The Portland daily press., 1895-11-16

cavalry, has been ordered 10 re5Mn nio
troop at Fort Keogh, Mon. Lieutenano
Strickland has been absent on sick leas1
a.'sl recruiting service for over three years
AIRS. Bolton read it over several tinnes'
not quite grasping the words, yet CYL
scious Of the meaning. Her lips felt Coiu'
and the blood hummed in her head. Inen
wainwright came and was greeted WIN
smile even sweeter and gayer and happiei
than usual. Only twice she seemed no-
tie absentminded and did not answer
question, but she caught herself Win
laugh. wainwright thought he had never
heard her laugh so easily. He asked her
if she had had good news.
every. The resurrection Of ones youth
full pleasures is always SO sweet-intensey
sweet. Don't you think soP"
This time wainwright did not understand
her.
Mrs. Bolton wondered what Strickland
would have thought of her now, II no
could have overheard what this brass puo
toned Adonis was saying to her and whaD
she was allowing him to say. Yet when
Bolton came in from the cold, snowy,
windy, outside world, bis brother at arms
and his wife were languialy discussing tne
outcome Of the rifle contest, Q topic wnloh
it did not occur to him was Slightly threao-
BARE
And the affair went on apace, stGaaliy
developing. Even the men began to VOL
der what was coming. Strickland arrived
The day he drove into the post, the mules
of his ambulance drew up painting in
front Of Recommending officers beside
sleighing party about to start on. StrlcK
land recognized among the fur wrapped
figures that Of Eleanor Bolton. She was
humming HJingle Bells" He wondered
why her lips were so tightly drawn. he
ascribed it to the cold, but it was not be.
coming. They had not been SO of old. VI
old-he shook himself impatientiy, that
was what he was going to forget, as that
merry woman in the sleigh evidently had.
Eleanor stopped her song to greet him.
There was nothing more than the ordinary
exchange Of civilities not even covert
glance nor the tremulous smile of fiction
Strickland replied to her spoken hope that
she should see him soon that he would
surely call upon her at the earliest possible
moment.
~ didn't know you knew Mr.. Strick-
land, Mrs. Bolton. Why didn't you tell
us3" asked thewoman in the seat in front
Of her, turning around.
Yes, knew him several years ago, be-
fore I was married.
'What's he like2 Will he be an acquisi-
tionP'
ooh, think SO. What's he likeP Well,
the motto Of the Chevalier Bayard will tell
you that.
Strickland found wainwright with Mrs.
Bolton when he called on the following
| day. Bolton was at the troop quarters.
| After time wainwright went away. When
| the Navajo blanket portiere had fallen be-
| hind him, there was moments pause
only moment's-a look Of inquiry on
both sides, an understanding and resolve,
then the ball Of frivolities rolled on.
After Strickland had gone Eleanor stood
looking out over the snow covered parade
ground, watching the shadows that the
flagstaff and flag threw in the straight,
white rays Of the setting sun. First call
for retreat was just sounding. She lis
tened to the notes that shrilled out across
the white prairie in a wailing, defiant
challenge and followed the trumpeter with
her eyes as he went into the adjutant's Of
flee, with one of the post ours at his heels.
Then she drummed on the window pane
with her finger tips and tried not to think.
But in the next few weeks she thought
a great deal, for two people, for Strick-
lands reasoning powers had left him, and
he was back under the spell of years be-
| fore-a noxious spell now. There was
only one thing of positive, unassailable
| good left to Mrs. Bolton; it was Strick-
land s respect; only one unshattered ideal,
| Strickland himself Beside these his love
| was as nothing to her. She must keep
| them at all costs, but to do that she must
civ 10 love- nd 4 In
had said nothing as yet, but she knew that
| he soon would. The one man whom she
had endowed with superhuman strength
| was about to show himself weak, and be-
cause of her. To stop his fall and her own
| would cost her much. But she would do
| it. Whatever the regiment thought,
Strickland should always believe her to be
| noble woman.
The moment when Eleanor Bolton put
out her slender arm to stop the downfall
of two desperate creatures came sooner
than she had expected. She walked beside
Strickland, keeping step with his regula-
ton stride, for she was tall enough to do
it with ease. They had been strolling in
the keen night air. Her hands tore the
lining from her muff, but her voice was
low and even:
dA bUIIy yOu SeiQ sbu1u, OdCh, oue
knew you would, Perhaps it's just as we'll
to have it over with. Oh Jack, if you only
could know, If you only knew You have
been unhappy, you say, but have been
unhappier. I've been flirt I know it,
but wasn't always SO, was I? didn't
firt with you, Jack, and you know 1t.
honestly fancied was not worthy of you.
I thought I was doing a painful duty. I
was only II then, remember, and wor-
shipped you more than loved you. Now
II love you more than I worship you. I
thought you had forgotten me, that's all.
Do you know what I've done, jack?
One is not charming woman for moth
ing The powers that be are like other
men. One Of the powers took fancy to
me once, and have made use of it, Fred
will be ordered away from here within q
few days. asked the power, as special
favor, to be taken away from this purga-
tory as soon as possible. He granted my
petition. OF course didn't tell him why.
I suppose he will think it's the climate.
Tf,cs Lort co R11t IL ia You'll see Ii some