Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-09-01
body knows but Nita, and she won't

able visit, Mia Guthrie is bidding adieu
with laughing, kindly cordially to the
little cotcrie gathered in her honor. To
one and all she has the same frank, gra-
cious manner. Over all she throws the
same odd magnetic spell, seeming to i'm
press each and every one in turn with
the same idea, "Now, you are just the
most thoroughly delightful creature |
have ever met, and cannot bear to say
goodbv to YOU" There is the lingering
hand clasp, and yet not tho faintest SEN
timentaIty Nita's blue eyes-very blue
gaze straight into those of her friends.
| She seems to advance a step or two, as
| though eager to meet and take by the
| hand each newcomer. Even the elders
among the women find it hard to go,
and as for the girls, they linger spell
| bound: they cluster about her, watch
ing the sunshine in her face, the play of
her features, the sparkle of her eyes,
! drinking in her winsOme words, her rip
ping laughter.
ITS Just the only chance we've had
to ourselves, Miss Nita," protests Wini-
fred Berrien. "Nou've been surrounded
| by men all the rest of the time, and we
couldn't see you now if it weren't that
they had TO be in stables. Oh, if you
only didn't have to go tonight"
"Indeed, Winnie, | don't want to go.
1t seems to me nothing can be more de-
| lightful than life i'll an army post like
this. Certainly no girl ever had better
time anywhere than You have given me
here, and it is so unlike what fancied
it might be-"
ct is entirely unlike what life on the
frontier used TO be, Miss Guthrie" an
swers her hostess, tho majors wife. in
her calm, placid way. ANY one con-
trasting orr beatitude of today with our
life here there and everywhere over the
west during the Indian campaigns in
which the regiment was necessarily en-
gagged can only wonder how we found
it possible to exist in those days. Social
conditions have changed, too, and in the
gathering of our troops in larger gar
risons great many of the unpleasant
features of the old life have been elm
mated entirely Indeed, | wish you
might stay and see more of us. But you
are coming again, are you not:"
IF wishing will bring it about shall
be with you again with the coming sum
mer or early i'll the spring. l have prom
ised Mrs Holden that | will return to
her if only for fortnight"
The enthusiasm excited among the
girls and apparently shared by all the
women present when this announcement
is made ought certainly to convince
Miss Guthrie that they most reluctantly
part with her now and most pleasantly
anticipate her future coming. The
clamOr of voices is such that for time
10 one Is conscious of the fact that out
on the parade the regimental line has
formed, and that the band is already
trooping down the front. Berren had
taken his position as commanding Off
Ger. Several subalterns, whose heads
We're kept rigidly straight to the front
found their eyes wandering furtively
over toward the majors quarters. H.
couples and groups number Of the la
dies come sauntering forth, gathering
opposite the center nearer the colonel,
house, from which point they generally
watched the closing ceremony Of the
3 day. But still obllvious to any music
2 number hover about Miss Guthrie. Ever
5 guntire fails to distract their attention
p 1t is not until the major himself returns
D tossing off his helmet and tagging at hi
= waistbelt, that they realize that parad'
9 is over and dinner waiting.
Nov, you will come back mex
. spring." "You will write" "You won
:. forget to send me the photograph-mind
t cabinet size-Miss Nitat' Indeed j
ever | get anywhere near St. Louis You'll
: be the first soul shall come IN search Of
e 1t is a little flock of enthusiastic arm,
l. girls surrounding her, maidens who's
y early lives had been spent wanderin!
T. from river to mountain, from the gul
II to the Columbia, to whom city life wa
Is almost revelation, and city bellies bc
70 ings from another world. Winifre
y Berricn is the leader Of the cotorie,
e girl whose eyes are as dark as Nita's ar
blue and they are ready to brim over a
II this very instant.
s. Here comes Captain Rolfe for 20
u now, and we've got 10 let you go; bu
r Wen all be down to see You off at trail
d time"
L and stands just within the heavy Naya
lie 10 portierc, snilingly looking upon til
10 group and quite unconscious of the a,
le most vengeful chances i'll the eyes of tn
y young girls, is a cavalry officer abou
thirty five years of age, He is a tall fe
le low, somewhat heavily built, yet We
Sc proportional and athletic. His face
e. tanned by long exposure to the sun an
wind of the wide frontier, His brow
ct hair close cropped, has a suspicion {
lt gray just silvering the temples. Iii
f. eyebrows are thick and strongly marked
IT The eyes beneath are deep set an
fringcd with heavy lashcs The mu,
X tache, sweeping from his upper lip, is {
Sc Il lighter brown than his hair, bu
a. equally thick, heavy and curling, Othel
wise his face is smoothly shaved, and
be one which impresses those who loo
il upon it, even carelesSly, as strong an
| resolute. Iio still wears the doubl
I-o,c+oI o,nt ,,,ith Cbn1llar loCto