The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-01-10

clasp her sisters hand; then, with one
long look into the sweet face that was
hidden from her Jealous eyes. he raised
his forage cap and stepped quickly back
to where his horse was held. Her hus-
band fastened to her side: =. H.,
"Kate, l must speak to, him. don't
care how he may take it. I cannot so
without It.
They all watched the tall captain as
he strobe across the platform. Every
man in uniform seemed to know instinct.
lively that Rayner 1t last was seeking
to make open PREPARATION for the bitter
wrong he had done. One or two strove
to begin o general chat and affect an in
terest in something else for Mrs. Rayner's
benefit. but she, with trembling lips, stood
! gazing after her husband and seemed to
beg for silence. Then all abandoned
other occupation, and every man stood
still and watched them. Hayne had
quickly swung into saddle, and had
turned for one more look, when he saw
his captain with ashen face striding
towards him. and heard him call his
name.
by Jove!' muttered Ross, "what
command that fellow has over himself!"
for. scrupulously observant Of military
etiquette, Mr.. Hayne on being addressed
by his superior officer had instantly dis.
mounted, and now stood silently facing
him. Even ut the distance, there were
some who thought they could see Ills
features twitching; but his blue eyes
were calm and steady-far clearer than
they had been but a moment agone when
gazing good-by into the sweet face they
worshiped. None could hear what
passed between them. The talk was
very brief: but Ross almost gasped with
amaze, other officers looked at one an.
other in utter establishment, and Mrs.
Rayncr fairly sobbed with excitement
and emotion, when Mr.. Hayno was seen
to hold forth his hand, and Rayner,
grasping it eagerly in both of his own.
shook It once, then strobe hastily away
towards the rear Of the train. His eyes
were filled with tears he could not repress
and could not bear to show.
That evening as the train wound steadi-
" eastward into the shadows OF the night,
and they looked out in farewell upon the
slopes they had last seen when wintry
gale swept fiercely over the frozen sur.
face and the shallow ravines were streak
ed with snow, Kate Rayner, after a long
talk with her husband, and abandoning
her boy to the sole guardianship of his
nurse, settled herself by Nellie's side, and
Nellie knew that she either sought conf
dences or had them to impart. Some
thing Of the old, quizzical look was play
ing about the corner Of her pretty mouth
as her elder sister, with feminine indi-
rectness. began her verbal diminishing
with the subject. It was some time be.
fore the question was reached which led
to her real objective:
Ibid he-did Mr.. Hayne tell you much
about Clancyy'
mot much. There was no time"
'.You had fully ten minutes, I'm sure.
It seemed even longer"
"Four by the clock, Kate"
well, four, then, He must have had
something of greater interest"
Noanswer. Cheeks reddening. though.
didn't he?-persistently.
II will tell you what he told me Of
Clancy, Kate. Mrs. Clancy had utterly
deceived you as to what he had to tell.
had she not?'
Utterly" And now it was Mrs. Ray
ncrs turn to color painfully.
"Mr. Hayne tells me that Clancy's con-
fession really explained how Capt. Raw
ner was mistaken. 1t was not so much
the captains fault, after OIL"
$50 Mr.. Hayne told him. You knew
they-you saw Mr.. Hayne offer him his
hand, didn't your, -.
II did not see: knew he would"
Moro vivid color, and much hesitation
now.
''Knew he would! Why, Nellie, what
do you mean? He didn't tell YOU that
lie was to see Capt. Rayncr. He couldn't
have known" -
''But I knew, Kate; and I told him
how the captain had suffered"
but how could you know that he
would shake hands with llin,:''
HE promised me-"
The silence was unbroken for q mo-
ment. Nellie Tra7ers could hear the
beating of her own heart o.. she nestled
closer to her sister and stole a hand into
hers. Mrs. Rayner way trying hard to
be dutiful, stern. intending, 10 keep her
faith with tho distant lover In tho east,
whether Nell was true or no; but she had
been SO humbled, 80 changed, SO shaken,
ny the events Of the past few weeks, that
she felt all her old spirit Of guardianship
cbtin;, away. "Must give you up, Nell:
aud must kn fon2.-cIe XIa,. |