Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-20

lights were still burning within. both on
the ground floor and in a room above
The sentries were just beginning the call
of l O'Clock when he reached the cate
and halted, gazing inqrnsitively at the
house front. Thep heturnedand listened
to the rattle Of wheels growing faint in
the distance as the team drove away
towards the prairie town. II Hayne had
gone to town ut that hour OF the night it
was most unusual proceeding, and he
had not the colonel's permiss ON TO alb
sent himself from the post; Of that the
ofilcer of the day was certain. ThCAi
again, he would not have gone and left
all his lights burning. No: chat vehicle
whatever it was, bad brought somebody
out to see him-somebody-who proposed
to remain several hours; cthe,vise the
carriage would not have driven away.
In confirmation of thistheory he heard
voices, CHEEKY voices, in laughing talk.
and one OF them made him prick up his
ears He heard the piano crisplv trilline
response to light, sliillful fingers. He
longed for peep within, and regretted
that ne had dropped Mr.. Hayne from the
list OF his acquaintance. He recognized
Haynes shadow presently thrown by
the lamp upon the curtained window,
and wished that his visitor would come
similarly into view. lie heard the clink
or glasses and saw the shadow raise n
wine glass to the lips, and Sans Mon
golian shape fitted across the screen.
bearing tray with similar suggestive
objects. What meant this unheard of
convIvality on the part of the ascetic.
the hermit, the midnight oil burner, the
scholarly recluse of the garrison? BuX-
ton stared with all his eyes and listened
with all his ears, starting guilty when
he heard martial fcJtstep coming
quickly mp the path, and faced the in
truder rather unsteadilv. 1t was ONLY
the corporal of the guard and he glanced
at his superior brought his fur gauntlet
ed hand in salute To- the rifle,on his shout
der and passed on.
The next moment Buxton fairly gasprd
with amaze; he stared an instant a, the
window as though transfixed, then ran
after the corporal, called to him in low.
stealthy tone to come back noisclcsslv.
drew him by the sleeve to the front Of
Hayne quarters, and pointed to the
parlor window. Two shadows were
there now-One easily recognizable as
that of the young officer in his snuclv
fitting undress uniform, the other slen.
der, graceful, feminine.
"What do you make that other shadow
to be, corporal;' he whispered. hoarscly
and hurriedly. "Lookr And with that
exclamation q Swallowed arm seemed 10
encircle the slender form. the mustachrd
image to bend low and ninglc with the
outlined luXuriance of tress that decl;rd
the others head. and then, together, with
ciasping arms, the shadows moved from
view.
What was the other, corporal" he |
repeated.
"Well, sir, I should say it was young
woman"
Buxton could hardly wait until morn
ing to see Rayncr. When lie passed the
latter's quarters half an hour later all |
was darkness, though, had he .ut known |
II, Kayner was not asleep. He was at
the house before guard mounting and !
had a confidential and evidently exciting
L. |
just as the trumpets were sounding. |
these words were heard at the front door: |
"She never left until after daylight. |
when the same rig drove her back to !
town. There was stranger with her
then"
That morning both Rayner and Buxton |
looked hard at Mr.. Hayne when he came |
IN to the matinee; but he was lust ~
calm and quiet as ever, and having sa-
luted the commanding officer took scat
by Capt Gregg and was soon occupied |
in conversation with him. Not word
was said by the officer of the DAY about
the mysterious visitor to the garrison the /
previous night With Capt Rayncr,
however, he Was again in conversation
much Of the day. and 10 nini, not to Ii,
successor rs officer of the dow, did he
all the details of the IRE
vioCS nights adventure ard his lltsorie, |
JhereanGns.
Late that night, having occasion to
step TO his front door, corVin eel thnt he
heard stealthy footsteps on hia pnz2a,
llr. tiayne could sec nobody in shs dari:-
lesy., but found his front gate open. lie
walked around his little house, hut not
q man was visible. His heart was full
Of new and strange excitement taat
night, and, as before. he threw on his
overcoat and furs and tqc,A rapid walk
around the garrison, gazing up into the
starry heavens and drinking in great
iraughts Of the pure, bracing air. Re
turning, he came down along the front
If officers row, and as he approached
Rayner's quarters his eyes rested long
ngly upon the window he knew TO be
hers now; but all was darkness. As he
rapidly neared the house, however. he
became aware of two bulky figures at
.he gate, and, as he walked briokly past,
the overcOats as those of off
,ers. One man was doubtless Rayner.
.he other he could not tell: for both the
instant they recognized his step. seemed
% avert their heads. Once home again.
le soon sought his room and pillow:
out, long before he could sleep, again
ana again a sweet vision seemed tC
'ome TO hun: he could not shut out the
bought of Nelle Trnvers-of how she