The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21
I; CHAPTER VI.

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For several days trooper Graice had
been in the guardhouse. Absent from
check roll call. from his quarters over
night, and from reveille, he had turned
up at sick call with battered visage
and all the earmarks of a drunken row.
He had been hauled up before sum-
mary court, Major Wayne's first duty
after reporting at the post, and received
sentence of fine with a scowling face
and no word of plea for clemency or
promise of betterment What cared he
for fines? He could win more in night
than they could stop in month. He
was put again doing penance with the
police cart about the post the day the
available transportation came driving
back from the railroad with load of
precious freight, and trooper Graice,
splitting wood in the majors backyard,
dropped the ak with a savage oath and
turned a sickly yellow for one minute
when he heard the busy tongues of the
domestics next door proclaiming the ar
rival Of Lieutenant Farrars mother and
sister. The sentry on duty. over prison
ers babe him stop his swearing and get
to work again, for Captain Leale was
passing rapidly up the walk in front,
and Leale was man whose eyes were
ever about him and whose ears seemed
never to lose a sound, but the captain
merely glanced keenly ar the soldier
with his brace of malcontentS ana hur-
ried on. 1t was he who opened the door
of the stanch Concord and assisted the
ladies to alight-Mrs. Farrar, Ellis, ana
a stranger, a gentlewoman, evidently,
vet one who seemed to shrink from &C
cepting aid or attention, and whose
beautiful blue eyes ever followed Mrs
Farrar. MY friend, Mrs Dauntop, my
older friend. Captain Leale, Of whom
you have heard so much" were the
words in which these two were made
known to each other, while Will and the
servants were tumbling out bags ana
rugs and wraps, even as another ana
similar vehicle was being unloaded in
front of the eolonels. Leale dined en-
familie at the Farrars that evening,
Will proudly presiding, as became the
head of the house and the foot or the
table, and beaming upon his mother,
who sat facing him and rejoicing IN. his
happiness Very bright and coy were
the prettily furnished quarters, for with
boundless enthusiasm, the ladies' OF Inc
garrison had aided the young gentleman
in making them attractive against the
coming of the wife of their honored old
colonel and his fair daughter, and right
after dinner the visitors began TO arrive,
welcoming, army fashion, the old friends
long endeared to all the older members
of the garrison, men and women both,
and. while Mrs Farrar and Ellis had
hosts of questions to ask and answer,
| Captain Leale found himself interested
in entertaining the stranger, to whom
all this blithe and CHEEKY intercourse,
all the cordial hospitable, homellke
army ways, were SO odd and new. IL
was tattoo when he rose to leave, ana
met poor Will without-Wfli, who had
twice gone up to Fenton's hoping to
steal word or two with Kitty, only 10
find that such portion of post society as
was not gathered about his mother and
sister were congregated at the colonels.
and then, fatigned by the journey, and
showing plainly the effect of the excite
ment of her arrival, Mrs Farrar was In
! duced to seek her room, while Ellis re-
| manned in the parlor to chat with others
| still coming in to bid them welcome
home. and not until long after 10 were
| the lights turned down in No. 5, and not
until even later did they CLEAN no long
| er from the big house on the edge of the
| bluff.
Whatever trepidation her friend had
felt as to the effect of this return upon
| Mrs. Farar, ii was soon evident that 1t
was groundless. Even the day on which
| she returned LucretiasS call and was re-
ceived in the familiar rooms, once her
own, she controlled admirably every sign
of deep emotion. She seemed happy IN
being with VIII. her idolized boy. and
was never tired of watching him as he
strobe or rode away upon his various
duties. An admirable soldier was VIII,
as all the officers admitted. Devoted to
his duties, full of snap. spirit and en-
thusiasm, fine drill instructor ard
teacher of the nonconmissioned officers
school, yet ever handicapped by that ex
uberant boyishnezs and by the fact that
to save their souls the old soldiers and
their families seemed to find 1t absolute
| Iy impossible at first to forget him as
'sMasthes Will.r Many OF the old SER
geants and their wives had come to pay
their respects to Mrs. Farrar and to-