The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28

thoughts from her own angry self, she
tore aside the curtain and peered out on
the night. There, not fifty feet away, was
Wills window. There, to her right, the
snow-covered expanse of the parade, ter
minated at the far southern side by the
black bulk of the one-story barracks and
the glistening lights of the guardhouse
tower, where, on the lower floor, the ser
geant of the guard and his corporals held
their sway. Off to the left lay the rolling
slopes, all white and peaceful in their
fleecy nantes and glistening in the moon
light, save where scanned by pathways
leading to the river and disfgured by the
wooden fences of the back yards. Far
across the Platte the red lights burned at
Bunko Jim's and some unhallowed revelry
was going on, for even at the distance the
black shapes of horses could be seen teth-
cred about the premises, and one or two
more dim dots of pedestrians seemed
slowly creeping across the stream. The
post of the sentry on No. 5, at the north
end of the garrison began back of
the colonel's quarters on the point of
the bluff, and continued on to the rear
of the officers quarters at the eastern
side, where it joined that of No. 6, and
even as Ellis gazed from her window she
could see that the two sentries approach
ing each other were apparently having
some conference about the situation.
There was low fence separating their
yard from that next door and the snow
was almost untrodden. There was no
pathway around the bachelor den next
door, as there was around No. s. Post
servants and orderlies thought nothing of
utilizing the Railways of quarters occupied
solely by subalterns. The back gate stood
open, as she could see, and the board walk
leading from it to the rear door was visible
for half its length. That had been Clearly
swept during the day, and, leading from
the gate diagonally across the yard
through the snowdrifts was the track of a
man, and right at the rear corner of the
bachelors quarters, half concealed from
the front and peering eagerly around, evil
IDENTIFY studying the windows of the ground
floor of the house occupied by the ladies of
the Farrar family was the man himself-a
big, burly, heavily bearded fellow, fin
the fur cap and rough great coat of the
cavalry.
certainly fascinated, Ellis hung at the
window, she heard the party breaking up
downstairs, heard Leale wishing them
cordial goodnight and closing the door.
The silent watcher heard that, too, for at
the sound of the slam, without which few
frontier-made doors were ever known to
shut, the dark figure popped back and re-
manned out OF sight until Leale's soldlerly
form had gone striding away down the
row. Then once more, slowly, cautiously,
it came partially into view, steadily scru-
tiniZiDg those lower windows.
Ellis was a soldiers daughter and no
coward. She was conscious of an impulse
to throw open the window and challenge
the skulker, but even then her mothers
slow step was heard ascending the stairs,
and Helen's sweet voice, as the latter came
on to assist her.
Indeed, you need not, Helen" Ellis
heard her say. II have grown better and
stronger with every hour, every hour.
Even the sadness has been sweet. Even
the old scenes have brought new comforts.
Even the new sorrow has brought relief
and peace"
You have not yet told me of that, nor
have you told Ellis"
'She shall know, and so shall you, dear
friend, tomorrow. Tonight l want to
kneel-I want to be alone" Then Ellis
heard her hand seeking the knob of the
door. Hastily she turned to meet her
mother at the threshold.
''You are better, Queen Mother, God be
thanked. You have looked better every
day. VIII you-not come in, Mrs. Daun-
ton?"
'Thank you. no; not just now. VIII go
and put out the lights and leave you two
together a while. [ know Mrs. Farrar is
pining for peep at her soldier boys win
dow
-
and Ellis darted eagerly forward.
lone moment, mother, dear" she cried.
'tLet me draw the curtain; it doesn' t work
WELL
And with the words she boldly threw
aside the heavy curtain and noisily, osten-
tatiously raised the sash. Just as she be-
lieved would be the case the skulker,
alarmed, sprang back behind the corner of
the adjoining house and deep within its
shadow. Wills light was still burning
brightly, and in her clear, silvery voice his
sister called his name. Hell answer in
a minute, mother. Don't come to the win
dow yet, she added. Then again, "Willy,
Willy"
And, as though answering her call, as
though watchful, ready, eager to serve,
even though unsummoned, another form
came suddenly into sight on the moonlit
walk in front, and voice she well knew
hailed from over the low picket fence:
"Will has just gone up our way, Miss
Farrar. l brought him a message mo-
ment ago. Can be of any service?" And
there, of course was Jack Ormsby.
Thank you, no. was the answer, in
cold constraint. II had no idea he had
gone or that you were there. Mother
merely wished to speak with him a mo-
ment," and with that she meant to dismiss
him, but her mother, panied by her tone
of constraint and GOODNESS toward one
W0OIn sue ueTSelI 81 greatly llkSu, Cdule 10
the window herself
ELLIS, you are not even courteous to that
honest gentleman" she said, in tones of
gentle reproach. Mr.. Ormsby," she
added, in cordial tone, 'are you going
anywhere? Are you busy2"
Entirely at your service, Mrs. Farrar.
l found myself de trop at the house after
the colonel took his nightcap and his
leave, so 1 came out for stroll. The major
and Aunt Lou are trying TO remember
where they left off last night, and Kitty,
fancy, is bullying the lieutenant.
"Then, would you mind coming in one
minute? have little packet that l want
Willy to find on his dressing table when
he comes in
Mother !" pleaded Ellis, almost breath
lessly, "I-I-''
Hush, dear. Mr.. Ormsby will be glad,
/ know"
And Mr.. Ormsby was only too glad.
Promptly he came to the door. Promptly
he was admitted by Mrs. Daunton, who
stood with palpitating heart at the foot of
the stairs
THANK you so much.' was Mrs. Far
rar's hail, from the landing above. at is
in my room and will be ready in one
minute, if you will kindly step into the
parlor."
And then, as Mrs. Farrar passed on into
| her room and with no audible word Mrs