The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21

portion as Mrs. Farrar grew in gladness
and health and new lease of life from her
coming to Frayne, it was Ellis who was
dropping 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 Wills friends, was attention itself
to Wits lmperlous sweetheart w}Fo 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 perhaps 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 a
christmas gathering for the rank and file.
The big assembly-room of the post, over
across the parade, near the old log guard
mouse, was to be the scene of both. In low
ing memory of her husband, Mrs. Farrar
mad had a large portrait painted in New
York, which, beautifully framed, was to
be hung in the assembly-room and given
to the regiment as an Xmas gift. Already
detachments had been out in the Medi-
cine Bow country, bringing IN huge
loads of evergreens and pines, and the
men were hard at work with the decora-
lions. Terry Rorke was in his glory, Tor
as majordomo 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
glad to take hand, and the sounds OF
hustle and preparation we're so like those
that rang throughout the fort three years
before that people feared the thoughts IN
spired by the sounds might only serve to
sadden Mrs. Farrar. But, on the contrary,
she seemed full of sweet and gracious in
terest. Ellis, lowering about her constant
ly, found her own fears allayed. Then
came a typical December evening. Clear
and sharply cold, with abundant snow
under foot and cloudless sky overhead.
The sun had just gone down, after fling
ing his royal robes of red and purple about
the distant mountains. The gun had an
swered with its thunderous salute, and the
flag had come futtering down. Far away
up the canyon the whistle of the express
seemed farewell to Frayne as the train
sped swiftly on its westward wav. They
had been out for brisk walk, VIII and
Kitty Ellis and Lieut.. 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 of the little party came
back dangling their skates in their hands,
anu the Keen air was Joyous viii laughter
and merriment, as they climbed the bluff
under the colonels piazza, and came in
sight of Wayne and Miss Lucretia sedate-
ly 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 to come
over a moment to No. 5 before dressing
for dinner, and there at the gate the party
had dispersed, Ellis and Kitty entering the
Tuha fn them
in little while, and there Mrs. Farrar had
ioyously 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 chattering like
maybe and Ellis listening with only
languid interest, though her mother and
Mrs Daunton were full of smiles and
sympathy, when the Concord went bustling
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 Wills voice was heard without,
JOYOUS, hearty, ringing. by Jove, old fell
low! This is just too good for anything
No, no, come right in, right in here
mother'll be delighted-Kitty' here and
furs were ushered in, and Kitty gave a
scream and precipitated herself upon the
breast of the foremost and Rugged and
kissed and cried over him bit, even as be
was striving to shake hands with Mrs
Farrar, even as his eyes were searching fol
Ellis, even as he was brought face to face
with woman who had turned deathly
white, who strove vainly to squeeze past
him to the doorway, who bowed her head
into her very breast as she sought first to
avoid, then to hurriedly acknowledge the
embarrassed, wondering, troubled saluta-
ton of the new arrival. for at the instant
his eyes fell upon Helen the voice. of Ellis
fell upon his ear: "My mothers friend,
Mr. Ormsby, Mrs Daunton."
And all he could find words to say was
simply her name, Mrs. Daunton?"
ITO be continued.
Copyright, 1895.