The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31

ScAA<aoit bAA o1.C oy0ts i~AtA' 1-~-~---~
noted 1t.
you see some one?" she asked.
A brief nod was tie only answer.
Then, glass in hand. the Captain sudden
ly turned to a side door. let himself out
into another room and thence to the
outer gallery surrounding the house.
Here his view was unobstructed. Two
gentlemen were coming up the path
way from the adjutant's office, and a
soldier in immaculate uniform and side
arms following short distance behind
indicated that the one in uniform was
the post COMMUNICATIVE elder one a
distinguished looking man of nearly
sixty, whose pointed mustache and inn
perial were we'll nigh as white as the
new-fallen snow about him. whose COM
plexion, bronzed by years of exposure
to prairie sun and wind, was ruddy
brown. almost like Russian leather.
Over Leales face fell the same shadow
of anxiety that was noted when he stood
gazing in silence upon the Borrowing
mother at the desk within. The Colonel
was talking in an earnest manner to
the man at his side, civilian so far as
his dress would indicate, yet civilian
with the erect carriage and brisk step
of a soldier-a handsome fellow, too, of
perhaps seven and twenty years. Leale
turned from them in some impotence.
I'D bet a months pay, if ever bet a
cent in the world he muttered to him
self, that old Fenton's nephew had no
thought whatever of hunting when he
came here in midwinter. The question
Is, what else has brought him besides
what have already learned, and why
he hauntS Farrar from morn till night 2"
At the window the fair, girlish face
frightened an instant at sight of the SOL
der coming, then clouded as quickly as
the civilian came in view. Mr.. Ormsby
again." murmured Ellis below her
breath, and the bow of recognition
which she gave him in answer to the
quick uplifting of his sealsSin cap lacked
all of the warmth and interest that
beamed in Ormsby's face at sight of her.
Seeing Leale, the Colonel pressed on to
join him on the northward porch. Catch
ing sight of Ellis, the civilian fell back.
entered the gateway and came briskly
to the door. An instant later and his
step was heard in the hallway. Ellis
turned to the window in something not
unlike aversion. The mother it was who
rose eagerly to welcome the coming
guest.
Prompt as ever. Mr.. Ormsby,' she
cried, as he entered the parlor, fresh and
rosy from the keen outer air. Il wish
you might teach my husband to be more
punctual at luncheon
Indeed, feared I was OBTAINING him,
Mrs. Farrar. He's merely stopped one
moment to speak with Captain Leale.
He was showing me over the barracks.
You have no idea how wildly interest
ing all this is to me. have shouldered
the musket with the Seventh for eight
years and have never visited an army
post before
"Oh, didn't you see your uncle when
he was at Riley? He used to write to
my husband of you time and again, and
of your pride in your regiment
mo; he was in New York on recruit
remember, and we used to get him up
to the armory or to our camp occasion
ally
And he was very, very kind to my
poor boy, my Royle," SAID Mrs. Farrar.
wiStfully, searching the face of her
guest. land when you came to us with
letters from our old friend, for we had
known him before our marriage she
continued, a faint color rising to her
cheek, it seemed almost like welcoming
him. There was nothing too good for
Major Fenton that our home afforded
after all he tried to do, at least. for-for
him." The sigh with which she spoke
seemed to well uD from the depths of
the mothers heart. Ellis, with light
footsteps, had left the room to greet
her father on the piazza without, and
for the first time since his coming, three
days previous, just in time to be hemmed
in and held at Frdyne by the great
snowfall, Mrs. Farrar was alone with
her guest. There is something / have
longed to ask you, Mr.. Ormsby," she
went on, something L must ask YOU
for a mothers intuition is keen, and L
feel sure you have seen. or known my
pOol 10y III Tic past HAVE you heard
do you know anything of him now?
Mrs. Farrar, | give you my word l
have not the faintest idea of his where
abouts.''
Forgive me if I am intrusive-impor-
tunate, she persisted "But-Major
Fenton-he was Major Fenton then, you
know, and / think of him with the title
he bore when he was so good-so friend
ly when my unhappy boy most needed
friends. You were with your uncle
of
not know my Royle?"
Ornsby's honest eyes betrayed the
deep embarrassment under which he la
bored, and she, watching every sign
with painful intensity, read the truth
despite his faltering reply.
''Once or twice, Mrs. Farrar, but /
knew him only very slightly"
Tell me still more, Mr.. Ormsby. You
have been most considerate to me. You
have sought to spare me, but in my
husbands sad face, in his abstracted
manner | have read the truth. He has
heard news-worse news Of Royle, and
you have been the bearer. Is it not SOP
But Ormsby pulled himself together
this time, at least, like a man and
braved her.
Il assure you it is not so. Mrs. Farrar
From me, at least the Colonel has heard
nothing new, nothing worse. 1 beg you
to dismiss the thought"
But he did not say that he had come
prepared to tell, aye, instructed to tell.
of browning disgrace-come with the
written proposition of his employers to
relinquish pursuit of Royle rarrar pro-
vided the father would make good the
sum they had lost through the sons
forgery
God bless you, Mr.. Ornsby, for the
load you have lifted from my heart
she cried. Ever since you came l have
dreaded more and more each day that
you were the bearer of evil tidings of
him who has almost broken his fathers
heart, and yet cannot. must rot, shall
not be beyond redemption if a mothers
love and prayers are of any avail. Even
Ellis has seemed to share my dread.
have read it in her manner as, per-
haps, you have, too She did not mean
to be unkind, inhospitable to our guest
but that sorrow has overshadowed us
all. all. Even my bright, brave WILL
who is doing all boy can do to redeem
the name at the Point-even VIII, / say
is sometimes confronted by the record
that his erring brother left"
The tears were starting from her eyes
now. and in uncomfortable emotion she
turned away Then came a loud rap at
the front door and a servant fastened
to open it. A loud, CHEEKY Irish voice
resounded through the hallway an in
slant later. Corporal Rorke to report
to the Colonel for dispatches" and
glancing thither, OrmSby saw a stout