Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-13
had been arrayed against her,


 the circumstances of Jerrold's wager with Sloat and the direful consequences. of his double absences the very nights on which Fred had made his visits, of the suspicious that resulted, the accusa- tions and his refusal to explain and clear her name. Mrs. Maynard felt vaguely relieved to sec how slight an impression the young man had made on her daugh- ter's heart. Alice seemed but little sur prised to hear of the engagement to Nina Beaubien, of her rush to his rescue and their romantic parting The tragedy of his death hushed all further talk on that subject. There was one of which she could not hear enough, and that was about the man who had been most in strumental ill the rescue of her name and honor. Alice had only tender sOr- TOW and no reproach for her stepfathcr when, after her mother told her the story of his sad experience 20 years be fore, she related his distress of mind and suspicion when he read Jerrold' s letter. It was then that Alice said, And against that piece of evidence no man, l suppose, would hold me guilt less?''
 You are wrong, dear" was her mothers answer. Ut was puwerless to move Captain ArmitaGc. He secuted l the idea of your guilt from the moment he set eyes on you and never rested un- til ho had overturned the last atom of evidence. Even had to explain, said her mother, simply to confirm his the ory of the light Captain Chester had seen and the shadows and the form nt tho md If lx- nS IF mitage reasoned 1t out. was wrctched and wakeful, sleeping but fitfully that night. I arose and took some bromide about o'clock and soon aftcrward heard U fall or q noise like one. thought of you and got up and went in your room, and all was quiet there, but | it seemed close and warm, so 1 raised your shade and then left both your door and mine open and went back to bed. II dozed away presently and then woke feeling all startled again, don't you knUw-tho sensation one expert enccs when aroused from sleep, certain | that there has been strange and star ting noise, and yet unable to tell what it was: I lay still n moment. but the l colonel slept through 1t all. and l won dcrcd at it. l knew there had been n shot or something. but could not bear | to disturb him. At last 1 got up again and went tn your room to be sure you were all right. and you were sleeping soundly still, but breeze was begin ming to blow and flap your shade to and fro, so 1 drcW it and went out, taking my lamp with me this time and softly closing yuur door behind me. See how | it all seemed to fit ill with everything else that had happened It took n man l with n will of his own and m unshak en faith ill woman to stand firm against such evidence.
 And, though Alice Rcnwick was si- lent, she appreciated the fact none tho less. Day after day she clung to her stalwart brothers side She had ceased to ask questions about Captain Armi- tage and that strange greeting after the first day or two; but, oddly enough, she could never let him talk long of any subject but that campaign, of his ride with the captain to the front, of the long talk they had had, and then the stirring fight and the magnificent way in which Armitagc had handled his long skirmish line. He was enthusiastic in his praise of the tall Saxon captain. He soon noted how silent and absorbed she sat when he was the theme of discourse. | He incidentally mentioned little things ''hc' had said about ''hcr" that morn 1 ing and marked how her color rose and 1 her eyes flashed quick, joyful, Ques- tioning glances at his face. then fell in maiden shyness- He had speedily gaug- ed the cause of that strange excitement displayed by Armitage at seeing him the morning he rode in with the scout. Now he was gauging with infinite de- light the other side of the question. Then. brotherlilc. he began to twit and tease her. and that was the last of the condolences
 All the same it was an eager group that surrounded the colonel tho evening he came down with tho captains letter. "It settles the thing in my mind. We'll go back to Sibley tomorrow. and aE for you, Sergeant Major Fred, your name has gone ill for a commission, and I've no doubt very deserving sergeant will be spoiled in making very good for nothing second lieutenant. Get you back tn your regiment, sir. and call on Captain Armitage as soon as you reach Fort Russell and tell him you arc much obliged. He has been blowing your trumpet for you there, and as some of those cavalrymcn have sense enough tO appreciate the opinion of such n soldier as my cx-adjutant-snmc of them, mind you: don't admit that all cavalrymcr have scnsc enough to keep them out of perpetual trouble-you came in for I hearty indOrscmcnt, and you II probably be up before the next board for exam ination. Go and bone your constitution and the rule of three, and who was the father of ZCbCtlec' $ children, and tho or der of the PtolemicS and the Sclcucidp. and other such things that they'll k sure to ask you as indispensable to tho mental outfit of an Indian fighter" Il was evident that the colonel was in joy. ous mood, but Alice was silent ShC wanted to hear tho letter. He would have handed 1t to Frederick. but bott Mrs Maynard and Aunt Grace clamored to hear 1t read aloud. 20 he cleared his throat and began:
 'Frcd's chances for a commission arC good, hs tho inclosed papers will show you. but even were this not tho case !. would have but one thing to say in an swcr to your letter-he should go hacl to his troop.
 "Whatever our friends and fellow cit
 izens may think on the subject, I hold ! that the profession of the soldier Is ts the full as honorable as any in civil life and 1t is liable at any moment to b, more useful. I do not mean the ofiicel alone. say and mean tho soldier. A, for me, I would rather be first sergean } of my troop Or company or sergean major of my regiment than any lieuten ant in it except the adjutant Hope O
 promotion is all that can make a subal , terms life e,ldurablc, but the staff scr . geant or the first sergeant, hOnOrUd an' l l.I l.......-..s..l L..