The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-12-11
CHAPTER III. ]

dow, which opened on to one end of the
veranda, and watched the people come
up the walk to the house.
Presently a few gentlemen congre-
gated on the porch at the opposite end
from them. They were discussing a
purchase that Capt. Armstrong had
made that morning 1t was beautiful
panther's skin, and the captain had
paid so high a price to, get it that a
great deal Of curiosity was felt as to
what he meant to do with it.
The party were just about to enter
the house when Capt. Armstrong was
seen crossing the parade; they waited
for him and as he came up the steps
one of them hailed him with:
81 say, Armstrong! Where's the cats
skin? We expected nothing less than
to see it draped around. your graceful
shoulders tonight
Armstrong laughed. Nevertheless
it's on its way to Washington by this
time he answered.
One of the young fellows gave q
significant whistle, and another re-
marked in a very innocent tone:
II suppose it's for your uncle, the
senator?"
Curiosity is your besetting sin, Fos-
ter the captain answered, gravely.
Then as the young men passed into the
hall he turned with smile to Carleton,
who had come up the steps and now
stood beside him.
II knew it would delight Edith's ar
S><s IN, !, eos1 z1-.,
hearth rug for her new house.
81 should think sol" his friend re-
piled; 'sbnt when are we all to present
substantial tokens of our esteem?"
."Oh! about the holidays, hope. j
= not possibly go east before then"
Il suppose you will apply for long
leave?"
''Yes, rather
"Lucky dog. but, old man, don't be-
grudge you any of your privileges. You
deserve them all"
Carleton put his hand through his
friends arm and they walked to the
other end Of the moonlit piazza. The
two fair eavesdroppers heard him say
something in a low, earnest voice, and
PAW him grasp for moment the cap
tain's hand.
HE is congratulating him." Eva
whispered.
'sAh me! really have got to give in
that our handsome captain has sweet
heart in the east, have half believed
all summer that it was just garrison
gossip"
May stood up. "Let us not eavesdrop
any longer. Come" she said. holding
out her hahd, and together they went
into the parlor, where anxious inquir-
les were being made for them.
Meanwhile out in the moonlight Capt.
Armstrong was listening to story told
in boyish, inpetuous way. Carleton
had begun it by saying suddenly:
Ralph, would give few years Of
my life to have been in your place yes
terday, but bless you just the same for
what you did! She was under my care
and If she had been-hurt (his voice fall
tered a little) would have blamed my
self all my life."
Then sitting down he rested his ell
bows on the railing and his chin in his
hands, and looking away to the glim-
mering mountains told in short, im-
pulsive sentences his story of the sum-
mer. his hopes, and above all his fears,
and the captain listened to him, gazed
too at the far pff mountains, and when
he had finished wrung his hand SILENT
ly, finding no word of comfort for his
friend.
group when the two gentlemen en-
tered the parlor She had been all ami
nation before their entrance, but as
they advanced toward the sofa where
she sat, she felt a sudden nervousness
take possession of her, She had meant
to make hep graeting very kind and was
annoyed to find how constrained twas.
All gayety seemed suddenly to have
left the little group and conversation
became difficult. Capt. Armstrong, too,
seemed laboring with feeling of con-
straint, and Lieut.: Garleton's gay spirits
seemed suffering from an eclipse. After
few moments the group began to
break up; perhaps the others thought
that the two chief actors in what came
so near being a tragedy might have
something to say to each other, at any
rate May soon faaAd herself tete-a-tete
with the captain.
She turned to him then, trying desper-
ately to remember some of the appro-
pirate little speeches that she had COM
posed during the day, but in her mo-
ment of need she found that they had
all deserted hep and with every moment
her nervousness increased.
'sCapt. Armstrong" she said, ST
found it difficult to put my gratitude
into words last night. and tonight /
alnSit just as difficult " :.---e