The Dickinson press., 1890-01-25
A Story of American Frontier
Life.
By Capt. CHARLES KING, q. .sA.,
Author of"7he Coloners Daughter,n "Fro,n
the Ranks" 1.-THE Deserter,n Etc.
Copyrighted 1888 by j. B. Lippincott Company,
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange
ment through the American Press Association
CHAPTER MI.

=zl5NzgEsIzz6l1 zg EfEK
:zRSs;sa -
.SX&F o USE the expression of
Mr.. Dana, "Ned Perry
Sfk seemed off his feed" for
& A.0 day or two. The hunt
W. had been pronounced
big success, despite the fact of Pcrry's
defection-he had not even joined them
at luncheon-and it was agreed that it
should be repeated the first bright day
after muster. That ceremony came off
on Monday with due pompand formality
and much rigidity of inspection on the
part Of the post commander. 1t was
watched with interest by the ladies, and
Mrs. Bel5nap even proposed that when
the barracks and kitchens were being
visited they should go along. Dana had
been her devotee ever since the day of
the hunt, and announced his willingness
to carry her suggestion to the colonel,
but Belknap declined. She wanted few
words with Perry, and did not know
how to effect her purpose. When he
stopped and spoke to her after parade on
Saturday evening and would have made
peace, she thought to complete her APP
parent conquest by show of womanly
displcasurc at his conduct, and an as.
surance that, thanks to Mr.. Dana, the
day had been delightful and his failure
to accompany her had been of no conse-
quence at all. The utterly unexpected
way in which he took it was simply q
"stunner" to the little lady.
So far from being piqued and jealous
and huffy, as she expected, Mr.. Perry
justified the oft expressed opinion of her
sisterhood to the effect that "men were
simply past all comprehension" by
Frightening up instantly and expressing
such relief at her information that for
moment she was too dazed to speak. By
that time lo had pleasantly said good
night and vanished; nor had he been
near her since, except to bow and look
pleased when she walked by with Dana
She never thought of him as an actor
before, but this, said Mrs. Belknap to
herself, looks like consummate acting.
Had she known of or even suspected the
existence of a woman who had interposed
and cast her into the shade the explana-
ton would have occurred to her at once;
but that there was goddess in the shape
of Gladys Maitland within a days ride
of Rossiter she never dreamed for an in
stant. Believing that no other woman
could have unseated her, Mrs. Belknap
simply could not account for such utter,
such mutterable, complacency ON the
part of her lately favored admircr in his
virtual dismissal. All Sunday and Mon
day she looked for signs of sulking or
surrender, but looked in vain.
Perry seemed unusually grave and
silent, was Parke's report of the situa-
ton; but whatever comfort she might
have derived from that knowledge wasut-
terly destroyed by the way he frightened
up and looked pleased whenever they
chanced to meet. Monday evening he
stopped to speak with her on the walk,
holding out his hand and fairly beaming
upon her; she icily received these demon
strations, but failed to chill them or him.
Then she essayed to make him suffer the
pangs of the Tilted by clinging to Dana's
arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and
then she suddenly started: "Oh, Mr..
Dana! How could have been so thought
less-and this is your wounded side!"
Dana protested that her slight weight
was soothing balm, not additional pain,
and Perry promptly asseverated that if
lie were Dana he would beg her not to
quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn
at him as she said, GLOW can you know
anything about it, Mr.. Perry? You've
never been in action or got a scratch,
while Mr.. Dana"-and now the dark
eyes spoke volumes as they looked up
into those of her escort-"Mr. Dana is
one of the heroes of the fighting days of
the regiment" Even that failed to crush
him. while it had the effect of making
Dana feel mawkish and absurd. Perry
frankly responded that he only Won
dered the women ever could find time to
show any civility whatever to fellows
like him, when there were so many who
''had records" She was completely at a
loss to fathom him, and when tattoo
came on Monday night, and they were
all discussing the project of run with
the hounds for the coming morrow-a
May day celebration on new principles
Mrs. Belknap resolved upon a change Of
tactics.
Dana was officer of the guard and over
at the guard house, but nearly all the
0fhnr nffi0oro NJ, ftiror ,1N,,k tho
veranda and the gate of the coloneps
quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap
escorted his pretty wife, and she was,
as usual, the center of an interested
group. Perry came strolling along after
reporting the result of tattoo roll call to
the adjutant, and Capt. Stryker called
to him and asked some question about
the men on stable guard. The orders of
the colonel with regard to watching the
movements of the men after the night
roll call were being closely observed, and
when the trumpets sounded "taps," few
moments later, several of the troop COM
manders walked away together, and this
left smaller party. 1t was just at this
juncture that Mrs. Belknap's sweet voice
was heard addressing the commanding
officer:
"Oh, colonel! Ever since Thursday I
have been telling Capt. Belknap about
those lovely albums of yours; and he is
SO anxious to see them. Could he have
look at them tonight"
"Why, certainly" exclaimed the colo
mel, all heartiness and pleasure. Come
right in, Belknap, come in-any of you
all of you-where it's good and light.
And he Hospitality held open the screen
door. Perry had seen the albums dozen
times, but he was for going in with the