The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-04

rison enat lnat -,v4 ca. ,a..a asus
settled on somebody" as the ultimate
obiert Of his entire devotion, somebody
had settled on him. and that was pretty
Mrs. Belknap.
And though Ned Perry hated reveiile
and morning stables, as has been said,
and Sould rarely take his week" with
out making one or more lapses, here he
was this beautiful May morning out st
daybseak when il was his juniors tour
of duty, and vending his way with that
youngster out to the line of cavalry sta
bles, booted aud spurred and equipped
for a ride.
The colonel had listened with some
surprise 10 his request, proffered just as
the party was breaking up the night be-
fofe, 10 be absent from garrison a few
hours the following morning.
''But we have battalion drill at 8
o'clock, Mr.. Perry, and need you there"
he said.
''Oh, I'll be back in time for that, sir.
wanted to be off three hours or so be-
fore breakfast"
Tfe colonel could not help laughing
''C3fi course you can go-go wherever you
like at those hours, when you are not on
guard; but never imagined you would
want To get up SO early"
Neither l would, colonel, but I've
been Interested in something l heard
about this ranch down the Monee, and
thought I'd like to ride down and look
at it"
"Go ahead, by all means, and see
whether those lights came from there.
! 1t maoe me think of play / once saw
| the Colleen Bawn'-where a fellows
sweetheart signaled across the lake by
| showing a light in her cottage window
| just that way three times, and he an
| swerh by turning out the lights in his
room OF course the distance wasn't
anyt 1ing like this; and there was no one
here TO turn down any light Eh. what
did YOU sayT'
"L5eg pardon, colonel. didn't mean
to interrupt" put in a genJle voice at his
elboV, while little hand on Perry's arm
gave it a sudden and vigorous squeeze,
"but Capt. Lawrence has called me twice
! he Fill not re-enter after lighting his
cigar-and l must say good night
'EOl, good night, Mrs. Lawrence. I'm
sorryEou go so early. We are going to
reform you all in that respect as soon as
we gG fairly settled. Here's Perry, now,
would sit up and play whist with me an
hour yet"
''NAt this night, colonel. He has prom
ised to walk home with us" another
squeeze, land go he must, or be a faith
less escort. Good night. We've had
such lovely, lovely time"
And Ned Perry, dazed, went with her
to the gate, where Capt. Lawrence was
awaiting them. She had barely time to
murntur:
"YGu were just on the point of telling
him about the doctors lights. cannot
forgive myself for being the means of
seeing it; but keep my confidence, and
keep this until everybody is talking
about 1t; it will come soon enough"
Na.araily, Mr.. Perry went home some
what perturbed in spirit and all alive
with conjecture as to what these things
could mean. The first notes of "assem
bly, OF the trumpeters known
as "first calr'-roused him from his sleep
and by the time the men marched out tx
the stables he had had his plunge bath, {
vigorous rub and a chance to think oyel
his plans before following in their tracks
dressed for his ride. The astonishmen
of Lieut.. Parke, the junior of the troop
was something almost too deep for words
when Perry came bounding to his side
'What on earth brings you out, Ned?
was his only effort.
"Going for gallop-down the Monee
that's all. l haven't had q freshener fo
a week"
Cad! we get exercise enough a
morning drill, one would think, and oul
horses too. Ohr'- And Mr.. Park
stopped suddenly. Itdashed across hin
that perhaps Perry was going riding
with lady friend and the hour was he
selection. If SO, twas no business Q
his, and remarks were uncalled for.
When he mounted and rode away fror
the stable Mr.. Parke was outside at tn
picket rope, and busily occupied in hi
> duties, supervising the fastening of th
fresh, spirited horses at the line, for th
troop commander was man intoleraI
: of disorder of any kind, and nothin
more offended his eye than the sight {
two or three of his charges loose an
plunging and kicking Up and down th
stable yard. On the other hand, thel
was no one exploit that seemed to civ
the younger animals keener delight
nothing that made the perpetrator big
ger hero in his own eyes or the object {
greater envy among his fellows-and /;
a consequence every device Of whlc
equine ingenuity was master was Gale
into play, regularly as the morning can
around, to break loose either from tt
controlling hand of the trooper or frol
the taut and straining picket rope. TT
? first care of the officer in charge of Il
e troop sergeants was. therefore, to st
/. that all the horses were securely lashe
t and knotted. Not until he had examine
: every chatter shank" was Mr.. Parke
: leisure to look around, but when he di
! his comrade had disappeared from view
And over this broad level, horiZc
S bounded, not moving object could
}, seen. Far away, in little groups of thrt
: or four, black dots of grazing catt
t marked the plain. and over in Il
: "breaks" of the Monee, just beyond Il
i fringing cottonwoods, two or thr
e herds of Indian ponies were sleepi
+ cropping their morning meal, watch'
+ by the little black imp of boy who
e dirty red blanket made the only patch
g color against the southern landscaE
Later in the day, when the sun mount
t high in the heavens and the brisk wei
: erly winds sent the clouds sailing sw
s across the skies. all the broad prail
}" seemed in motion, for then huge sha
a ows swept its face with measured spec
n and distant cattle and neighooring po
g herd appeared as though calmly
W contentedIy riding on a broad platforl
If Natures own Conservation car" taxi
J. leisurely journey towards the far aw
Pacific.
Ii But the sun was only just up as
N Parke came back from his inspection