Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-05-16

aversion to every mention of the army (
and of his own slight experience ON the |
frontier. He would not talk of it even |
with Nellie, who was an enthusiast and I
had spent two years of her girlhood al |
most under the shadow of Laramie Peak !
and loved the mere mention of the Wyo- !
ming streams and valleys. In her hus- |
bands name Mrs. Rayncr had urged him |
to drop his business carly in tho spring |
and come to them for visit. He declared |
it was utterly impossible. Every moment !
of his time must be given TO the settling |
of estate affairs, so that he could be FREQ |
man in the summer. He meant to tako |
his bride abroad Immediately ar spend !
year or more in Europe. These were
details which were industriousiy circu- |
lated by Mrs, Rayner and speedily be-
came garrison property. 1t seemed to
the men that in bringing her sister there
engaged she had violated sill precedent to
begin with, and in this instance, at least,
there was general complaint.
Mr.. Blake said it reminded him OF his
early boyhood, when they used to take
him To the great toy stores at Christmas:
Look all YOU like, long for it az much
as you please but don, touch" Merton
ard Royce, Of the cavalry, said it was
simply u challenge to any better fellow
to cut in and cut out the Knickerbocker;
and, TO do them justice, they did their
best to carry out their theory. Both
they and their comrades of the Riders
were assiduous in their attentions 10 Miss
Travers, and other ladies', less favored,
made acrimonious comment in conse-
qucnce. A maiden sister of one Of the
veteran captains in the til, a damsel
whose stern ascetici5m of character was
reflected in her features and grimly Illus
trated in Der dress, was moved TO CEN
sure of her more attractive neighbOr.
elf | had given my heart to a gentle
man" said she, and her manner was in
dicative of the long struggle which such
bestowal would cost both him and her,
nothing on earth would induce me TO
accept attentions from any one else, not
even if he were millions of miles away"
But Nellie Travers was accepting at
tentions" with laughing grace and en-
ioying the society Of these young fellows
immensely. The house would have been
gloomy without her and '-the boys
Rayner was prompt to admit, for be was
ill at ease and sorely worried, while his
inflammable Kate was Tuning over the
situation of her husbands affairs. I'm
der ordinary circumstances she would
have seen very little to object to so long
as Nellie showed no preference for any
one of her admirers at Warrener, and
unless peevish or Icrturl-9d in spirit
would have made little allusion to it.
As matters stood, however, she was in
most oUerulous and excitable mood; she
could not rail at the real cause of her
misery. and 50, wGrnanlike, she was
thankful for a preteXt for uncOrking the
Walls of her wrath on somebody or some
! thing else.
If the young matrOuS in garrison who,
! with the two or three visiting maidcnS,
were disposed to rebel at Miss Nclls ap-
parent absorption of all the available
cavaliers at the post, and call her too
lucky girl, could but have heard Mrs.
Rayuer'5 nightly TRADES ard hourly re-
Dukes, they might have realized that
here, as elsewhere, the rose had its
singing thorns. As for Miss Travers,
she COMPOUNDED her sister by taking it ell
very submissivelv and attempting no de-
Tense. Possibly conscience was telling
her that she deserved moro than she was
getting, or than she would be likely to
get until her sister heard Of the adven-
turc with Mr. uayne.
"By the way" said Mr.. Royce one
evening rs they were stamping OF tie
snow and removing their heavy wraps in
Rayner's hallway after 4 series of garri-
eon calls, Mrs. Wa!dron Gays she cx-
poets you to play for her tomorrow
afternoon, Miss Trayers. OF COURSE it
will be my luck TO DO al stables
you hear better music oveey after
noon than l can give YOU, MIR. Royce"
"Whcre, pray" asked Ms. Eayncr,
turning quickly upon them.
Mr.. RoYce hesit;neG, and-with shame
be it said-allowed Miss Travcrs TO meet
the question:
AT Ny. Haynes, Kate
There was tho same awkward silence
that always followed the mention Of
Haynes name. Ms, Rayner Looked III
moved Il was evident that she wanted
more infoymation-wan TO ask, bus
was restrained. Royce determined 70 DC
outspoken.
Several of us have got quite in the
way Of stopping there on our way from
afternoon stables" lie said, very quietly.
Mr., Hayne has his piano now, and has
nearly recovered the full use Of his eyes.
He plays we'll
Mrs. Rayne. turned about once more,
and without saying CO much Is soo1
night, went heavily upstairs, leaving
hey escort 30 share with M. Royce such
welcome as the captain was ready TO
accord than, If forbidden 10 talk on the
subject nearest her heart, she would not
speak at all. She would have banged her
door. but that would have walked baby.
It stung her 20 the quick Ia know that
the cavalry officers were daily visitors
at Mr.. Haynes quarters, 1t was little
comfort 70 know that the infantry Of
fcers did not go, for she and they both
knew that, except Maj, Waldron, no
one of their number was welcome under