News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-07-13

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 and ladies, chat
ting merrily together. The lights are
still blazing in the barracks. The trlm-
peters in full force are grouped about
the flagstaff sounding the last notes of
tattoo. The Holdens have borne Miss
Guthrie away with them, that the ladies
might stow their 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 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 Indies 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
subs" keeping close to Winifred Bel
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 Berrien. 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 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, rs
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 backY
pouts Miss Berrien. 1.-The ambulances
will be here in less than half an hour,
and we won't see anything of her." A
a1, Of fcrir liCl, Afc
views. Mrs. Berrien and Mrs. Parker
at this moment come forth from the
house and look expectant1y up the road.
GLOW long they are!' 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 a 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 a 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
thankedr'
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 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.
"Dick," 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 8
row anywhere"
But she rebukes him by single glance.
"Tell me, Dick" she persists, and
clings to his arm. "You don't think.
after all we've been through, that, now
that we are so happily settled here, there
is possibility of such thing? 1t isn't
only for myself now. list 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 IL dash toward
Holdens quarters, every man joining.
my Godr' shouts Berrien, Its Nita
Guthrie"
Following the rush of soldiers feet,
half dozen ladies, too, have hastened,
Winifred Berrien 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.