, graceful. feminine.
What do you make that other shadow
to be. corporate" he whispered, hoarSely
and hurriedly Look And with that
exclamation a Swallowed arm seemed TO
encircle the slender form, the mustach-
ed image TO bend low and mingle with
the outlined luXuriance OF treSS that
decked the others head, and then,
together. with claSping arms, the
shadows moved from view.
What was the other corpOral?' he
repeated.
well, sir, I should say it was a
young woman.
! Buxton could hardly wait until morn
/ ing 10 see Rayuer. When he passed the
+ latter'S quarters half an hour later all
was darkness, though, had he but
| known il, Rayner was not asleep. He
was at the house before guard mounting
and had confidential and evidently eX-
citing talk with the captain; and when
| ne went. just as the trumpetS were
sounding. these words We're heard at
/ the front door:
she never left until after daylight,
when the same rig drove her back TO
/ town. There was a stranger with her
then"
That morning both Rayner and BuN-
ton looked hard at Mr.. Hayne when he
came into the matinee; but he was just
as calm aud quite as ever. and having
Saluted the commanding officer he took
seat by Capt Gregg and was soon oc-
cupied i'm conversation with him. Not a
word was said by the officer of the day
about the mysterious visitor TO the gar
riSOn the previous night With Capt.
/ Ravner. however. he was again in con-
versation most of the day, and to him,
mot TO his successor aS officer of the day,
/ did ne communicate all the details OF
/ the previous nights adventure and his
/ theories Increment.
Late that night. having occasion to
step To his front door. convinced that he
D q Ii.
/ Mr.. Havne could see nobody in the dark
ness. but found his front gate open. lie
walked around his little house, but not
la man was visible. His heart was full
of new and strange excitement that
might. and. as before. ne threw on his
overcoat and furS and tooka rapid walk
around the garrison. gazing up into the
starry heavens and drinking in great
draugh.S of pure bracing air. Re
turning. he came down along the front
of officers row. and a. he approached
Ravncr'S quarters his eyes rested long
ingly upon the window he knew to be
hers now: but all was darkness. rs he
RAPIDLY neared the house. however, he
became aware of two bulky figures at
the gate and. as he walked briSNly past,
GERS. One man was doubtless Rayncr.
the other he could not tell: for both. the
instant they recognized his step. seemed
10 avert their heads. Once home again,
ne soon sought his room and pillow;
but. long before he could sleep. again
and again sweet vision seemed To
come to him: he could not shut ont the
thought of Nellie TraverS-of how she
looked and what she said that very af-
ternoOn.
He had gone 20 call az Mrs. Wal
dron's soon after dark. lie was at the
piano. playing for her. when he became
conscious that another lady had entered
the room. and, turning, saw Nellie
TravcrS. He rose and bowed to her,
extending his hand As he did so, and
knowing that his heart was humping
and his color rising as he felt the soft,
warm touch of her slender fingers in his
grasp. She. too, had fuShed-any one
could see il. though the lamps were not
turned high. nor was the freight
strong.
Miss TraverS has come to take tea
very quietly with me. Mr.. Hayne-She
is SO soon TO return TO the eaSt-and
now want YOU to stay and Join us. No
one will be here but the major, and we
will have a lovely time with our music.
You will, won't you?'
80 soon To return TO the east" How
harsh. how strange and unwelcome the
words sounded. How they seemed to
Cypress him and prevent his reply. lie
stood a moment daZed and vaguely wor-
ried: hc could not explain il. He look
ed from Mrs. Waldron'S kind face to the
sweet flushed. lovely features there 50
near him. and something told him that
he could never let them 20 and find even
hope or content i'm life again. How, why
had she 50 strangely come into his lonely
life. radiant. beautiful. bewildcring rs
some suddenly blazing star in the dark
est corner of the heavens? Whence had
come this strange power and enthralled
him? He gazcd into her sweet face, with
its d0wncaSt. troubled eyes, and then
i'm bewilderment, turned TO Mrs. Wal
dron:
II had no idea Miss TravcrS was
going east again just now. IL seems only
a few days since she came.
1t is over month; but all the same
this is sudden decision. | knew moth
ing OF il until yesterday. You said Mrs.
Rayner was better today, Nellie?'
YES. little; but She is far from well.
1 think the captain will 90, too. just as
soon as he can arrange for leave of alb
sence." was the low toned answer He
had released. or rather She had with
drawn. her hand. and he still stood
there. fascinated. His eyes could not
Quit their gaze. She was going away?
She? Oh. it could not be. What
what would life become without the
sight of that radiant face. that slender,
graceful. girliSh form?
is not this very UNEXPECTEDLY he
struggled TO saw. Il thought heard
Won were TO spend several months