Evening journal., 1892-07-27

''N'f' 'F -''fN'f' E''''' 'fiN'l
everybody at Hazlett's waits inpatient
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 or five Of the younger
officers, Brewster, 1.-THE swell of the
snbs," 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 a few low toned words with
Major Ber1ien. Rolfe, who with silent
and dogged resolution has taken his
place at Miss GuthIie's side as she came
down the stah- and escorted her to the
doctors, has turned from there and gone
slowly across the 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 backg"
pouts Miss Berrien "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 mp the road
"How long they are!" says Winnie
again. "What can keep them, mammaT
Packing, doubt not, my child"
"But the wagons gone, trunks and all.
It can't be that"
"Still, l would not fret about it, Win
ME. Has she not promised 20 come next
lspring and pay us a long visitY
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, Winifredl Don't think Of
such thing. After all this regiment
has had to suffer in Indian battle, yor
don't suppose we, of all others, would
be sent from here to a winter campaign
in the northern department? We've
seen the last of such troubles, God b'
thanked"
Major Berrien, his interview with the
officer Of the day ended, has just started
to reioin the group on the veranda wheI
he hears his wife's pious words. H'
whirls around sharply.
"Oh, captain, there's one thing for
got to tell You" And the saber Of thl
officer Of the day clanks against his le.
as Captain Porter faces about, Tn
younger officers go on with their blith
chat; but Mrs. Berrien has known he
lord twenty long years, and no soone
has the officer of the day departed thar
she hastens to join him.
"Dick," she falters, surely You d
not believe that there is any chance o
the Twelfth going, even if there shoul
be trouble? Dick, tell me-"
"Berengaria, beloved inquisitor," h
; begins, Il didn't even know there was
7 row anywhere"
But she rebukes him by asingle glance
"Tell me, Dick" she persists, an
clings to his arm. "You don't think
after all we've been through, that, nol
thatwe are so happily settled here, ther
is possibility of such a thing? 1t ism
only for myself now. Its-it woul
: ! mean more to Winifred than either q
us dreams Of"
He looks at her in silence and amaze
Then-then comes sudden distraction
On the stiffness of night there rises
scream of terror-a woman's voice NJ
T lifted in the expression of an awfU
shock and agony. Then a dash towar
Holden's quarters, every man joining.
, "My God" shouts Berrien, 'its Nit
Guthrie"
Following the rush of soldiers fee
half a dozen ladies, too, have hastene,
s Winifred Berrien foremost Of the 10
At the head of the stairs, on the landin
4 Of the second floor, dressed for her jou
+ ney, lies the fair guest Of the regimen
, a senseless heap. with the blood flown
n from underneath her pallid face.
o CHAPTER II.
# AWN llIMI