Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-06
FROM THE RANKS
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1894, by the j. B. Lippincott Co..
CHAPTER x.

Perhaps it was as we'll for all parties
that Frank Armitage concluded that he
must have another Whit of tobacco that
night as an incentive to the "think'' he
had promised himself. He had strolled
through the park to the grove of trees
out on the point and seated himself in
the shadows. Here his reflections were
speedily interrupted by the animated
firtations of few couples, who, tiring
of the dance, came out into the GOODNESS
of the night and the seclusion Of the
grove, where their murmured words
and soft laughter soon gave the captains
nerves a strain they could not bear. He
broke cover and betook himself to the
very edge of the stone retaining wall out
on the point.
He wanted to think calmly and dis
passionately. He meant to weigh all he
had read and heard and form his esti-
mate of the gravity Of the case before
going to bed. He meant to be impartial,
to judge her as he would judge any 9TH
er woman so compromised, but for the
life of him he could not. He bore with
him the mute image of her lovely face,
with its clear, truthful, trustful dark
eyes, He saw her as she stood before
him on the little porch when they shook
hands on their laughing-or his laugh
ing-compact, for she would not laugh.
How perfect she was! Her radiant
beauty, her uplifted eyes, SO full Of
their self reproach and regret at the
speech she had made at his expense!
How exquisite was the grace of her
slender, rounded form as, she stood
there before him, one slim hand half
shyly extended to meet the cordial clasp
of his own! He wanted to judge and
be just, but that image dismayed him.
How could he look on this picture and
then on that, the one portrayed in the
chain of circumstantial evidence which
the colonel had laid before him? 1t was
monstrousl It was treason to woman
hood! One look in her eyes, superb in
their innocence, was too much for his
determined impartiality. Armitage gave
himself mental kick for what he term
ed his imbecility and went back to the
hotel.
"It's no use, )" he muttered. "I'm a
slave of the weed and can't be philoso-
pher without my pipe"
Up to his little box of a room he
climbed, found his pipecase and tobacco
pouch, and in five minutes was strolling
out to the point once more, when he
came suddenly upon the night watch
man, parsonage Of whose functions
and authority he was entirely ignorant.
The man eyed him narrowly and es-
sayed to speak. Not knowing him, and
desiring to be alone, Armitage pushed
past and was surprised to find that a
hand was on his shoulder and the man
at his side before he had gone a rod.
"Beg pardon, sir," said the watch
man grufay, "but I don't know you.
Are you stopping at the hotel?'
II am," said Armitage coolly, tax
ing his pipe from his lips and blowing
q cloud over his other shoulder. "And
who may you be?"
ST am the watohman, and 1 do not
remember seeing you come today"
Nevertheless did
ION what train, sir?'
"This afternoons up train"
"You certainly were not ON the omni-
bus when it got here"
Every true. walked over from be-
yond the schoolhouse
You must excuse me, sir. / did not
think of that, and the manager requires
me to know everybody. Is this Major
Armitage?"
"Armitage is my name, but I'm not
major
eyes, sir; I'm glad to be set right.
And the other gentleman-him as was
inquiring for Colonel Maynard tonight!
He's in the army, too, but his name
don't seem to be OH the book. He only
came in on the late train.
Another man to see Colonel May
nard?" asked the captain, with sudden
interest. Just come in, you say? I'm
sure I've no idea What was he like?"
II don't know, sir. At first I thought
you was him. The driver told me he
brought gentleman over who asked
some questions about Colonel Maynard,
but he didn't get aboard at the depot,
and he didn't come down to the hotel
got off somewhere up there on the
bench, and Jim didn't see him.
where's Jim?" said Armitage
"Come with me, watchman. l want
to interview him.. +"
Together they walked over to the
barn, which the driver was just locking
up after making everything secure for
the night.
"Who was it inquiring for Colonel
Maynard?' asked Armitage.
II don't know, sir" was the slow
answer. "There was man got aboard
as I was coming across the common
there in the village at the station. There
were several passengers from the train
and some baggage, SO he may have
started ahead on foot, but afterward
concluded to ride AS soon as I saw
him get in I reined up and asked where
he was going He had no baggage nor
nuthin, and my orders are not to haul
anybody except people of the hotel, SO
he came right forward through the bus
and took the seat behind me and said
twas all right, he was going to the
hotel, and he passed up half dollar. !
told him that couldn't take the money