Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-07-21

rlen. Run in, major, I'll wait for
Nita." Berrien looks as though he medi-
tated mischieYous remark, but some
thing in her voice and manner tells him
that instant obedience is expected. He
gives one quick glance and steps into
the hall.
Presently, while chatting with others
of the arriving party, he is conscious of
the swish of skirts passing up the stair
way The door to the veranda is still
open, and glancing out Berrien can see
Rolfe alone leaning against one of the
wooden pillars, his head dropping as
though plunged in deep thought
Poor old chap! he's got his congo to-
night, and that's the end Of his two
years romance. Odd about that girl.
She fancies nobody"
Three hours later, the moon being
well up in the heavens now, and the
whole parade shining revealed almost as
bright as day, both the verandas and the
parlor of Hazlett's cozy home. are
thronged with officers aud ladies, chat
ting merrily together. The lights are
still blazing in the barracks. The trum-
peters in full force are grouped about
the flagstaff sounding the last notes Of
tattoo The Holdens have borne Miss
Guthrie !. with them, that the ladies
might stu aeir evening gowns in the
waiting Saratogas and then don their
travelling garb while the quartermaster's
big wagon trundles the luggage down to
the railway station. Presently this lum-
bering vehicle can be seen slowly roll
ing away from the Holdens' gate, and
everybody at Hazletts waits impatient
ly for the return of the party. Mrs.
Holden is deservedly a favorite in the
garrison, and Nita Guthrie, as has been
said, has won golden opinions. The
evening air is growing chill, however,
and Of the dozen ladies present only the
younger, the girls, remain longer upon
the veranda.
About this pretty group. laughing and
chatting, are four OF five of the younger
officers, Brewster, tine SVEN or the
subs" keeping close to Winifred Ber-
rien, and claiming more and more of the
glances of her big dark eyes. Down at
the gate, the moonlight glinting on his
polished saber, the officer of the day is
exchanging few low toned words with
Major Berlien. Rolfe, who with silent
and dogged resolution has taken his
place at Miss Guthrie's side as she came
down the stairs and escorted her to the
doctors, has turned from there and gone
slowly across tho parade to his own
quarters on the other side Everybody
seems to see and know what has hap
pened, and many half whispered COM
ments are being made, not all in sym
pathy with the widowed lover. Every
body respects Rolfe, yet among the
younger officers are several who feel no
warmth of friendship for him, and, as
between man and man, garrison girls
can only side with the youngsters.
Their story Of their slight differences is
sometimes told again and again; the
elders seldom, for theirs would hardly
be believed.
Little by little the chat and laughter
subside
"Oh, why doesn't she come backs7
pouts Miss Berrien. 1.-THE ambulances
will be here in less than half an hour,
and we won't see anything of her" a
chorus of girlish voices echoes Winifred' S
views. Mrs Berrien and Mrs. Parker
at this moment come forth from the
house and look expectantly up the road.
''How long they arer' says Winnie
again. what can keep them, mammal
Packing, doubt not, my child"
But the wagons gone. trunks and all.
1t can't be that
''Still, would not fret about it, Win
ME Has she not promised to come next
spring and pay us long visit"
Eyes, but who knows where we may
all be next spring, or what may happen
meantime? Every paper we get is full
Of stories of the ghost dances among the
Sioux, and if there should be another In
dian war;
Nonsense, Winifred! Don't think Of
such thing. After all this regiment
has had to suffer in Indian battle, you
don't suppose we, of all others, would
be sent from here to winter campaign
in the northern department? We've
seen the last Of such troubles, God be
thanked"
Major Berrien, his interview with the
officer Of the day ended, has just started
to rejoin the group on the veranda when
he hears his wife's pious words. He
whirls around sharply.
"Oh. captain, there's one thing l for
got to tell you. And the saber of the
officer Of the day clanks against his leg
as Captain Porter faces about. The
younger officers go ON with their blithe
chat; but Mrs. Berrien has known her
lord twenty long years, and no sooner
has the officer of the day departed than
she hastens to join him.
"Diek," she falters, ''surely you dc
not believe that there is any chance Of
the Twelfth going, even if there should
be trouble? Dick, tell me.
"Berengaria, beloved inquisitor," he
begins, Il didn't even know there was a
row anywhere"
But she rebukes him by single glance.
"Tell me, Dick she persists, and
clings to his arm. 'sYou don't think,
after all we've been through, that, now
thatwe are SO happily settled here, there
is possibility of such thing? 1t isn't
only for myself now. It's-it would
mean more TO Winifred than either Of
us dreams of"
He looks at her in silence and amaze.
Then-then comes sudden distraction.
On the stiffness Of night there rises a
scream of terror-a woman's voice up
lifted in the expression of an awful
shock and agony. Then dash toward
Holden's quarters, every man joining.
'.My Godi" shouts Berrien, ''it's Nita
Guthrie
Following the rush of soldiers feet,
half dozen ladies, too, have hastened,
Winifred Berlien foremost Of the lot.
At the head of the stairs, on the landing
of the second floor, dressed for her jour
ney, lies the fair guest Of the regiment,
a senseless heap, with the blood flowing
from underneath her pallid face.
CHAPTER II.
4s.lI :.