The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-12-07

dance because she can't dance and
leaves her TO you fellows who have a
conscience aud some idea of decency.
He gives all bis dovotions to Nina
Beaubien, who dances like a eoryphee,
and drops her when Alice Renwick
comes, with her glowing Spanish beauty.
"0h, d-n it, I'm an old fool to get
worked up over it as 1 do, tyou young
fellows don't see what I see. You have
not seen what I've seen, and pray God
you never may! That's where the shoe
pinches, Rollins 1t is what he reminds
me Of, not so much what he is I sup
pose, that l get rabid about. He is for
all the world like a man we had in the
old regiment when you were in swad-
ding clothes, and I never look at Ma
ME Gray's sad, white face that it
doesn't bring back a girl I knew Just
then whose heart was broken by just
such shallow, selfish, adorable sCOun-
No, I won't use that word in speaking
of Jerrold, but it's what l fear. Rol-
Inns, you call him generous. Well, so
he is-lavish, if you like, with his
money and his hospitality here in the
post, Money comes easily to him and
goes, but you boys misuse the term. 1
call him selfish to the core, because he
can deny himself no luxury, no pleas
ure, though it may wiring a woman's
life-or, more than that. her honor
to give it him" The captain was
tramping up and down the room now,
as was his wont when excited. His face
was flushed and his hand clinched.
He turned suddenly and faced the young
er officer, who sat gazing uncomforta-
bly, at the rug in front of the fireplace:
Rollins, some day l may tell you
story that I've kept to myself all these
years. You won't wonder at my feel
ing as ! do about these gOings on Of
your friend JeTrold when you hear it
all, but it was just such a man as he
who ruined one woman, broke the heart
of another and took the sunshine out
of the life of two men from that day to
this. One of them was your colonel,
the other your captain. Now 90 to bed.
Pm going out And, throwing down
his pipe, regardless of the scattering
sparks and ashes, Captain Chester strobe
into the hallway, picked up the first
forage cap he laid hands on and banged
himself out of the front door.
Mr. Rollins remained for some mo-
ments in the same attitude, still gazing
abstTactedly at the rug and listening to
the nervous tramp of his senior officer
on the piazza without Then he slowly
and thoughtfGlly went to his room,
where his perturbed spirit was soon
soothed in sleep His conscience being
clear and his health perfect, there were
no deep cares to keep him tossing On a
restless pillow.
To Chester, however, sleep was i'm
possible He tramped the piazza a full
hour before he felt placid enough to go
and inspect his guard The sentries
were calling S o'clock and the wind had
died away as he started Oh his round.
Dark as was the night, he carried no
lantern The main garrison was well
lighted by lamps, ana the road circling
the old fort was broad, smooth and Dor
deTed ~ a stone coping wall where it
skirted the PERCEPTIONS descent into the
river bottom. As he passed down the
plank walk west Of the quadrangle.
wherein lay the old barracks and the
stone quarters of the commanding off
Ger and the low one stored row Of bach
elor dens, he could not help noting the
silence and peace Of the night
Not a light was visible at any window
as he strobe down the line. The chal-
lenge of the sentry at the old stone tow
er sounded unnecessarily sharp and loud.
and his response Of Officer of the day"
! was lower tnan usual, as though rebuk-
ing the unseemly outcry. The guard
came scrambling out and formed hur-
TiedIy to receive him, but the captain q
inspection was of the briefest kind.
Barely glanoing along the prison corridor
| TO see that the bars were in place, he
turned back into the night ana made
for the line Of POsis along theriver bank
The sentry at the high bridge across the
I gorge and the next one, well around to
the southeast flank. were successfully
visited and briefly questioned as to their
instructions, and then the captain plod-
ded sturdily on until he came to the
sharp bend around the oUtermost angle
Of the fort and found himself passing
behind the quarters of the commanding
officer, a substantial two STORED stone
house, with mansard roof and dormer
windows.