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

break among the I1uldIlS dG tue NU1I1Ca-
hua reservation. Troops were already
marching thither from the stations in
Arizona, and Capt. Lane was ordered to
cross the range and scout on the east
side of the reservation, in order to drive
! back any renegades who might be tempt
ed to ''make break" Just one day be-
fore the start he was surprised at receiv-
ing a letter from Mrs. Vincent. She
spoke gladly of Mabel's improved health
and appearance; she spoke hopefully of
Mr.. Vincent, whose letters, she said,
were more cheerful than they had been,
and who had been able to come up and
spend two Sundays with them. Mabel
had doubtless told him of Mr.. Noeps
visit, and how glad they were just then
to see any face so pleasant and familiar.
And now she wished to remind him of
their contract before his leaving for the
frontier. He doubtless remembered that
she had promised that in the near future
she would give him the reasons why it
seemed best to her that the engagement
should not be announced. 1t would take
pretty long letter to tell all the reasons
why, so she would not venture upon that
at the moment; but the necessity no
longer existed, and if he so desired she
would gladly have it made known to his
relatives, as she would now proceed to
announce it to Mabel's.
Lane was greatly rejoiced at this He
had been tri1e uneasy and respondent
of late, yet scarcely knew why. Her let
tiers were not all he had hoped they
would be by this time, but then he did
not know but that it was all natural and
right; he had never had love letters be-
fore-had never seen them-and his
ideas of what woman's letters to her
betrothed should be were somewhat
vague and underlined However, there
was no one in the garrison to whom he
specially cared to formally announce his
engagement. People had ceased of late
making remarks or inquiries, as nothing
had been successful in extracting infor-
nation from him in the past. Giving
directions that his mail should be for
warded once week, or twice week if
possible, to the railway station nearest
the Chiricahua mountains, where he
could get it by sending couriers once in
a while, provided there was no danger
in doing so, Lane marched away one
evening on what proved to be an absence
of an entire month. He never again
saw Fort Graham until the end of Sep
TENDER, and then only long enough to
enable him to change from his scouting
rig into travelling costume, to throw a
few clothes into trnnk and to drive to
the railway station as fast as the ambu-
lance could carry him in order to catch
the first express train going east
Nothing of very great Importance had
occurred on the scout. A few renegades
managed to escape eastward from the
reservation and to take to the mountains,
through which Lanes command was
then scouting; and to him and to his
troop was intrusted the duty of captUr-
ing and bringing them back to the res
e1vation. This took him many a long
mile south of the railway. 1t was three
weeks and more before he made his way
to the reservation with his prisoners.
There he found a small package of let
ters, which had been forwarded direct
from Graham, where they evidently
knew that he would go into the agency
before reaching the railway, where his
other letters were probably awaiting
him. Among those which he received
was one from Mr.. Vincent. Briefly it
said to him, IF possible thing, come
to Us as soon as you can obtain leave of
absence. There are matters which ex-
cite my greatest apprehension, and |
feel that must see you. Ny health, l
regret to say. is failing me rapidly.
Come, if you can
Another was from Mrs. Vincent. She
spoke with great anxiety of Mr. Vim
cents waning health; said very little of
Mabel, nothing whatever of Mr.. Noel.
She told him that the engagement had
been formally announced to all their
and that letters of congratula-
ton had been showered on Mabel from
all sides, although there was some little
surprise expressed that she should marry
an army officer. ''She herself has not
been well at all, and really believe that
a visit from you would do much to re-
store her health and spirits. She has
been unlike herself ever since we came
back from the mountains"
In this same package of letters We're
two from Mabel. These he read with
infinite yearning in his heart, and they
only served to increase the wordless
anxiety and the intolerable sense of
lacking, which he had first
felt after the letter that announced Cor
don Noel's visit to Deer Park. One
more letter there was. This he opened,
saw that it was type written and had no
signature, Indignantly tore it into frag-
ments and tossed them to the wind.
The commanding general of the de-
partment-an old and kind friend of
Lane's-was then looking over affairs
for himself, at the reservation. Lane OBJ
tanned few moments conversation with
him, briefly stated his needs, and showed
him Mr.. Vincent's letter. The instant
the general saw the signature he looked
up, startled, and then arose from his
seat, put his hand on the captains
and drew him to one side.
"My dear boy" he said, ''there is
alter news than this. It is dated Sept.
IA, you see. Have you heard nothing |
more?" |
Nothing, general What has hap
pened?' answered Lane, his voice trem-
bling and his bronzed face rapidly paling. |
Am lam too later
IT TT NJ