The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-16
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BY CAPT: CHARLES klnC-


brother to save whom Malcolm Leale had
periled life and lost his sight, the girls
eyes seemed gradually to open to the utter
cruelty of her suspicious, the injustice of
her treatment of Helen Daunton, the
woman whose life that very brother had
well-nigh wrecked forever. In the long
hours of her convalescence she had turned
to Helen in humility that was sweet to see,
and now the love and trust between them
was something inexpressible. But there
was something even Helen could
neither explain nor justify, and that
was Jack Ormsby's conduct since
her convalescence. True, Ellis had told
him in their last interview that all was at
an end between them, and he had forfeited
trust, faith, and even respect, and placed
a barrier between himself and her forever.
She had refused him further audience, and
her last words to him had been full of
scorn, even of insult. But no word of
anger or resentment had escaped him, and
surely no man who deeply loved would
harbor anger now. Sobbing her heart out,
the girl had thrown herself on Helen's
breast just before their return to Frayne,
and told part of her story until then con-
cealed, how, in their last interview, Ormsby
had gently said that be would vex her no
more with his pleadings, but if time
should ever come when her eyes were
opened and when she could believe him
honest and worthy, he would come at her
call, and she had humbled herself and
called, but all in vain. To Helen she told
the whole story of that humble letter, and
that neither by word nor sign had he
acknowledged it.
But Helen saw ray of hope. The little
note had been intrusted to Wayne late that
Thursday night, and he had promised to
deliver it early Friday morning, and all
that day had Ellis waited eagerly, and
nj pbt faI &c hnI1 ha ,o;+
Wayne came on Saturday to convey some
conventional words of farewell from both
officers, SO surprised to hear of the sudden
return from California, SO sorry not to
have seen them, but time was very short,
and-would she never hear the last of the
Seventh 2-Ormsby had had to attend the
review. at the armory Friday night, and
then there was just time to rejoin Leale
and get him aboard, for their good ship
sailed at A. M. to catch the early tide at
Sandy Hook.
Falteringly, Ellis had asked if he were
sure he had given Ormsby her note-if-if
Mr.. Ormsby had read it. Wayne was quite
positive.
But Helen would not believe, and, with
undated hope, she awaited Wayne's re-
turn to the post. They arrived week be-
fore him, for on leaving his charge at
Washable the previous month he had hur-
ried straight to Washington in response to
a summons from the Secretary of War,
had made his report and then gone to
New York Not until the Monday before
the wedding did he reappear, and then
only by determined effort did Helen cor
ner him long enough for the cross-exam-
nation. "Certainly," said Wayne, 81 re-
member the note perfectly we'll. I put it
with one from the club that found there
and handed both to him together. He'll
be here to, the wedding. He's coming
.irJ,f l0v, rrtfh l.,
if you like
Don't dare ever mention it, major, or
that asked any questions concerning it.
How long has he been back?" asked Helen.
with vivid interest, another question up
permost in her mind.
mot week. Just back, you know. I
only saw him minute. I was Just start
well, and you know / forgot to ask was
Leale better. He was full of his wedding
preparations"
Her wedding preparations-Ki tty's-
you mean, do you not, MAORI"
''No, his; l give you my word. He said
name-part Of it, at least-Effie something.
can't recall it Just now. He'll tell you.
oh, it was all on that account, you know.
Kitty couldn't start sooner. She had to
wait for him"
Helen was astounded. 1t was news she
declared she would never believe, and yet
she remembered having heard mention of
and might it not have been possible that,
in his wanderings-witht the blinded in
valid-with his own sore heart, Jack
Ormsby had met and found consolation
in this fair relative of his stricken friend:
that she in turn had quickly learned to ad-
mire the manly fellow, who was so devoted
to their particular hero? At all events it
wv mot To he
Ellis, said Helen.
But what was the use? Wayne told it
to Lucretia; Lucretia to dozen during
the day. 1t was all over the post before
night, and, despite Helens effort, Ellis
heard it among the first.
One more among the many mishaps
with which to usher in Willis wedding
day!
At 10 that beautiful June morning there
was something more than pathetic about
poor Lucretia's sorrows. While Fenton.
Mrs. FarraD Helen, silent, brave-faced
Ellis, and dozen sympathetic souls from
all over the post were gathered on the
north piazza, overhanging the bluff and
the roaring waters of the Platte, signaling
to Will and watching eagerly his vigorous
movements, the lady of the house re-
manned within doors, wept INCREASINGLY.
and refused to be comforted.
at is dreadful to think of the condition
Inat cnlcKen-salaQ Will be in" she moaned
cit is preposterous to talk to me of pa
tience! I've said all along it was to be an
unlucky day, because you all know per
fectly well-at least if you don't you ought
to-that it is Just thirteen years ago this
day we were all gathered at Fort Crook for
the funeral of Captain Crocus, which was
to take place the moment the ambulance
got in from the front, and the band was all
ready-and the escort and the hearse-and
and after all the whole thing had to be
abandoned, for when the ambulance got in
there were no remains at all-at least there
were, but they weren't ready for burial be-
cause they'd revived and were sitting up
and saying shocking things. Why, I think
wedding without bride is ten times
worse than a funeral without a-without
az
But here, it must be admitted, the burst
Of laughter in which Rorke INDUCED was
too much for her determination to weep,
and, blazing through her tears, the maiden
demanded explanation of his unseemly
conduct. Rorke was permanent member
of the colonel's establishment now, but he
could not risk Miss Lucretia's displeasure
and was wise and knew his danger, and
fed to the kitchen, there to tell the cook
and Chinaman the lady's plaintive mono
logue, while Amory, equally conscience