The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-27

slDle IOny.
'For several reasons answered the Ma
jor "In the first place, he is a gentleman
bred if not born. He is highly educated
has delicate hands and feet, and in man
ners is very graceful. When not in the
saddle he spends his time in reading and
studying (and they do say he writes
sketches of frontier life for the eastern pa
pers), and last but not least in the mystic
rious line he neither drinks, swears, nor
plays cards"
of this is so, Major said Captain
Cameron, "there must be mystery about
the young fellow. l wonder what ever
brought him on the plains ?"
ais his name really Wilde asked Tony
who was by this time really interested.
81 do not know" answered the Major,
''but | heard Diavaloe say once that he
did not believe it was"
"Where there is concealment there must
be guilt" said Captain Barkley. ''For
my part | do not doubt that the fellow is
an escaped conviet-very likely sentenced
for murder, as he is so fond of using his
pistol, sneeringly continued he.
"Why, Captain Barkley,' exclaimed
Mrs. Cameron, "I think it rather unjust
to imagine such things of one of whom we
have heard nothing but good, especially as
you know what cause we have to be CRATE
full to him. and here she related to Tony
the circumstances of her sisters rescue by
Captain Wilde
The conversation was here interrupted
by the entrance Of the servant with re-
freshments, and Tony West, who was
seated by Constance, took occasion to
whisper: "Miss Connie | don't like that
sweetheart of yours bit. He talked like
prig about that brave Captain Wilde,
and always did hate prig."
Connie laughingly answered, and real
fondness for this warm-hearted boy sprung
up in her heart for his defence of him she
loved
"By the way" said Captain Cameron,
II noticed strange advertisement in the
New York Times to-day. am not in the
habit of reading advertisements, but this
one struck my eye. 1t was something to
this effect: "If c. T., who left his home
on such date, q do not remember the
date) in consequence of false accusation
will communicate with Catherine t., he
will find out that he has been fully vindi-
Gated
"0h |" said Tony, 81 saw that last
week. l always read the personals think
them the most interesting things in the
paper" At this there was general
laugh.
"How sad it must be to be falsely ac-
cused," said Connie. ''This poor fellow
now may never see this advertisement.
(which makes good my rule-never
fail to read the advertisements.
"oh, Tony, you are irrepressible, .
laughed alrs. Cameron"
After some slight discussion the party
broke up with the understanding that they
would start early the next morning on a
long -talked-of excursion to Grand Canyon
Falls, magnificent sight about twenty
five miles from Fort Laramie, and near
which there was excellent fishing.
CHAPTER ".
"0h, Renal" exclaimed Constance,
chow much this reminds me of our trip
across the plains. declare I do not be-
lieve have seen the sun rise since the
morning we entered Cheyenne"
The party, consisting of Captain and
Mrs. Cameron, lieutenant Anderson and
wife, Captain Barkley and Connie, and
Lieutenant Manson and Tony West were
accompanied by an escort of ten men. 4
large Government ambulance drawn by
eight mules carried their provisions, tents,
Sibley cooking-sfove, &c.
The officers and ladies rode horseback.
They were about mile out from the post
when Constance exclaimed as she did on
seeing the sun Just rising, Old Major st,
George had opposed this trip at present,
when the news of Black Feathers being
on the waF=path had so recently been for
warded them, and Captain Cameron had
himself been rather dubious about it, but
had been oyerruled by the younger men
and the ladies', to whom the "trip had been
some time promised. They argued, which
was true, that Black Feather had never
been heard of east of Coyote Glen, and
Grand Canyon Falls was twenty miles east
Of that point SO they started, and a de-
lightfpl trip they were having, The only
drawback to the happiness of Constance
was the pressing manner in which Captain
Barkley urged his suit. She had several
times discarded him, but he seemed unable
to believe that she really meant it,
Tony West was a host in himself, and as
they neared the falls about sundown the
evening of the first day that young gentle
man rode up to Comics side, and, seeing
in her smile look of real welcome, deter
mined that there should be no more tete-q-
tete conversation between the tvs if he
could prevent it,
A few hours after the battle at Coyote
Glen, when Captain Wilde had Joined his
squad at the coral. where his herd was
kept at night, a courier rode up with a