Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-09-19

7flI'A HlNNf''
"When did uoat shGUe of yoaLr beard
sergeG7lt?'
Indian summer was over and done
with. The soft haze had gone. For
three days the wind had been blowing
hard from the northwest and the air
was as clear as an Arizona sky, the dis
tant outlines sharp as the tooth of the
prairie blast. Colonel Farquhar had
suddenly broken off his shooting trip,
and. without saying why, returned to
the post Captain Rolfe had ..cut" the
club, once a favorite resort, and was
much in DIR. Holden's company-Holden.
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 Guthrie's strange adventure the
night of her intended departure and her
equally strange conduct thereafter She
had remained senseless but few mo-
ments ett
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,
ton, She insisted on attempting to rise
and goto 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 the
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
ghost. had played the coward and Curned
30 run.
But to the trained physician it was
tvident she had received severe shock
Despite her pleadings DIR. 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 large contingent, ladies and Off
GERS both. assembled to say farewell. and
Nita, Mrs. Holden. each of the children
and even the nurse could have had two
or three escorts to the train. But no one
had opportunity to say much to the cen
trail 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 vlgi
liant eyes had reported the headlight of
the 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, Missing and laundering along
side he managed to have word or two
with her.
Mrs. Vance. had she been present
might have vowed that Nita shrank and
clung to Holden's arm, but others who
were there saw her extend her gloved
hand cordially. saw that Rolfe clung to
it an instant-charitable others who
could only wave adieu, for the party was
hurried aboard, and away went the ex
press. the tail lights of the rear sleeper
disappearing in the dripping gloom
around the bend. for. as though in sym
pathy with the mourning of the post. a
drizzling rain had begun to fall just
after retreat. Rolfe, gazing after them
TO the last. wore that look seen on the
r. IL
time. There can be few sensations more
dismal than that of watching the disap
pearing lights of the train that bears
away ones best beloved, especially in
the eyes of him who stands rejected
LET me drive you home. Rolfe." said
Holden kindly. 1.-TWO of a kind" was
his mental addition And Rolfe turned
slowly away. neither man saying an
other word until once more they stood
at the gate of the now deserted home.