Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-24

was " dnUeu. IL was the nlSn6 VI INC
colonies dinner party. l couldn't ex-
plain then, and decided to go at once
and explain afterward. When l met
you all of sudden the next morning,
the first impulse was to get away out OF
your sight, and l obeyed it simply be-
cause of the unpleasant experiences !
had been having with your fellow caval- |
rymen did not want to have to an |
swer questions. See? 1 was ashamed
of it, but too late to turn back"
Perry nodded II understand 1t
now" he said.
"Well, what i want to ask is about
Sergt. Gwynne. Did you meet him be-
fore you got back?"'
"Yes-a mile or so out from the post.
"You stopped and talked with him.
didn't your
"Yes-for several minutes.
Mrs. Cowan's needlework had fallen in
her lap. She was seated near the window,
and had been busily sewing. Now she
was looking up, eager and intent.
you've known him a long time,
haven't your"
"Yes-ever since he joined. He's one
of the best sergeants ever knew"
"You would hardly think him guilty
of any dishonesty, would you?"
Mrs. Cowan was rising from her chair;
the needlework had fallen to the floor.
dishonesty Not by a-good dealP
was the reply that babe fair to be even
more impulsive, and was checked only
in Difference to the presence of woman.
"Well, neither would I, from what
I've seen of him; and yet Mr.. Maitland's
seal ring was found on him last night.
"My God! Of course he could explain
it in some way?"
"He couldn't-or wouldn't. He SIM
ply stood there, white as sheep except
where those bruises made him green and
blue. He had denied the charge fatty
when accused; and yet there it was in
his chest. never saw any man SO taken
aback as Capt. Strykcr; he said he would
have sworn to his innocence"
80 would I!-so do, by Jupiter! It's
some foul plot:-it's"-
But he got no further. To his own
amaze, to the utter bewilderment of DR..
Quin, Mrs. Cowan precipitated herself
upon her patient, seized the hand that
lay nearest her on the coverlet, and
burst forth into half articulate, sobbing,
indignant words, mingled with kisses
showered passionately ON that astonish-
ed hand.
"Oh, bless him for the words! Oh,
God bless you, Mr.. Perryl Oh,
the fools! the lunaticsl A
thief, indeed. The idea of his
being accused! Oh, God! what
would his mother in heaven say to this?
AS though he had not borne
far too much already! It's his
own-his own ring, | tell you! Who
else should wear it? Who dare
take it from him now? Oh, the
infamy of it all,'
In her wild excitement, in her inco-
herent praise and lamcntation and wrath
and Indignation, her voice, her sobs,
rang through the room and out along
the broad corridor. Even in their amaze
the two men heard hurried step ap
preaching, a limping, hating, painful
step, yet rapid and iinpulsive. Quin, alb
sorbed in his contemplation of the OK
cited woman, pail no attention; Perry S
eager eyes were strained upon the door
way, where, the very next instant, with
pallid features and startled mien, Gladys
Maitland appeared and stood staring in
upon the spectacle of Mrs. Cowan kiss
ing and sobbing over Perry's hand. Al
ready he had OWNED the truth. and
strove to warn the tear blinded woman
of her presence: but Mrs. Cowan's OK
element had increased to the verge OF
hvsteria: she was laughing and crying
now by turns, blessing her soldier patient
for his faith in the accused sergeant, and
then breaking forth anew in indignant
expletive, "Who are his accusers? Who
dare say thief TO him? Not one
is fit to look him in the face! Twas the
very ring his mother gave him,
his own! his own
And then the doctor seized her and
turned her so that she must see Gladys
| Gladys, wild eyed, painting, staring, tot
tering forward from the doorway. One
sharp cry from the woman's lips, one
spring towards the Keeling form, and
she had caught the girl in her arms.
"Gladys, Gladys, my little pet! my
own baby girl! Look up and thank God!
I've tried to keep my promise and his
secret until he released me. I've tried
hard, but it's all useless; can't, can't.
Oh, Gladys, sweetheart, your mothers
smiling down on us this day. Who dc
you think has come back to us, safe and
strong and well and brave? Who but
your own brother, your own Archie,
Gladys?"
| Concluded next week.