Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-25


For some reason or other the scout
which Lanes company had been ordered
to hold itself in readiness to make was
postponed, no further orders coming
from department headquarters which re-
quired sending any troops into the noun
tains west of Fort Graham. The cap
tain, far from being disappointed,
seemed strangely relieved that he was
not required TO take his troop into the
field at that particular moment. ''Some-
thing had happened" said Mrs. Breese,
who was a keen observer, "to change
the spirit of his dream within the last
few days" His face lacked the radiant
and joyous look that it had had ever
since be came back from the east. SIS
he getting an inkling of the stories that
are in circulation? was the natural in
quiry. "Is he beginning to learn that
others were before him in that fair
charGners regard? Still, no one could
question him. There was something
about him, with all his franl1ness and
kindliness, that held people aloof from
anything like confidence.
He never had a con6dant of either sex;
and this was something that rendered
him at one time somewhat unpopular
among the women. Younger officers al
most always, as rule, had chosen some
one Of the married ladies of the regiment
as IA repository Of their cares and ankle
ties, their hopes and fears; but Lane had
never INDUCED in any such luxury, and
all the better for him was it. Now it
was noticed with what eagerness and
anxiety he watched for the coming of
the mail. It was also observed That dur
ing the two weeks that followed only
four letters were received III her, by this
time, well known superscription. Lane,
Of course, reading the contents, could
readily account for the scarcity. Her
letters were full Of descriptions of
dances and picnics and riding parties
to the neiShbOring mountains. They
had met scores Of pleasant people,
and had become acquainted with a
large circle from all parts Of the country.
They danced every evening regularly in
the hop room, and were so thoroughly
acquainted and so accustomed to one
anOther's moods and fancies that hardly
an hour passed in which they were not
occupied IN some pleasant recreation.
Lawn tennis had always been favorite
game OF hers, and her mother was glad.
she said, I" see her picking it ND again
with such alacrity. The open air was
doing her good; her color was returning:
the languor and weakness which had CD
pressed her when she first arrived after
the long hot spell at home had disap-
peared entirely. But with returning
health came all the longing for out door,
actlVe occupation, and, instead of hav-
ing, as she had planned, hours in which
TO write to him, almost all her time now
was taken up in joyous sports, in horse
back rides, in long drives over the
mountain roads and through the beauti-
tul scenery by which they were sur
rounded. "And So" she said. Erred
dear, in regaining health and color. /
fear your Mabel has very sadly neglected
you"
His reply to her letter telling him of
Mr.. Noel's unexpected appearance at the
Park was rather difficult one for him
to write. 1t was dawning upon him
that the attentions Of his reginental
comrade to his fiancee were not as en-
tlrely platonic as they might be. Desire |
TO show all courtesy and kindliness to |
the lady love of another officer was all |
very well In Its way, but it did not ne |
cessltate daily calls when at home, and !
Tar less did 1t warrant his leaving his
station without permission-runni the |
uSk OF a reprimand, or even possible |
court martial-and taking a long Jour
ney, being absent from his post all Sat |
urday, and certainly not returning there |
before the afternoon of Monday. IF :
tins Were known at the headquarters of .
the recruiting service Lieut.. Noel
in all probability would be raped Sc
vereiy over the knuckles, if nothing 4.
worse. Lane could not, and would not, /
for an instant blame his fancee. but he /
gently pointed out to her that Mr.. Noel /
ran great risks In making such Jour
ney, and that it would be well on that
account TO discourage similar expedi-
IONS IN the future. To this she made
no direct reply. but that she observed
his caution is quite possible.
At all events no further mention On
visits on the part of Mr.. Noel appeared
In any of the letters which reached him
before the orders for the scout actually
did arrive; but that was not until near
the very end of the month. Il was lust
about the 18th of August when rumors
came of turbulence and threatened out