The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-02-19


8E N excitement over the gar
o. b~ rison this May day morn
40 ing, Mrs. Belknap's hunt
came off according to plan, and the three
heroines of the previous run rode forth
with but slight change Of escort Capt.
Stryker felt constrained to remain In
garrison; he had quiet investigation to
make, and was observed to be In close
conversation with DIR. Quin as the gay
party assembled in front of Col Brai-
nard's quarters. Mr.. Perry appeared in
his captains stead, and very politely re-
quested the honor of being escort to Mrs.
Lawrence, who accepted, yet looked a
trifie embarrassed as she did so. Indeed,
not until she had stolen an appealing
glance at her husband and heard his
cordial ''By all means, dear; Perry can
guide you far better than l, and perhaps
you'll win another mask" did she thank
fully say Eyes" Dana rode with Mrs.
Belknap, as before, and it was the colo
mel himself who suggested to Stryker
that Mr.. Perry should accompany Mrs.
Lawrence this day, and that he, the
colonel, should ride with Mrs. Sprague.
Perry had eagerly lent himself to the
proposition: he figured that now he could
have an uninterrupted chat with Mrs
Lawrence and hear what she had to tell
about Dunraven. just before starting
he sought Capt. Lawrence, laughingly
told him the terms of their agreement,
and begged that he would relax his
marital injunction and permit her to give
him such details as she happened to be
in possession of. Indeed, Capt. Law
renee" he said, II ask from no idle curl
osity. have been to the ranch, as you
now know, and have good reason for
asking" To his surprise, the captain
replied substantially that, while he had
regretted Mrs. Lawrence's impulsive rev.
elations, he had thought it all over and
decided that the best way out was that
Perry should be told the whole story and
be able to see how very little there was
to it. He had decided, therefore, to tell
him himself; land this evening, Perry,
If you will dine with us informally, we'll
talk it over afterwards. Meantime, l
prefer Airs. Lawrence's name should not
be mentioned in connection with any
story there may be afoat: so oblige me
by saying nothing to her on the subject. "
This was one matter for reflection and
something Of surprise; but there was
still another and even greater one. That
very morning, just before guard mount,
and while he was dressing, Perry shout
ed, "Coms in" responsive to knock at
his sitting room door, and in came Capt
Stryker. The object of his early call
was explained In very few words.
Perry" said he, II have been over t.
see Sergt. Gwynne this morning, and the
doctor walked back from the hospital
with me and told me of your threatened
disagreement of last night. If it had not
been for that sudden call to the stables
fancy there might have been a quarrel.
Now, think you know I'm one of the
last mon to let an officer of my regiment
especially my troop-be placed in a
false position, and-you can afford to
leave this matter in my hands. can yo,;
not?'
Certainly, Capt. Stryker."
Then want you to say nothing to
Quin on the subject, and to treat him,
as far as possible. as though nothing had
happened. His relations with the lady's
father and family were, and are, such
that she ought to treat him with respect
and Difference, and to accept his advice
even though it be given in style that
Carlyle, his favorite author, is mainly
responsible for"
There was absolutely nothing in-in
that. Well, captain" stammered poor
Ned, II don't know how to say what !
want to say" He wanted to say there
was nothing in that interview which
could possibly be criticised, but it sud
denly occurred to him that on the con-
trary there vas good deal Then he
desired to assure the captain that, so fan
as he was concerned, there wasn't sus-
picion of wrong doing; but-heayens
and earth!-that was equivalent to say
ing the lady was doing all that was open
to remark, and nothing would ever in
duce him to "give away woman" IS
he would have expressed it. Perry STAN
mered and Redeemed an the more, and
at last gave it up in despair, Stryker
sitting there the while with quiet grin
on his bronzed face and mechanically
slashing his boot legs with a riding
switch.
''I think I understand the situation,
Perry, and there's no great harm done.
Only. let the matter drop-so far as the
doctor is concerned, mean; I do not
presume to obtrude advice upon you as
to anything else"
And, though he had meditated diff
ferent course, and had fully intended
hunting up Dana and sending him with
note to call upon the doctor for an
explanation" he was glad to have a
man of Stryker's standing cry halt AL
the same he was sore incensed against
Dr.. Quin-mainly because of the jeal-
GUS pain he suffered at the knowledge of
his being 50 welcomed by Gladys Matt
land when he saw fit to visit the ranch;
and this pain gnawed all the more an
grily now at thought of the embar-
rassing-even suspicious-situation in
which that very man had found him on
the previous evening. Pressing duties
and hurried preparations kept him from
brooding too much upon these sore