The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

sister" said he laughingly, as he bent to
kiss her good-by. aCorporal Rorke IS to
sleep at the house so that you Will not lack
for guards. Where's WHIP"
lies with his mother in the parlor ana
Just too miserable for anything, Sald
Kitty, who, now that she could see for her-
self the preparation for the march, began
not actually to wish that she were man
ana could go too. Ellis, quick to notlce
Ormsby,,s coming, had slipped back WITHIN
the hall and partially closed the door.
Glanclng over her shoulder she could see
that her mother had left her reclining-chair
and was bending fondly over WILL smooth
ing his tumbled hair and striving to soothe
and comfort him, but it was evident that
Will was sorely hurt, for he turned away in
1rrepressible chagrin and distress and COW
cred his face with his hands. Helen Daun-
ton, forgetful for the moment OF her own
bitter trouble, had sought to aid her friend
in consoling the boy but it was her first
experience In such a case. She had never
realized what it meant to proud and am
bltlous young soldier to be held IN garrison
when his comrades were being sent to the
field; and finding presently that she could
be OF little aid she drew away toward the
window to join the chaplain and his wife,
VINO were gazing out upon the parade,
when the stirring notes of the adjutant' S
call came trilling through the hazy moon
light, and with groan that seemed to rise
from the depths of his heart poor Will
threw himself downward upon the sofa,
utterly refusing to be comforted.
Come said the chaplain, in low tone.
''They will be better left to themselves.
Let us go and see the troops form line, !"
and hastily quitting the parlor they came
suddenly upon Ellis, lingering at the outer
door.
mir. Ormsby was saying good-by to
Kitty" she nervously explained, "and
remained here for moment. He is still
there"
Yes, still there, although he had said
adieu to his little sister and the squadron
was rapidly forming on the parade. Still
there, and looking now and then beyond
Kitty's pretty, pathetic little face, clouded
with trouble altogether new to it. Still
there, and longing for sight of the face
he loved as he did no other despite all it's
GOODNESS and aversion. Then they came
faithful helpmeet-the two young and
beautiful women, and at the sight of them
Ormsby suddenly dismounted and passing
the reins to his orderly ran nimbly up the
steps and extended his hand. Goodnight,
chaplain goodnight, Mrs. Ransom. We
count on eating our Christmas dinner here
despite the night march. Goodnight. Miss
Farrar, he added gravely, gently. eve
still hope to be here to wish you merry
Christmas. Please extend my sympathies to
Will. / know how hard it is for him to stay
Goodnight, Mrs. F., Mrs. Daunton,"
he stumbled on, and extended to her the
hand he had withheld from Ellis. ''Oh,
pardon me. Did Farrar give you a note 1
intrusted to him for your"
"Not yet, Mr. Ormsby. He has hardly
thought OF anything but his grief at being
retained here"
''Well, ask him for it before 10 o'clock.
It" and he was hating painfully now,
for Ellis, Withdrawing a pace from the
group, was gazing straight into his face.
"It-it explains itself. You'll understand
it. Goodnight, goodnight all, l must
hurry" And with that he ran down the
steps and out of the gate, mounted
quickly, and, without a backward glance,
rode swiftly away to take his place by the
coloneps side. Another moment and the,
adiutant, galloping out in front of the long
line of horses, had presented the squadron
to Major Wayne, and that distinguished
officer, Unexpectedly awake and lively,
lost no time in preliminaries, but broke
his command at once into columns of four,
and, with the band playing its joyous
march music, and with old Fenton him
self in the lead, away they went down the
winding road to the flats TO the east. Once
out of the garrison the band wheeled out
of column and played the troopers by, then
trotted back to unsaddle for the night.
Men, women and children, the popuIace
of Fort Frayne, gathered along the eastern
edge of the plateau and silently, and in
not a few cases tearfully, watched the col
umn out of sight in the dim, ghostly
light, and then little Trumpeter Meinecke
came out from the guardhouse and trilled
the martial curfew that sent them SILVER
ing homeward = an ominous Christmas
Eve tattoo