The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21
CHAPTER y-tcontinued.)

Twice or thrice he accoSted Graice and
strove to draw him into talk, but the
newcomer seemed to shut up like an oys-
Ter in the presence of the Irish corporal,
and was surly and defiant in manner,
a great contrast to the joviality he dis
played when soliciting comrades to take
a hand at cards. The recruits had hard
Nv any money left. Graice had won
what little there was when on the way
TO Frayne, and now he had wermed his
way into the gambling set that is apt to
be found in every fort-all corners who
have money being welcome-and for
few weeks fortune seemed to smile upon
the neophyte. He knew, he protested,
very little of any game, but played for
fellowship and fun. Then he kept sober
when others drank, and so won, and
then came accusations of foul play and
a row, and the barracks game was
broken up, only to be resumed at night
in the resort across the Platte, and there
whisky was plenty, and SO were players,
and there Graice began to lapse into in
temperate ways, and by the time the
long, long nights of December came, his
reputation as tough was established
throughout the garrison. All but three
or four of the most dissolute members
of the command had cut loose from him
entirely, a matter he regretted only be-
cause pay day was at hand. The sol
ders would then have money in plenty
for few short, feverish hours. The
squatters and suffers had none until
the soldiers were strapped" and SO
Graice and three or four Ishmaelites like
unto himself were left to the concentra-
ton of brutality to be found in one an
others society.
The winter. as has been said, set in
early and when December came duties
were few and hours for sleep and recrea-
ton were many. Time was hanging
heavily on the hands of those whose
brains were empty, and there was re-
1ocing among the households along Off
GERS row and in the quarters of the mar
ried soldiers, for Christmas was not far
away. Garrison balls were all the go
among the rank and file. Hops were
frequent among the officers and ladies,
and, while other soldier SWANS found
bliss and enjoyment in the society of the
half dozen maidens wintering at the
fort-guests and relatives of some of the
officers familieS-one inconSOlable fellow
watched and waited, watched and wait
ed. with feverish Impotence for the COM
ing of certain train on a. certain day,
for the coming of mother and sister to
his own roof, revisiting as inmates or
the quarters of the junior second lieu
tenant the post where three years gone
by they had occupied the house OF the
commanding officer. But boy Heuten-
ants do not consume with feyer1Sn long
ing for the coming of blood relations
Proud and glad as was Will F'arrar at
the idea of welcoming the queen mother
and sweet sister Ellis to his roof, 1T must
be owned that the thrill of his impa-
thence was all due to the fact that the
same train was to bring Miss Kitty
Ormsby to become for the time being an
inmate of the army house now presided
over by loquacious Aunt Lucretia.
And Will Farrar was not the only man
in this big, busting garrison to look Tor
ward to this coming with strange ana
sweet emotion. There are natures upon
which the first strong, fervent love OF
manhood leaves an impress 1ndelple
even when the object OF that love mas
passed out of ones life, possibly INTO
the keeping of another and happier man.
Aunt Lucretia couldn't understand why
on earth her brother, the Colonel, should
be so fussy and excited about Kitty
Ormsby's coming. Why on earth should
he insist on sending way to Cheyenne
for new carpets, curtains, furniture, and
all manner of contraptions, to say notn-
ing of swell new uniforms from New
York, all because that precious nttie
chit of a niece was coming 10 spehu
"
thought it was ridiculous. OF course, 1t
was her brothers own affair. He was
well-to-do bachelor, with no one but her
to take care of, and he could DO as ne
pleased. especially when he pleased to
insist on surprising her with some
charming addition to her ma1denly store
of gowns and furbelows and k1cksnaws.
Really the idea of Kitty's coming ana
turning everything topsy-turvy In the
household didn't strike her as being SO
inappropriate now after all, for Aunt
Lou, whom Kitty had not seen in years
was still young and volatile enough 70
feel the influence of dress upon ones
views of life and from being actually IN
censed at the initial excitement and
preparation, Lucretia first grew recon
ciled then, as her own remembrance
came with the early installments or
goods and chattels, manifestiy interest
ed, and later infected with all her broth"
er's marked enthusiasm, for one Won
derful day Lucretia almost tainted with
excitement and delight when the Coiohel
came over from the office. wearing q
face of unwonted perplexlty ana olsa nay
and. when the maiden asked the cause,
her virgin heart stood still an instant,
then fiuttered wildly at his reply
THAT blessed old day dreamer Wayne
is ordered here for duty. why. y, Loru'
yes, / remember.
Nearly twenty years before. when she
was but a girl of nineteen. and Wayne
lone suhaltern, there had been lons
winter in which life seemed 10 nave no
joy for either Wayne or Miss Fenton
save in the hours spent in each other 5
society Every one at LeavenWorln
vowed they must be engaged. indeed
Lucretia believed it must come any day'
but the days dragged on. Wayne came
ever, but the fateful words We're never
spoken un to the moment when ne was
ruthlessly hurried away to bear MS part
on a frontier campaign, and rarely, ana
then only for moment or two, had tney
ever met again. Wayne was one OF the
wonders of the army, the best fellow
that ever lived in almost every way,
said almost every one who. knew him.
and yet at once trial and delight.
Without exception, he was the most alb
sent-minded, dreamy man in all the SER
vice. and the stories of his -absurdities
were innumerable. 1t was Wayne who
asked Miss Sanford to the german at
Ieavenworth and was found playing
whist at the Generals at 10 O'Clock. 1t
was Wayne who kept dinner waiting for
his arrival at the same Generals two
evenings later and was found by the or
DERBY on his way to town 10 call at the
rector's 1t was Wayne who appeared
at a garrison hop one evening IN cavalry
trousers and a black claMham1ner,
Wayne who implored his brother ofilcers
fIxrt rom inn