The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-01-22

lands belief that it was on his finger
when he went TO that room"
1T was; but do not recollect its be-
ing on his hand after he was carried to
the sofa. 1t would surely have attracted
my attention while chatting it,"
The parlor, hall and piazza have been
swept and searched, am told by this
note and the doctor indicated little
massive he held in his hand, whereat
Perry's face did not brighten, land with
no success was asked to inquire of
you, and if it has annoyed you, as in
fer by your manner, pray let that be
my apology. Then am to say you saw
it when Mr. Maitland entered the room,
but not AGAIN.
Precisely; unless you choose TO add
to your correspondent that the next
time am associated with missing prop
erty at Dunraven I would prefer to be
questioned direct, and not through a
third party"
A quiet smile shone for an instant on
the doctors grave face:
II fear that ! have not accomplished
my mission very automatically, Mr..
Perry, and am sorry to have vexed you.
The colonel tells me, by the way, that I
ought to say to you that the reason !
was SO long in reaching your party last
night was that was detained attending
to another case-one Of our own men.
Good evening, sir" And, raising his
forage cap, the doctor walked slowly
and with dignity away, leaving Perry
too surprised to speak.
"The colonel told him to tell me" was
Perry's wondering soliloquy at last.
"Then 1 suppose he must have told the
chief some story to account for his being
away" 1t was pretty evident from the
young fellows manner as he entered the
house that the story was not one which
struck him as being entitled to conf
dence or consideration.
On the table In his little sitting room
lay dainty note. 1t was not the first
he had received under that superscrip-
ton, and he had not been slow to open
and read them. If anything, the cloud
upon his forehead seemed to deepen at
sight of It. He picked it up, looked i'm
patiently at the address, hesitated mo-
ment, tossed it back on his desk and went
into the inner room. He would not read
it now; it was almost parade time; he
had to bathe and change his dress, for
after parade he was to dine at the quarters
of an infantry friend, and Capt. and
Mrs. Lawrence were to be of the party.
Already it was noted that when any of the
few infantry people at the post gave q
little tea or dinner at which only eight
or ten were gathered together, the Bel
knaps were not invited on the same even
ing with Mr.. Perry, and vice versa. When
Parke came in, whistling and singing
and banging doors and making all man
ner Of uncouth noise In the exuberance
| of his spirits, he bolted into Pelry's do
main, as was his wont, and begin a rat
ting comment on the events Of the day.
by the way" he broke in, suddenly,
1--WE can't both go tomorrow; and sup
pose you want to-"
"Go where?"
"Why, out with the hounds: to-mor-
rows the day, you know"
| Perry gave whistle of perplexity.
The colonel had promised the ladies that
there should be run this very week.
An the feet hounds of the cavalry bat
talon were to be out, and all the officers
VINO could be spared from the days du-
ties; a detachment was to go over into
the valley of stream some ten miles
away, pitch tents in the shade, and there
set luncheon for the entire party; horses
were to be provided for all the ladies
| who cared to go mounted, buggies and
"buckboards" were to convey the others
and it was to be gala occasion. Ante
lope, coyote or jack rabbit-any foul
footed game the prairie afforded-was tt
be "coursed" in due state and ceremony
the ladies Gin at the death" were to bt
crowned and subsequently presented
with trophies of the chase more slightly
than the mask or brush au natureL Tht
affair had been gayly talked over tina
very evening of the colonei's dinner, bu
the events of the previous day and th'
perplexities of the one just closing hat
completely driven it all out of his head.
And yet he was engaged to ride will
Mrs. Belknap, the amazon of Fort Rossi
ter! And for the first time in his lif
Ned Perry would have been glad of al
excuse to get away from a gallop will
an accomplished equestrienne.
"You don't mean to say you had for
gotten it, asked Parke, in amaze.
Don't blow on me, there's a goo.
fellow; but, after all my breaks of yes
terda~getting an absent from drill
and into a row at the ranch-I declar
it had slipped my memory. No, you &c
Parke; don't deserve to be let off any
thing, after yesterday. You've bee
sticking to duty like brick ever sine
you joined, and Stryker ought to Civ
you the preference.
"But you're engaged to ride with Mrt
Belknap," said Parke.
"Who told you so:''
II heard her say so. Dana asked
he might have the pleasure, just Will
ago, and she smilingly replied that
would have been delightful, but tha
you had asked her four days ago, whe
1t was first planned"
$50 had; but I've been getting int
scrapes ever since, and l oughtn't to g
By Jove! I'll write her a note now an
! say can't get off. It's true enough.
wouldn't let such a fellow go If CON
, manded the troop. I'd make him sta
in and attend roll call week"
"Well, Mrs. Belknap expects you
said Parkc, obviously. Not but whi
Dana would be glad to take your place
; Belknap can't go; he's too bulky to rid
, and she'd leave him miles astern fir
run we had, sure"
! Suddenly Perry bethought him of tt
note, and made dive into the sittin
, room, towel in hand and shirt sleeve
. rolled to the elbows. 1t read:
Mos AM-You go the Sprasues' to dine th
evening, and there will be cards. and you VIII q
be able to get away until very iste VIII you n
come In a little while before parede-without IA
There Is something greatly wart TO see you abot
Sincerely, r. E B.
Come early as possible after stables.
Thunder and turf!" exclaimed PER-,
, "and there goes first call now! Her
Parke, you're dressed; run over and te
Mrs. Belknap just this instant read b