Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-11

ArmitUJC and thC sergeant Of cdrdlrL
 IcCrc riding side by side.
 close attention to all the dragoon was saving. All were eager to hear the par ticularS of the condition of affairs at the corral, and all were disposed to be en- viOus of the mounted captain who could ride alongside the one participant in the reScuing charge and get it all at first hand. The field officers, of course, were mounted. but every line officer marched afoot with his men, except that three horses had been picked up at the rail way and impressed by the quartermaster in case of need. and these were assigned to the captains who happened to com mand the skirmishers and fiankers.
 But no man had the faintest idea what manner of story that tall sergeant was telling. It would have been of in tereSt to every soldier ill the command, but to no one so much so as to the two who were his absorbed listeners. Armi- tage, before their early march, had frankly and briefly set before him his suspicious as to the case and the trouble in which Miss Renwick was involved. No time was to be lost. Any moment might find them plunged in fierce bat tie, and who could foretell the results, who could say what might happen to prevent this her vindicatiOn ever reaching the ears of her accusers? Some men wondered why it was that Colonel Maynard sent his compliments to Cap tain Chester and begged that at the next halt he would join him. The halt did not come for q long hour, and when it did come 1t was very brief, but Chester received another message and went for ward to find his colonel sitting in lit tie grove with the cavalryman while the orderly held their horses short space away. Armitage had gone forward to his advance. and Chester showed no sur prise at the sight of the sergeant seated side by side with the colonel and in con- fidential ConvcrS, with him. There was a quaint sly twinkle i'll Maynard's eyes as he greeted his old frieItl.
 Chester. said he. II want you to be better acquainted with my stepsOn. Mir. Renwick. He has an apology to make tc you.
 The tall soldier had risen the instant he caught sight of the newcomer, and even at the half playful tone of the colo nel would relax in no degree his soldier | ly sense of the proprieties. He stooG erect and held his hand at the salute only very slowly lowering it to take tn, l one so frankly extended him by the cap tain, who. however, was grave and quiet
 T have suspected as much since day break, - he said, and no man Is glad der to know il Is you than 1 am
 ''YOu would have known it before sir. had I had the faintest idea of tn danger in which my foOlhardiness Ina, involved my sister. The colonel has toll you of my story. have told him an Captain Armitage what led to my ma freak at Sibley, and while have muc to make amends for want to apologiz for the blow I gave you that night O the terrace. I was far more scared tf ! you were, sir.
 ''I think We can afford to forgiv him. Chester. He knocked us bot out, said the colonel
 Chester bowed gravely. That Wa the easiest part of the affair to forgive, he said. and it is hardly for me, prt sume, to be the only one to blame th sergeant for the trouble that has il volved us all, especially your household colonel"
 Ut was expensive masquerading, { say the least, ' replied the colonel, ''br he never realized the consequences uI til Armitage told him today. You mu! hear his story in brief, Chester. It needful that three or four of us kno' it, so that some may be left to st things right at Sibley. God grant us a safe return"' he added piously an with deep emotion II can far bette appreciate our home and happiness tha, could a month ago Now, Renwick tell the captain what you have told us And briefly it was told-how in hi . youthful fury he had sworn never agai to set foot within the door of the fathe : and mother who had so wronged tn poor girl he loved with boyish fervol how he called down the vengeance ( heaven upon them in his frenzy an distress; how he had sworn never agai to set eyes on their faces May Go strike me dead if ever return to thi roof until she is avengedi May he des F with you as you have dealt with heri was the curse that flew from his vii lips, and with that he left them, stun ned He went west was soon pennilesl and caring not what he did, seekin change, adventure, anything to tak him out of his past, he enlisted in Il