Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-18
CHAPTER I.

The snow was mantling tie wild
waste Of barren prairie stretching TO.
ward che white peaks Of the Big Horn,
shrouding its desolation, hiding IT'S ac-
customcd uglincSs ard warning scout. |
soldier or cowboy to look well TO his
landmarks before vcnturirg forth upon
its tracklpss sea, for even the cattle
trails were hidden and the stage road
lost 20 view. Between its banks OF clis- |
tcning white the Platte rolled black and
swollen. fer q rare thing had happened
ono 30 rare that old trappers and
traders said they never knew the like
before since first they sighted Lar
me" u ak or forced the passes Of the
Medicine Dow--.hcre had been three
days Of softly falling snow and not o
whisper Of Wyoming gale There had
been thaw in the Laramie plains, pre-.
coded by "a soft south wind in the park
country Of Colorado. ard whole fcecy
hillsidcs, said the natives, were slump.
ing Off" in the upper waters Of the
river. And that was how the Platte
came TO he tossing high its wintry wave
under the old stockade ut the ferry and
sweeping in power. instead Of sleeping
ih H'ts''s
the huge bluff where waved the colors
of old Fort Fraync.
The roadway winding from the river.
side up 70 the adjutant's Office at the
southern end of the garrison was still
unbrckcn. The guard ut the fcrryhouse
had been withdrawn, and rs for the
veteran stockatlc. sole relic Of the early
days of the overland stage route, it
looked now in its silence and dcsola.
ton, heavily capped as IL was with its
weight 81 snow, like some huge, fiat
teued out charlotte de russe-at least
that was what Ellis Farrar, daughter
of the post commander, likencd it to
as she pccrcd from the north window of
their cory quarters ON the crest Of the
bluif. And to think Of Christmas be.
ing almost here and not chance Of
getting wagon through from the rail.
way, che murmurcd, land SO longcd
tomako it bright and joyous for mother!
IL is always her saddcst season."
These low toned words We're addressed
to Captain Lealc Of her fathers rcgi-
mcnt. n strong. soldierly looking man
of nearly 10 years, who, with fieldglass
in hand. had been studying the wintry
landscape TO tho north and east. He
turned ~ the young girl spoke. and.
lowering his glasses. followed her eyes
and looked anxiously across the bright
army parlor to where the freight from
the blazing logs upon the hearth fell
full upon natronly woman whose
luxuriant hair was already turning gray.
and whose sweet, patient face bore the
unmistakable trace of deep sorrow. She
was seated mt u desk, an unfinished let
ter before her, and had paused in the
midst 81 her writing aud dropped off
into tho dreamland Of faraway scenes
and memories. From q drawer in the
desk she had taken what was evidently
portrait, q small photograph, and had
been intcntly studying il while the only
other occupants Of the room were busy
ut the window.
1T is-you know-Roylc's. my
brothers picture. whispered Ellis. Il
know it, though haven't seen it In
ever so long-iive years, think.
Again the captain bowed. inclining
his head i'll the slow, grave way that
was habitual with him. II know" he
said briefly. and tho gaze he fixed upon
his coloncl's wife was full of anxiety
and sympathy. II have often wished
that your fathers promotion had
brought him to any other garrison in
the army. You remember he was sta
toned here when Lieutenant colonel,
and it was from here that Royle went
10 West Point
II remember it but vaguely. That
was nine years ago, captain. and I was
but :. We saw him during his cadet
furlough two years later-in 1ss8-and
that was the last. Mother only rarely
speaks Of him. and father never unless
unless" she added. with timid ap.
peal, ''he docs To you. Docs hep
Captain Lcalc paused a moment be.
fore replying. Only that very morning
had his colonel talked with him. the
most trusted Of his troop commanders.
If Wis long missing brother. Only
within an hour had Earrar sought again
his advice Us To- one whom he could no:
bring himself to name and referred 70
in shame and sorrow ~ my eldest. -
and only rarely rs my SON" First
born Of the little flock, the boy had
been given his father name. The only
child for several years. pctted. spoiled
overindulgcd by fond. pure hearted
mother, then reared among the isolated
army garrisons Of the far west. tn,
handsome. headstrong. daring youth
but all too early had shown tendcnc,
10 wild companionship and reckless liv
ing Few men in the cavalry arm Of tn,
service were held in higher esteem thar
Colonel Royle farrar. who. entering tn
service with the first regiment TO b,
sent to- the front from New York city ii
the spring Of 1861. had fought his wa,
to the command Of brigade in the las
campaign and then been commissioned
as q junior major Of cavalry at the re
organization Of the regular army Tn
president himself had rendered Farrar
long afterward. cadetship for his son
and it was gratefully yet almost fear
fully accepted. The mother could no
be brought TO believe her boy would no
strive to do honor TO his name at tn
Point. The father dreaded that tn
wayward, reckless fellow, intolerant o
restraint or discipline. would meri