The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-03-01

Captain Wilton, Major sIoat, wish
to see Captain Chester at once. Is lie
in the Officer"
Certainly. Miss Beaubien. Shall I
call him, or viii you walk in?" And
both men were at her side in a moment
Thanks. I will 20 right inf you
will kindly show me TO him.
Another moment, and Arlnitage and
Chester, deep IN the midst of their du-
ties and surrounded by clerks and order
lies and assailed BY half a dozen cues
tions in one and the same instant. looked
up astonished as Wilton stepped in and
announced Miss Bealbien, desiring TO
see Captain Chester on immediate bust
ness. There was no time for conference.
There she stood in the doorway, and all
tongues were hushed on he instant.
Chester rose and stepped fo.war with
anxious courtesy. She did not ch9csc to
see the extended hand.
1t is you, alone, l wish 10 sec, cap
tain. Is it impossib' 9 hoTe?"
al fear it is, Miss Beaubien, but We
can walk out II the open air. feel
that 1 know what it is you wish to say
to me, he added in a low tone, took
his cap from the peg on which it hung
and lei the way. Again she passed
through the curious but respectful
group, and JeIrold, watching furtively
from his window, saw them como forth.
The captain turned to her as soon as
they WIRE out Of e0rshot:
II have no daughter Of my own, ny
dear young lady, but if I had I could
not moro thoroughly feel for you. than
l do. How can I help you?"
The reply was unexpectedly spirited.
He had thought to encourage and sus-
tain her, be sympathetic and paternal;
but as he afterward ruefully admitted,
he never did seem to get the hang Of a
woman's temperament. Apparently
sympathy was not the thing shoIoelcd.
''It is late in the day to ask such a
question, Captain Chester. You have
done great wrong and injustice. The
question is now, Will you undo it?'
He was too surprised to speak for a
moment When his tongue was TN
loosed, he said;
81 shall be glad to be convinced 1
was wrong.
II know little Of army justice or
army laws, Captain Chester, but when
a girl is compelled to take this step to
rescue a friend there is something brutal
about them, or the men who enforce
them. Mr. Jerrold tells me that he is
arrested, I knew that last night, but
not until this morning did he consent to
let me know that he would bo court
martialed unless he could prove where
he was the night you were officer Of the
day two weeks ago and last Saturday
night. He IS too noble and good to de-
fend himself when by doing so he might
harm me- But I am here to free him
from the cruel suspicion you have form
ed. She had quiCkenod her step, and
in her impulsivenes5 and agitation they
were almost at the end Of the walk. He
hesitated, as though reluctant to 80
along under the piazza, but she was in
perious, and he yielded. No, comeW
she said. Il mean that you shall hear
the whole truth, and that at once. l do
not expect you to understand or condone
my conduct, but you must acquit him.
We arc engaged, md-I love him. He
has enemies here, as / see all too plain
ly, and they have prejudicad mother
against him, and she has forbidden my
seeing him. Icame out to the fort with
out her knowledge enc day, and it an
gered her. From that time sic woIld
not let me see him alone She watched
every movement and came with me
wherever ] drove. She gave orders that
I should never have any of CIR horses
to drive o. ride alone-L, whom fdLCI
had INDUCED to the utmost and who had
ridden and driven atwill from Ily baby
hood. She came out to tho fcrtv with ne
that evening for parade aud never even
agreed to let me go out to sec some
neighbors until she learned he was tC
escort Miss Renwick She had ordered
me to be ready to so with Lor to Che
quamagon the next day, and 1 would
not go until I had seen him. There haC
been a misunderstanding, I got the SUIT
tons to drive me out while mother sup
posed me at the Lauronts, and Mr.. Jer
rold promised TO meet me east Of the
bridge and drive in town with rs, G-lC
I was to send him back in Graves
buggy
"He had been refused permission &
leave the post, he said, and could 70
cross the bridge, where the senUie
would be sure % recognize him, but a
it was cur last chance Of meeting b,
risked the discovery OF his absence, ney
er dreaming OF such thing rs his pr
vate rooms being inspected. He had
little skif down in the willows that b.
had used before, and by leaving tn
party at midnight he could get home
change his dress, run down the banl
and row down stream to the point thcr
leave his sll1f AID climb upto the road
He met us there at o'clock, and tn
Suttoas would never betray either Of US
though they did not know we were en-
gagged, We sat in their parlor 4 quartz
Of an hour after we ges to town, ant
then 'twss time to 60, and there VIC
only little 10 minutes walk down t
the stable. had seen him svch a yer
short time. and l had So much TO tel
him. Chester could have burst int
raptnroua applause had she been an &c
tress, Hcr cheeks we're ailame, he
eyes It'll Il Ire and spirit. her GoaoE
heayillg, her little. foot tapping til
ground, IS she stood thego leaning o
the colonel s 1Snce. and looking sraigE
up il the per7urbed Veterans face. Sh
was magnificent, he SAID TO himself
and IN he bravery, self sacrifice and IL
2 dignatioa she was, 1t was then ate
Z, ard / could Just rs we'll 80 with hil