The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-01-15

evident embarrassment and ominous nj
lence Of the three infantrymen, when
the colonel turned suddenly ON Belknap
with the question
by the way, captain. I had no sims
to ask Lawrence, and 1t really did no,
occur to me until after he had gone, bu,
what did he mean by saying that DR.
Quin could tell US something about thu
people at Dunraveny"
Belknap turned red and looked un
comfortably at his two comrades, a.
though appealing to them for aid. Ths
younger officers. however, would say
nothing at all, and the colonel promptly
saw that he had stumbled on some piecs
on garrison gossip.
"Never mind, he said, with a kindly
laugh. 81 don't want to drag any storie,
out by the roots. The doctor can doubt
less explain 1t all In good season"
We'll. Col. Brainard," answered Bel
knap, bulkily, ito tell tho truth, really
don't know anything about 1t, and
don't know any one who does, though
have heard some woman talk about thu
post. The relations between Dr.. Quir
and some of the officers OF the Eleventh
were rather strained, and he Is a some
what reserved and secretive man. III,
stories were set adoat here last fall, and
we had to hear more or less of them un
til the Eleventh went away this spring
We know only that DR.. Quin has beer
to Dunraven and the rest Of us haven't
Possibly some of the Eleventh wers
piqued because they had no such luck
or perhaps their ladies did not like II be
cause Quin wouldn't tell them anything
about what he saw. At All events, hs
refused to talk on the subject at all, and
allowed people to draw their own con
He probably told his post com
mander," suggested Lieut.. Farnham
who, as acting adtutant of the post and
an aspirant for the adjutancy Of the
regiment, thought it q good opportunity
Of putting In a word as indicative OF
what he considered the bounden duty oI
an officer under like circumstances.
well, no, fancy not, replied Bel.
knap. "About the only thing we really
do know Is that, In somewhat angry
interview last fall, Col. Stratton forbade
DR.. Quin's leaving the post or going t.
Dunraven without his express permis
sion. 1 happened to be In the Office al
the time"
"Was it before or after that he wa,
said to go there so often?" asked Farm
ham.
"Well, both," answered Belknap, re
luctantly. "But understand me, Mr.
Farnham, know nothing whatever o.
the matter"
II should not suppose that Col. Strat
ton would care to restrict his post sur
geon from going thither if they needed
his professional services" said Col. Brai
nard, pleasantly.
''That was the point at issue, appar
entity" answered Belknap. 'sCol. STRAIT
ton said that it was not on professiona
grounds that he went, and thereby seemed
to widen the breach between them. DR.
Quin would not speak to the colonel after
that, except when duty required it."
The conversation changed here. and
little more was said; but Col Brainard
could not help thinking of matter that
he carefully kept to himself. 1t was moi
his custom to require his officers to ask
permission to leave the garrison for ride
or hunt when they were to be absent
from no duty, and only by day. Here il
was midnight, as he thought it over, and
the doctor had not returned, neither had
he mentioned his desire to ride away
although he had been with the colone
well nigh an hour before parade. True
he had sent the doctor word to 60 and
join Lieut.. Perry at the gate of Dun.
raven, and that would account for his
detention; but he knew that the surgeon
was several miles away from his post and
his patients at the moment that message
was sent.
Meantime, Perry, too, was having Z
communion with himself. and finding i
all vexation of spirit. All the way
home the memory Of that sweet Englisl
face was uppermost in his thoughts 81,
had been startled at the sight Of younf
and fair woman at Dunraven: he hat
felt sense of inexplicable rejoicing
when she said to him, 81 am Miss Matt
land;" 1t would have Jared him to know
that she was wife; he was happy. kneel
ing by the side OF the beautiful girl b,
had never seen before that evening, ant
delighted that he could be Of service T.
her. ALI this was retrospect worth in
dulging; but then arose the black shadow
on his vision. How came Dr. Quiz
striding in there as though native an,
to the manner born?-how came he t,
call her "Gladys?~ Perry had beer
pondering over this matter for full hal
an hour on the homeward ride before h
bethought him Of Mrs. Lawrence's re
marks about the signal lights. On
thing led to another in his recollection O
her talk. The doctor answered the sig
mails, no one else; the doctor and no on
else was received at Dunraven: the doc
tor had declined to answer any question
about the people at the ranch; had beel
silent and mysterious. yet frequent Il
his visits. And then. more than all
what was that Mrs. Lawrence said or in
timated that Mrs. Quin. '.such q lovel,
woman, too" had taken her children an,
left him early that spring. and all on &C
count of somebody or something con
nected with Dunraven Ranch? Goo
heavensI 1t could not be GLADYS.
And yet
Instead Of taking bath and going {
bed, Mr.. Perry poked his head int
Parke's bachelor chamber as he reache
the little cottage they shared in common
No Gladys disturbed the juniors dreams
apparently, for he was breathing regu
lsrly, sleeping the sleep Of the Jug; an
so, finding no one to talk to and being 4
no mood to go to bed at an hour 80 com
paratively early when he had 20 much {
think about, Perry filed pipe an
perched himself in big chair by tn
window seat, intending to think 1t a
over again. He was beginning to hat
that doctor; he would harechafed at tn
idea Of any bachelors being before hir
in an acquaintance with Gladys Maitland
but a married man knowing her so wei
as TO make his wife jealous and himsel
Indifferent to that fact-knowing her 8