Evening journal., 1892-07-27


who was lonely enough now that his /
wife and little ones were gone. Through |
out the garrison there was one leading !
topic for conversation and conjecture
Miss Guthries strange adventure the
night Of her intended departure and her
equally strange conduct thereafter. She
had remained senseless but few mo-
ments.
Gentle hands had raised and borne her
to the bed IN the room she was evidently
Just about entering when suddenly halt
ed by some mysterious cause. Here,
when restored to consciousness, an al
most hysterical attack Of laughing and
weeping had followed upon her prostra-
tion. She insisted on attempting TO rise
and go to the train, as originally planned
but this Holden positively forbade. He
had succeeded in stanching the flow Of
the blood from a jagged cut near tho
temple, and could suggest ready theory
as to the cause thereof-in falling she
had probably struck the edge Of the lit
tie wooden post at the top Of the balus-
ters-but beyond this explanation there
was absolutely nothing. Nita Guthrie
would only account for her sudden ter
ror by the half nervous, half laughing
statement that she thought she saw a
ghost, had played the coward and turned
to run.
But to the trained physician it was
evident she had received a severe shock
Despite her pleadings Holden had re-
fused to allow her to attempt the jour
ney until three days had elapsed, during
which time, though she laughed at him
and laughed at herself, her condition
continued so nervous and excitable that
he would not permit visitors TO see her
This was pretty hard treatment, thought
her many lady friends at the post, but
he was wise and they could only obey
When the evening came for the depar-
ture a large contingent, ladies and Off
GERS both, assembled to say farewell, and
Nita, Mrs. Holden, each Of the children
aud even the nurse could have had two
or three escorts to the train. But no one
had opportunity to say much TO the cen
tral figure Of all this sympathetic inter
est. Only at the last moment did she
/ appear, and was ushered almost instant
/ ly to the waiting carriage by Holden
/ who had only summoned her when vigi-
/ liant eyes had reported the headlight Of
| tho express visible far up the valley.
But then down at the dark platform of
the station faithful, sad faced Rolfe was
waiting, and in the minute or two that
/ intervened before the huge train came
/ glaring, kissing and laundering along
side he managed to have a word or two
with her.
Mrs. Vance, had she been present
might have vowed that Nita shranh and
clung to Holden's arm, but others who
were there saw her extend her gloveC
hand cordially, saw that Rolfe clung tC
it an instant-charitabl others who
could only wave adieu, for the party wa.
hurried aboard, and away went the ex
press, the tail lights of the rear sleeper
disappearing in the dripping gloon
around the bend, for, as though in sym
pathy with the mourning of the post, ,
drizzling rain had begun to fall Jus
after retreat. Rolfe, gazing after then
to the last, wore that look seen on tn
face of many another man many anothe
time. There can be few sensations NOR
dismal than that of watching the disap
pearing lights of the train that bear
away ones best beloved, especially h
the eyes of him who stands rejected.
"Let me drive you home, Rolfe, sal,
Holden kindly. 1.-TWO of a kind. wa
his mental addition. And Rolfe turne,
slowly away, neither man saying an
other word until once more they stoo,
at the gate of the now deserted home.
"Come in and have pipe"
Thanks, not-now, doctor" A long
wistful pause, then-"Well, good night
Good night, old man. Come whei
you will; I'll be lonely now." And tn
doctor stood and gazed after him lon
and earnestly as the captain strobe int
the darkness out over the parade.
Within the days that followed, whe
he had leisure to think it all over, Holde
, felt his perpleNties increase. Up to To
very last Nita had persisted in her state
ment that nothing had happened to wal
rant the absurd exhibition she had mad
of herself. Il was overwrought, ner'
Gus, unstrung," she said. 81 had nc
z been feeling quite well. | had run u
, to the room for my gloves, which | ha
left upon the table. had not reache
the door, and it was just the waving
{ those white curtains in the draft frol
the side window. / must have though
saw ghost, and, like fool, / scream
ed and tripped, and-voila tout"
1 But Holden had known her for 81
= years and felt well assured she was II,
Of the stuff that is easily stricken wit
terror. With every confidence in h,
veracity in general he did not in Il
a least believe her now. The more |
studied the matter he felt that she W;
, hiding something from them one an
, all, even from Jennie, whom she dear
3. loved and whom ordinarily she frank
2 trusted. 1t was evident that Jenni
: too believed, as did her husband, q
, doctor, that there was something behir
3 it ALL But Jennie was gone, and, exec
possibly Rolfe, there was no one to a
him in his search after the truth RolfC
heart was now so shrouded in its ov
gloom that any phase Of tragedy seem,
credible. Rolfe evidently wanted
know Holden's suspicious or surmise
and aosoin and auain led mn 40 fho en-