The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-04
FROM THE Ranks
Continued from Page 10.

Even Mrs. Maynard could not but
see the pride and comfort this letter
gave her son. Her own longing was to
have him established in some business
in the east, but he said frankly he had
no taste for 1t and would only pine for
the old life in the saddle. There were
other reasons, too, said he, why he felt
that he could not go back to New York,
and his voice trembled, and Mrs. May
nard said no more. 1t was the sole allu-
sion he had made to the old, old sor-
row, but 1t was plain that the recovery
was incomplete.
The, colonel and the doctor at Sibley
believed that Fred could be carried past
the medical board by little manage
ment, and everything began to look as
though he would have his way. All
they were waiting for, said the colonel
was to hear from Armitage. He was
still at Fort Russell with the headquar-
ters and several troops Of the ---th
cavalry. His wound was too severe for
him to travel farther for weeks to coms,
but he could write, and he had been
consulted. They were sitting under the
broad piazza at Sablon, looking out at
the lovely, placid lake and talking it
over among themselves.
II have always leaned on Armitage
ever since / first came to the regiment
and found him adjutant, said the colo
mel. IT always found his Judgment
clear, but since our last experience l
have begun to look upon him as infalli-
ble."
Alice Renwick's face took ON food
Of crimson as she sat there by her broth
er's side, silent and attentive Only
within the week that followed their re-
turn-the colonel's and her brother's-
had the story of the strange complica-
tion been revealed to them. Twice had
she heard from Fred's lips the story Of
Frank Armitage's greeting that frosty
morning at the springs. Time and again
had she made her mother 60 over the
colonel's account Of the confidence and
faith he had expressed in there being a
simple explanation Of the whole mys-
tery and Of hts indignant refusal to at
tach one moments suspicion to her.
Shocked, stunned, outraged as she felt
at the mere fact that such story had
gained an instant's credence In garrison
circles, she was overwhelmed by the
weight of circumstantial evidence that
had been arrayed against her
Only little by little did her mother
reveal it to her. Only after several days
did Fred repeat the story Of his night
adventure and his theft of her picture
of his narrow escape and of his subse-
quent visit to the cottage. Only grad
ually had her mother revealed to 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 see 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 in the rescue Of her name
and honor. Alice had only tender sor
row and no reproach for her stepfather
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 S
letter. 1t was then that Alice said,
"And against that piece Of evidence no
man, suppose, would hold me guilt
less?'
"You are wrong, DEAR" was her
mothers answer. 1T was powerless to
move Captain Armitage. He secuted
the idea Of your guilt from the moment
he set eyes on you and never rested un-
til he 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 at
the window. It was just exactly as Ar
mitage reasoned it ont. / was wretched
and wakeful, sleeping bat fitfully that
night. l arose and took some bromide
about 8 o'clock and soon afterward
heard fall or a 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 raised
your shade and then left both your door
and mine open and went back to bed.
81 dozed away presently and then
woke feeling all startled again, don't
you know-the sensation one expert
ences when aroused from sleep, certain
that there has been strange and star
ting noise, and yet unable to tell what
it was? 1 lay still moment, but the
colonel slept through it all, and won
dered at it. / knew there had been q
shot or something, but could not bear
to disturb him. At last / got up again
and went to your room to be sure you
were all right, and you were sleeping
soundly still, but q breeze was begin.
ming to blow and flap your shade to and
fro, so drew it and went out, taking
my lamp with me this time and softly
closing your door behind me- See how
1t all seemed to fit In with everything
elso that had happened. 1t took man
with will Of his own and an unshab-
en- faith in woman to stand firm against
such evidence. "
And, though Alice Renwick was 81
lent, she appreciated tho fact none the
less. Day after day she chung to her
stalwart brothers. side. She had ceased
to ask questions about Captain Armi-
tage and that strange greeting after the
first daysor two; bat, oddly enough, she
could never let him talk long of any
~ Al..L a L