The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21
BROS,
az-8D =. ILLINOIS ST..

the whole truth They who watched
soon saw that even in proportion as
Mrs. Farrar grew in gladness and health
and new lease of life from her coming
to Frayne, it was Ellis who was droop-
ing day by day. Yet proud and plucky,
and determined, the girl bore up against
her sorrow, redoubled her devotion to
her mother, strove hard to interest her
self in Wits friends, was attention it
self to Wills imperious sweetheart, who
little dreamed what thought of brother
Jack was really in that hidden heart,
and was making heroic effort to believe
that all would yet come right, and per-
hapS Jack too, when there came an odd
adventure and renewed jealousy and
dismay.
Only four days more to Christmas
eve All preparations were being made
for a genuine old-fashioned Christmas
ball for the officers and their families,
and Christmas gathering for the rank
and file. The big assembly room or the
post, over across the parade, near the
old log guardhouse, was to be the scene
of both. In loving memory or ner nus
band, Mrs. Farrar had had large por-
trait painted in New York, which, peau-
tifully framed, was to be hung in the
assembly room and presented to the
regiment as Christmas gift Already
detachments had been out in the Medi-
cine Bow country, bringing III huge
loads of evergreens and pines, and the
men were hard at work with the dec
orationS. Terry Rorke was In his glory,
for as major dono of the Farrars long
years before he had never let the year
go by without rigging up the Christmas
trees and the bright feStoonS OF green's
Even Crow Knife, heather though he
was from Terry's Catholic point of view,
seemed clad 70 take a hand, ana the
sounds OF hustle and preparation We're
so like those that rang throughout the
fort three years before that people
feared the thoughts inspired by the
sounds might only serve to sadden Mrs.
Farrar But, on the contrary, she
seemed full of sweet and gracious inter
est. Ellis, lowering about her constant
IL, found her own fears allayed. Then
came a typical December evening. Clear
and sharply cold with abundant snow
under foot and a cloudless sky over
head The sun had just gone down.
after finging his royal robes or req ana
purple about the distant mountains.
The gun had answered with It's thunder
Gus salute, and the FLAG had come fiut-
tering down. Far away UP the canyon
the whistle of the express seemed
farewell to Frayne as the train sped
swiftly on its westward way They had
been out for a brisk walk, Will and Kit
~ Ellis and Lieutenant Martin, her
brothers chum. and several other young
people of the post. There was good
skating down the Platte. where the snow
had been swept away, and many or the
little party came back dangling their
skates in their hands, and the keen air
was joyous with laughter and merri-
ment, as they climbed the bluff under
the colonefS piazza and came in sight
of Wayne and Miss Lucretia sedately
spooning at the gate, and far out on the
road to the station they caught sight OF
the Concord spinning postward with the
mail, and Kitty was persuaded 10 come
over moment to No. before dressing
for dinner, and there at the gate the
party had dispersed, Ellis and Kitty en-
tering the house, where VIII promised
to ioiu them in little while, ana there
Mrs. Farrar had joyously welcomed
them, and there they were seated, the
four. while the servant came in to light
the lamps and draw the curtains. and
Kitty was chatting like nlagpie. ana
Ellis. listening with only ianguid inter
est, though her mother and Mrs. Daun-
ton were full of smiles and sympathy,
when the Concord went busting up the
road without and still the chat went
on. for no one there was interested IN
the Eastern mail just then. and all on a
sudden Wits voice was heard without.
Joyous. hearty, ringing: by jove, old
fellow. this is just too good for any
thing Mono come right in. right in
here-nother'H be dclighted-Kitty's here
and Ellis" And the door opened and
big burly men in furs were ushered in,
and Kitty gave scream and precipi-
fatef herself upon the breast of the fore
most and Rugged and kissed and cried
over him bit, even as he was trying
to shake hands With Mrs Farrar.
even as his eyes were searching 1or