The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

here hrss, colonel. and viii GO and send
hem now" And. bowling to his com
Capt Stryker turned and left
he porch
The doctor rose, thrust his hands deep
IN his pockets. paced slowly to the south
ern end of the veranda. and saxed down
tho distant. peaceful valley. an anxious
cloud settling on his brow The colonel
once more the newspaper he
had dropped upon the floor. After a mo-
ment DIR. Quin came slowly back. stood |
in front OF the entrance few seconds |
looking irresolutely at the soldier
sprawled at full length In his reclining |
chair. stepped towards him with pre-
paratory clearing Of his throat as though |
about to speak. and then. suddenly and !
helplessiy abandoning the idea, he
plunged down the short flight of steps,
hurried out of the gate and disappeared |
around the fence corner in the direction |
Of the hospital Immersed In his paper,
the colonel never seemed to note that he
had gone; neither did he note the fact
that two ladies were sousng down the
walk.
The soft swish of trailing skirt being
insufficient to attract his attention as
they arrived nearly opposite the shaded
veranda. a silvery peal OF laughter broke
the stiffness Of the early evening. Mrs
Belknap's laugh was delicious-soft, me-
lodious, rippling as a canary song, and
just as spontaneous. Neither lady had
said anything at the moment that was
incentive of merEiment; but il Mrs. Law
renee had given utterance to the quaint
est, oldest, most whimsical conceit i'm
aginable, Mrs. Belknaps laugh could not
have been more ready, and her great,
dark eyes shot sidelong glance to note
the effect. Down went the paper, and
up, with considerable propping from his
muscular arms. came the burly form of
the post commander. Two sweet, smil-
ing faces beamed upon him through an
aperture in the leafy screen, and Mrs.
Belknap's silvery voice hailed him in
laughing salutation:
did we spoil your siesta, colonel?
How can make amends? You see, you
were SO hidden by the vines that no one
would dream of your being there in am
BUSH"
"Oh, indeed, l assure you wasn't
asleep" answered the colonel, hastily.
Wont you come in, ladies, and sit
here in the shade awhile?"
eve thought we would stroll around,
until parade" said Mrs. Lawrence, hesi-
tatingly, land then sit down and watch
it somewhere.
'No place better than this" promptly
answered the colonel. "You can sit be-
hind the vines on that side and see, or,
what we would infinitely prefer. sit here
at the entrance and be seen. Meantime,
I've been unpacking some photograph
albums this afternoon, and you can
amuse yourselves with those while put
on my harness. Comet!
The colonel's collection of photographs
was something the. ladies had already
heard a great deal of. One Of the most
genial and popular officers of the army,
he had gathered together several large
albums full of pictures of prominent men
and attractive and distinguished women
not only those with whom he had been
associated in his long years of service,
but men eminent in national and state
affairs, and women leaders in society in
many gay metropolis.
Both the ladies had hoped to see this
famous collection the evening before, but
the colonel had not then unpacked the
albums, and they were disappointed.
Now, however, the prospect was indeed
alluring, and neither could resist. When
the first call sounded for parade few
moments after, and the commanding
officer was getting himself into his full
dress uniform, the two pretty heads were
close together, and two pairs of very
lovely eyes-one dark and deep and dan
gerous, the other a clear and honest gray
were dilating over page after page of
photographed beauty. There was no
need to puzzle over the identity Of the
originals; under each picture the thought
full colonel had carefully written the
name and address. Absorbed in this
treat, they could barely afford time to
look up and smile their thanks as the
colonel passed. c,anking forth at thu
sounding of adjutant's call, and were to.
completely engrossed In their delightful
occupation to notice what took place a
| parade.
| The long. slender line had formed
the infantry companies on the right ant
/ left fianks, their neat and tasteful dres
of blue and white contrasting favorabl.
with the gaudy yellow plumage of tn
four dismounted troops Of the cavalry
Company after company had taken tn
staturesque pose cf parade rest" and it
captain faced to the front again, the ad
jutant was just about moving to his pos
on the prolongation Of the front rank
and the colonel settling back into tn
conventional attitude Of the command
ing officer, when from outside the rect
angular inclosure Of the parade groun
/ from somewhere beyond the men
barracks-theFe came sudden outcry All
commotion- There were shouts, indi:
tinguishable at first, but excited an
startling. Some Of the men in rank
twitched nervously and partially turne
their heads, as though eager to look b
| hind them and see what was wrong
whereat stern voices could be heard !
subdued but potent censure: keep YOU
| eyes to the front, there, Sullivanf" "Stan
fast, there. center Of Third companyp
4 The guard. too, paraded in front Of il
IL quarters some distance behind the lin
was manifestly disturbed, and the voit
of the sergeant could be heard givin
J, hurried orders. Every man in the ba
talon seemed at the same instant to a
/ |. rive at one of two neutrality-suspicious.
escaping, or fire over at the stables--ar
all eyes were fixed on the iinperturbab
form Of the commanding officer,
though waiting the signal from him
break and go to the rescue. But the
the colonel stood, placid, calm. and a
nsrcntly utterly unconscious Of tks di
tant yet nearing clamor. The adjutal
hesitated a moment before proceedir
, further. and glanced appealingiy at b
chief; whereupon there came from Il
blue and gold and yellow statue out {
: .the parade, in half reproachful tone
! the quiet order, go onr' and the adj
: | tant, recalled to his senses and with e,