Evening journal., 1892-07-27

81 begun Tuesday, July 20--Baek numbers at I
the Counting ROOM
"Silence, Dick, sternly murmurs Mrs.
4 Berrien. "There is no fun in this affair,
& and warn you-not another word"
Twilight has fallen upon the garrison
as they stroll across the parade. The
~ men have vanished from the scene, but
4 the tinkle Of guitar and banjo tells.
where they have gathered Most of the
81 officers are at dinner. One or two
couples are Just entering the gateway Of
Hazlegs'z quarters-guests invited to
meet the fair visitor on this the last
ivening Of her stay. Dr. and Mrs.
Holden can be seen among them, Mrs.
& Holden gazing somewhat anxiously at
n Nina and her escort, for it is plain that
81 Rolfe seeks to detain the woman to
8 whom he has paid such unusual and de-
81 voted attention ever since the hour Of
n her arrival Silence and peace have
spread their wings abroad, lowering
81 with the twilight over the broad reser-
vation, and the Berriens, walking rapid
a ly now, as the energetic lady can lead
her expostulating spouse, come suddenly
= upon the sight Of the great golden moon
rising above the distant bluffs and peer
& ing in upon the garrison through the
wide space that interposes between the
surgeons quarters and the barracks at
4 the east end.
'Now there is something Miss Guth-
4 rie really must see" says Berrien, halt
ing short. GAS of her admirers and
entertainers, l feel bound to call her at
tention to it."
An - 81
You must not speak to her now. Can't
you seeg"
"See? OF course I see, and want her
to see-that's why l stop" Again half
teasingly, he attempts to turn as though
bent on looking back. She promptly
whirls him about and faces him in the
proper direction. 'Oh," he persists, ''if
it is something about her you wanted to
me to see, can't you understand that l
have no eyes in the back of my head and
that therefore l should be allowed to
look about"
4 "You see, sir, and understand the sit
nation perfectly well as it is. You're
simply bent ON mischief. You know
that Rolfe has been her shadow all day
long, hanging about her to say his say.
He knows this to be his last chance.
Everybody will be there the moment
dinner is over. Everybody will sur
round her, and unless he speaks now he
must let her go without a word"
''Berengaria, you amaze mel Are you
conniving at his capture? Didn't you
tell me you knew she wouldn't have
himg
Il did; / know it now; but he is a
man who wants to hear his fate from
her own lips and plead his cause, too,
like a man, unless l am very much mis-
taken in him. No, sir, don't you dare
look back"
"Poor devill Why couldn't he wait
till after dinner? she might be in softer
mood then. l always am. That's why
YOU always wait till after dinner, pre-
sumo, when you have anything special
to ask. Now this will take his appetite
away entirely"
''As if he had any in the first placel
Positively, Richard, you have no soul
above a dinner. When a man is as des-
perately in love as Rolfe, do you suppose
he cares much what he eatsT
'sWell, seems to me l was never of
my feed, is Berrien's reply with prefer
natural gravity, looking straight to the
front now and refusing to meet his wife's
dark eyes.
"You" with fine scorn. "Youl Why
Richard Berrien, with all your amiablC
qualities of heart and weaknesses oi
head no one on earth would ever asso
ciate you and sentiment in the same
breath OF course you and your appe
tite are inseparable; but Rolfe is differ
ent; he is a lover"
"Well, what am II"
''You are simply a goose tonight
Come, don't stop at the gate now; pusl
right on into the house after the Hold
ems. I'll run up to Mrs. Hazlett's room
with Nita"
A dozen of the fort people only hav
been hidden to dinner, for hardly din
ing room at the post is big enough TO
more, and on the porch anxiously
ing the coming Of his guests is Hazlett
"Where are Rolfe and Miss Guthriey
asks he as men will ask. "All here nov
but them"
"Coming at once; only few step
behind us" promptly answers Mrs. Bei
rien. Run in, major; I'll wait 70
Nita." Berrien looks as though he med
tated mischievous remark, but some
thing in her voice and manner tells hir
that instant obedience is expected. II
gives one quick glance and steps int
the hall.
Presently, while chatting with other
of the arriving party, he is conscious {
the swish of skirts passing up the staii
way. The door to the veranda is sti
open, and glancing out Berrien can sc
Rolfe alone leaning against one Of til
wooden pillars, his head dropping Z
though plunged in deep thought.
"Poor old chapl he's got his congo t
night and that's the end Of his tw
years romance. Odd about that cir
She fancies nobody"
Three hours later, the moon bein
well up in the heavens now, and Il
whole parade shining revealed almost
bright as day, both the verandas and Il
narlor of HaZlett's cOzv home ri