The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-11-27
CLINTON N. G.. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27 1890

I. VIII ro-morrow-if you viii tell me /
about the tassei tonight
is 1t positive proniises You viii tell l
me tomorrow all you have heard about /
Dunraven Ranch II viii tell you to- /
night all know abcut the tassel7'
"Yes-a prousise.
VERY well, then You ere q witness /
to the compact. Graham. Now for my |
confession. have worn tha; tassel ever |
since our parting hall at Fort Riley. |
That Is to say. Il has been fastened 10 |
that button ever since tho heli until to- |
night; but I've bcen mighty careful not
to wear that cap on any kind Of duty"
"And yet you let Mrs Belknap take it
of tonight"
"Why shouldn't II There was no
sentiment whatever attached Co it.
haven't the faintest idea whose IL was,
and only tied 1t there for the fun of the
thing and to make Graham. here. ask
questions"
"Mr. Perry!" gasped Mrs Lawrence.
And do you mean that Mrs. Belknap
knows-that you told her what you have
just told me?"
"Well, no." laughed Perry. II fancy
Mrs. Belknap thinks as you thought
that 1t was q gage d'amour. Halo! lock
at that light away out there across the
prairie. What can that be?'
Mrs. Lawrence rose suddenly to her
feet and gazed southeastward in the di-
rection in which the young officer point
ed. 1t was a lovely, starlit night A
soft wind was blowing gently from the
south and bearing with it the fragrance
of spring blossoms and far away flower
cts. Others, too, had arisen, attracted
by Perry's sudden exclamation. Mrs.
Belknap turned languidly In her ham,
mock and glanced over her pretty white
shoulder. The colonel followed her eyes
with his and gave a start of surprise.
The doctor turned slowly and composed
ly and looked silently towards the glis-
tening object, and then upon the officers
of the cavalry there fell sudden astonish-
ment.
"What ON earth could that have been?
asked the colonel. at cleaned like the
head light of a locomotive, away down
there in the valley of the Monee. then
suddenly went out"
"Be silent moment and WATCH"
whispered Mrs. Lawrence to Perry.
"You will see it again; and-watch the
DOCTOR"
Surely enough, even as they were all
looking about and commenting on the
strange apparition, 1t suddenly glared
forth second time, shining full and lus-
trous as an unclouded planet, yet miles
away beyond and above the fringe Of
cottonwoods that wound southeastward
with the little stream. Full half min
ute it shone, and then, abruptly as be-
fore, was hidden from sight.
Perry was about starting forward to
| join the colonel when little hand was
laid upon his arm.
"Wait; once more you'll see it," she
whispered. "Then take me in to Capt.
| Lawrence. Do you see that the doctor
is leavingT
| Without saying word to any one, the
post stsurgeon had very quietly withdrawn
from the group on the veranda. He
could not well leave by the front gate
without attracting attention; but he
strolled leisurely into the hall, took up
book that lay on the table, and passed
through the group of officers seated
smoking and chatting there, entered the
sitting room on the south side of the
hall-the side opposite the parlor where
the whist game was in progress-and
there he was lost to sight.
A third time the bright light burst
upon the view of the gazers. A third
time, sharply and suddenly, it disap-
peared. Then for a moment all was
silence and watchfulness; but it came nc
more.
Perry looked questioningly in his com
panion's face. She had turned little
white, and he felt sure that she wal
shivering.
care you colby he asked her, gently
"No-not that; but hate mysteries
after what I've heard, and we haven
seen that light in ever SO long. Come
here to the corner one moment" AnC
she led him around to the other flank o
the big wooden, barrack like residence o
the commanding officer.
"Look up there" she said, pointing t,
a dark window under the peaked dorme
roof of the large cottage to the south
''That is the doctors house"
In few seconds faint gleam seemet
to creep through the Stats. Then tn
stats themselves were thrown wide open
a white shade was lowered. and, witt
the rays behind it growing brighter ev
cry instant, broad white light shon,
forth over the roof Of the veranda. An
other moment and footsteps were hear,
along the doctors porch, footsteps tha
presently approached them along tn
grass.
"Come," she said, plucking at hi
sleeve, ''come away; it is the doctor"
'For what reasong" he answered
"That would seem like hiding. No, Mrs
!, Lawrence, let us stay until he comes"
But the doctor passed them with brie
and courteous salutation; spoke of th
beauty of the night and the balm of tn
summery air, and went in again by tn
main door to the coloneI's quarters.
Then Perry turned to his partner
"Wen, Mrs. Lawrence, what does it al
. mean7 Is this part OF what you had t
: liner
: Don't ask me now. IL did not wan
to see what we have seen. but / ha
heard queer stories and could not believ
them. Take me in to Capt. Lawrence
please and. Mr. Perry, you won't spea
!. of this to any one. will you? Indeed, If
lhad known, would not have come on
; here for the world; but didn't beliey
? it, ever~slz she went away and too
the children
"Who went awayg
"Mrs. Quin-the doctors wife. An
|, she was such sweet woman. and SO d.
!. voted to him.
"Well, pardon me, Mrs. Lawrence,
9 don't see through this thing at all. {
9 you mean that the doctor has anythir
J. to do with the mystery
!. She bowed her head as they turne
= back to the house: 81 must not tell ye
u any more tonight You viii be sure
d hear aonethfnr of it all, here. Ever,