The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-08-29


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 plighted her troth to him and
then dishouored it for Noe1-under
which, day after day, she was now re-
ceiving, 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 a quiet affair, because of the
death of Mr.. Vincent within the year.
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 DIR. Gowen, hap
pening into the hospital while Lane was
visiting one of his men after sick call,
stopped and keenly examined his face.
81 want you to go right to your quar-
tiers and stay there, Lane, for you've got
q fever, and, l believe, mountain fever"
were his immediate orders. ''I'll be
with you in moment" 1t was only
the beginning of what proved to be
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
mander 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
cheered him greatly. One night, stroll
ing back from parade to the broad piazza
Of the hotel, he saw the stage drive up
from the landing and a number of visi-
tors scurTy up the steps in haste to es-
cape the prying eyes of the older arrivals,
who invariably thronged the south pi-
azza at such times and curiously inspect
ed the travel stained and cinder spotted
faces of those whose i'll luck it was to
have to run that social gantlet.
There was something familiar in the
face of a young lady following a portly
matron into the hall, and when mo-
ment later he came upon the massive
frame of Mr.. Amos Withers, registering
himself, his wife, daughters and Miss
Marshall, of the Queen City, Lane knew
at once that it was his friend of the dis
NAL dinner of nearly year ago. Later
that evening he met her in the hall, and
was surprised at the prompt and pleas
ant recognition which she gave him. 1t
was not long before they were on the
north piazza, watching that peerless
view up the Hudson, and, finding that
she had never been there before, and was
enthusiastic In her admiration Of the
scenery, Lane took pleasure in pointing
out to her the various objects of interest
that could be seen through the brilliant
sheen of moonlight. And so, having
made himself at once useful and enter
tanning, he finally went to his bed with
sensation of having passed rather o
brightelSevening than he had known in
long, long time.
sOn the following day Miss Marshall
was in tho hall reading when he came
out from breakfast. She was waiting,
she said, for Mrs. Withers to come down.
The nurse was dressing the children.
81 want to ask you something, Capt.
Lane. Isaw Mrs. Vincent just before 1 left
home, and had little talk with her.
She has always been very kind to me.
Did you ever receive letter she wrote
to you three or four weeks ago."
81 never did," said Lane. "Do you
think that she did write to me-"
81 know she did. She told me so, and
great surprise that you had
accorded her. no answer. She felt very
sure Of your friendship, and she was at
a loss to understand your silence. AL
though had only met you once or twice
before felt that knew you so well that
you could not refuse to answer letter
from so lovable woman as she, and |
deemed it my duty to let you know what
she had told me. / am very glad now
that 1 did So"
sis she at homes" asked Lane, eagerly.
"She was when / left, but they were
expecting to go to the mountains. Mrs.
Noel seems to be dropping little. The
weather is very warm there already, as
you know, and the doctor has advised
that both ladies go up to Deer Park.
Mrs. Noel doesn't wish to go, as it takes
her so far from her husband; but, as he
was able to get there quite frequently
when they were there before, see no
reason why he should not be able to join
them every week now"
"Was he there frequently when they
were there before?' asked Lane, an old,
dull pain gnawing at his heart.
"He was there three or four times to
my knowledge during our stay, but OF
course his visits were very brief; he
came generally Saturday and went away
Mt midnight Sunday"