The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-03-29

49, - 80 -@--+r fllf-1AlA III A4ElU
simple explanation Of the whole ms.
terry and Of his indignant refusal 10 at.
fach one moments suspicion to her
Shocked, stunned, outraged as she felt
a: the mere fact that such a story had
gained an instant's cTedence III garrison
circles, she was overwhelmed by the
weight Of circumstantial evidence that
/ had been arrayed against her
Only little by little did her mother
reveal it to her. Only after several days
did Fred repeat the story Of his night
adventure and his thcft Of her picture,
+ OF his n2rrog escape and CT his subse.
quent yi1it to Tic cottage. Only grad.
ualiy had her mother revealed to her
I The circumstances Of JeITold's WAGER
4 with Slcat and tho Gireful consequences.
Of Lis double absences thovery nights on
which Fred had made his visits, Of the
suspicious that resulted, the accusa-
tons and hts refusal toexplafa and clear
her name. hrs. Maynard felt " guely
relieved to see how slight an impression
the young man had made on her daugh.
teT's heart. Alice seemed but little sur.
/ prised to hear Of the engagement to Nina
Beaubien, Of her rush to his rescue and
4 their romantic parting. The tragedy Of
his death hushed all further talk On
that subject. There was one Of which
she could not hear enough, and that was
about the man who had been most in
strumental in the rescue Of her name
and honor. Alice had only tender scr.
row and no rcproach for her stepfather
when, after her mother told her the
story Of his sad experience 20 years be.
fore, she related his distress Of mind
and suspicion when he read Jerrold's
letter. It was then that Alice said.
And against that piece Of evidence no
man, l suppose. would hold re guilt.
less?"
You Rre wrong, dear, was her
mothers answer. 1T was powerlcss to
move Captain Armitage. He secuted
the idea-of your guilt from tie moment
he set eyes on you and never rested IN.
I'll be had overturned the last atom of
eyi lencc. Even I had to explain, " said
hel mother, simply to confirm his the
ory Of the light Captain Chester had
seen and the shadows and the form at
the window. It was just exactly as Ar
mitagc reasoned it out. I was wrotchcd
and wakeful, sleeping but fitfully that
night. I arose and took some bromide
about s o'clock and soon afterward
heard a fall or noise like one. I
thought Of you and got up and went in
your room, aid all was quiet there, but
it seemed close and warm, so I raised
your shade and then LETT both your door
and mine open and went back to bed.
! dozed away presently and then
woke feeling all startled again, don't
you lln0w-the sensation ore expert
ences when aroused from sleep, certain
that there has been a strange and star
ting noise, and yet unable to tell what
it was? I lay still moment, but the
colonel slept through it all, and I won
dered at it. knew there had been q
shot or something, but could Lot bear
to disturb him, At last I got up again
and vert to yoUr room to bo sure you
were all right, ard you were ElecL rg
soundly still, blt a breeze was begin.
mig to blow and Zap your shade to and
fro, so I drew it and went ont, taking
my lamp with me this tine and softly
closing your door behind nc. See how
it all seemed TO fit in with everything
else that had happened. It took a man
with viii Of his own ard an unghlk-
en- faith in woman to stand firm against
such evidence.
And, though Alice Berwick was 81.
lent, she appreciated the fact rcLe tie
less. Day after day she clung to her
stalwart brothers. side. She had ceased
TO ask questions about Captain Armi-
tage and that strange greeting after the
first day or two; but, oddly enough, she
could never let him talk long Of any
SUBJECT but that campaign, Of his ride
with the captain to the front Of the
long talk they had had, and then the
stirring fight and the magnificent way
in which Armitage had handled his long
skirnish line. he was enthusiastic in
his praise Of the tall Saxon captain. He
soon noted how silent and absorbed size
sat when he was the theme Of discourse.
Ee incidentally mentioned little things
Fhe' Lad said about 'hcr" that mcrn-
ing aid marked how her colCr rose and
her eyes flashed quick. joyful, qucs-
ticning glsnees at his face, then fell in
maiden sl9yness He had speedily gaug-
ed tie cause Of that strange excitement
displayed by Armitage at seeing him
the morning he rode IN with the scout
Now lie wss gauging with infinite de-
light the other side Of tho question.
Then, brotherlike he began to twit and
tease her, AID that was tie last Of tho
condolences.
All tho same It was On eager group
taat surrounded tho colonel the evening
he came Down with the captain S letter.
ct settles The thing III my mind. Wen
60 back to Sibley tomorrow, and as for
you Sergeant Major Fred, your name
has gere IN for a commission, and I've
10 doubt very deserving sergeant VIII
b spoiled IN making q very good for
nothing second lieutenant Get yea
back to yeur regiment sir. and call en-
Captain Armitage as soon IS yoE reach
Fort Russell and tell him you arc much
obliged. He has been blowing your
iTUmpes for you there. and as some Of
those cavarymen have sense enough to
appreciate the opinion Of such q soldier
as hly ez-ac5 utant-some Of them, rind
goa; I don Il aGlsit that ali eavallynlen
have aease enough 70 keep them oub of
perpetual tsoable-you cane ia for G
hearty Endorsement, and you Il probably
pe up tbefoTB tho nezs board for exam.
nation. Go aud bone your constitution
and tie rule Of three, and who Was the
father of zsbetlee seh!ldzen, ard he Or
der of the Pf6l.55ls;fss ssIirE ff,r pairsi~tslr-