San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-14
TWO SOLDIERS.
By Capt. CHARLES KING.

Copyrighted by J. B. Lppincott Company, Phfis-
delphia, and published through special arrange
ment with the American Press Association.l
stones tnaC poor Capt. Lane, Ill 80 ans
appointment. might put in circulation. :"
But Lane never mentioned the sub
ject. AS for the letters to which she re-
feTed, they all followed him east in
one bundle and were sent to her I'M
opened; and she knew when she wrote
to Mrs. Riggs that, though she might
have told him all, as she said, he new
er knew a word of it until his eyes and
ears revealed the truth that wretched
night in the library where his brief,
sweet love dream began and ended.
There were other matters wherein
Mr.. Noel himself was consulting Mrs.
Riggs. He was now senior first lieuten.
ant. Any accident of service might
make him IL captain, and then, if prece-
dent were followed, "he might be or
dered to join at once. Ordinarily, as
she well knew, nothing would give him
greater joy; but now-solely on Mabel's
account-he hesitated. A friend at the
war department had said that, if Col.
Riggs would approve, six months
leave to visit Europe, for the purpose of
prosecuting his professional duties,
might be obtained. Would she kindly,
etc"
There was no one to write or speak
for Lane: only one side of the story was
being told, and, though the men had
had little else than contempt for Noel,
they were of small account in molding
garrison opinions as compared with two
or three determined women.
But no one saw the sorrOwful, almost
heart broken, letter written by Mrs. Vim
cent to Lane. She had no words in
which to speak of Mabers conduct
They had both been deceived; and yet
she implored him for forgiveness for her
child. The world was all changed now.
Their home remained to them, and her
own little fortune, together with the
wreck of Mr. Vincents, but Regy had to
60 out into the world and seek to earn
what he could. He had no idea of bust
ness There was no one to step in and
build up the old farm, and the executors
had advised that everything he closed
out. Mr.. Clark'S affairs had been left in
lamentable confusion, but luckily he had
nothing else to leave-nOthing. that is,
but confusion and creditors. People
We're constantly importuning her for
payment of his liabilities. claiming that
they were contracted by the firm. Her
lawyers absolutely forbade her listening
to such demands. If she paid one-fourth
Of them she would have nothing left.
Lane thought of his sacrificed Cheyenne
property and the little fortune he had so
freely offered up to save to the girl he
loved the home in which she had been
reared. The very roof under which the
girl had pligHed her troth to him and
then dishonored it for Noel-under
which, day after day, she was now re-
cei5ing, welcoming, caressing him-was
practically rescued for her and her
mother by the money of the man she had
cast aside.
The wedding cards came in April. 1t
was to be quiet affair, because of the
death of Mr.. Vincent within the veal.
Lane read the announcement in The
Army and Navy Journal, and sat for
while, the paper dropping to the floor
and his head upon his hands. Elsewhere
in its columns he found full account,
written evidently by some one thor
oughly well acquainted with all the par
ties, except perhaps the gallant groom.
When Lanes servant tiptoed in at
reveille the next morning to prepare the
bath and black the boots he was sur
prised to find that officer sitting at his
desk with his head pillowed in his arms.
He had not been to bed, and did not
know that reveille had sounded. Was
he i'll? Did he need the doctor? No. He
had to sit up late over some letters and
papers, and had finally fallen asleep
there. All the same DR.. Gowen. hap
pcning into the hospital while Lane was
visiting one of his men after sick call.
stopped and keenly examined his face.
Il want you to go right to your quar-
tiers and stay there, Lane, for you've got
a fever, and, believe, mountain fever"
were his immediate orders. III be
with you in moment" 1t was only
the beginning of what proved to be a
trying illness of several weeks duration.
When Lane was able to sit up again it
was the recommendation of the post
surgeon and of his regimental com
mauder that he be sent east on sick leave
for at least three months. And the first
week Of June found him at West Point;
he had many old and warm friends there,
and their companionship and cordiality