The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-11
THE POISON OF LOVE

EIe 34fGSazt ONCE. IN tSoSosS2 RS~s~s
with the csY1cer cs the day.
II was high noon. midsummer. and Arr
roma, and though the adobe was as cool
as only an adobe can be IN nery weacfief.
ne major Was mop2lag his brow in great
discomfort
That's It, that's it,'' he CALCULATED.
Think OF sending q man OF on che very
eve Of his wedding. the very day BEFORE
he is to De married It's a beast-y IN
pleasant thing 10 have 10 do. But I'm TOO
old for a trip Ike that. Gowan's on the
sick HIST. Henderscns away. Thompson
wife may die any minute. Troworicge
won'e be back from Grant until early to-
morrow morning, and you're half deao
tprecso0s hospital we have9 and officer on
the day besides. Then. moreover. How
iands about the only one who can handle
those things RICH; and not make mess
Of il. He's got 10 so. that's all"
81 might be able 70 manage the bust
ness: suppose you ief him take the sacex.
and I'll CO." suggested Briggs.
.You look like II. now. don't you! Pretty
healthy specimen you'd be 70 send on .
ride like that"
1T wouldn't hurt me and it might do
me good. / ask Ii az \ favor. major.
well, won't. Howiand's going. He
rang the bell for his orderly and sent that
unduly erect individual TO find Lieut..
Rowland. give him the commanding OF
ncer's compliments and say he would IKE
TO see him in the ad5utAnt's once imme-
diately.
When the orderly had gone on his way
saluting, Briggs tilted back in his chair,
with Its burnt ornament Of @. NJ d., ana
fingered his saber knot. and watched the
flies circiing with a faint buzz In the CEN
ter OF the room. The commander turned
his attention to q legalcap document
much underscored and lined In red ink.
and glanced uneasiiy at the door. The
officiai paper did not claim his attention
long. 'sIe can start now and be back BY
noon tomorrow"
Yes" said Briggs. ''he can"
81 suppose hen see the reason fcr n
IT suppose so.' assented BriggA
'sHe's a sensible fellow"
"Yes, he's sensible" Briggs agreed.
The major felt that his junior officer
was not exactly encouraging. What the
deuce would you have me do. then?' he
snapped.
You're as pig-headed as a donkey"
Numbered the major. You shant 60.
tell you"
"Aif right, but ia rather not. be around
when you send Rowland, that's all. It's
a rude interruption of loves young dream.
You've my sympathy, as you've GOT tho
talking to do. Here he comes. Shall
help you out, or may I go?" asked the
brave soldier, rising and looking longingly
toward the door.
'sGo. by all means, and leave me the
nasty job"
Briggs resumed bis seat. his sa,ber
clanked, and he knocked down an army
register for 10. While he was picking ii
Up, Howfand came in. He was the most
promising officer in the regiment. and was
tall and strong and homely. He had
square jaw and straight mouth, and
the jaw looked suuarer and the mouth
straighter Just now. He foresaw some
thing unpleasant when he caught sight OF
Briggs and the major. Briggs was small
and thin. The major was short and fat,
and both were unusually impressed with
Howland's stature.
'E-e-eh" commenced the commanding
officer. and dog-eared the legalcap docu-
ment and Strengthened It ont again. 'Eh.
Howland?"
why, eh, I've got to ask you . deuced
unpleasant thing. Rowland"
II will try to answer 1t. major"
Not question, not question. It's
something I've got to ask you to do, and.
by Jove, I'd rather be shot"
Anything I can do for you I shall be
mos. happy to do"
See here, everybody is sick or away,
and I'm SO old and fat, and Briggs Is just
out OF a fever bed and hardly able TO
stand. you know. and some one has got
to go up to the agency and quiet fuss
among the bucks about the beef issue.
Whoever goes has got to go now and get
there in a hurry. ] suppose I might at
tempt IL, l suppose I might; but I'd make
a mess Of the business. ] can't manage
those bucks. / lose my temper too fast.
and then I'm 80 fat" said the major. sad
ly. Briggs insists upon going, but you
Don't you see how il Isl There's only you
available"
Certainly. SIRE
I've got TO ask you TO do II to prevent
4 lot OF trouhe. know you are to be
married tomorrow, and that's the most
disagreeabie thing I ever had to do. to
send you away today. But you see how It
is he reiterated.
'Of course, ! see. sir: and I'll go-not
exactly with pleasure--but still. I'll go.
can get back by noon tomorrow-and
thas'll give me time to shave and dress"
he added. with grim smile.
They discussed the matter at some
length. and Rowland went to get on his
scouting clothes for the long, hot ride
through dust as drying and choking as
-four. and TO say Eood-by 10 Capt. Trow-
orffges youngest daughter.
Like the princess OF fairy lore. she was
as good as she was beautiful. and had
light hair and brown eyes, and dtn,p,as
ana clng;ng. feminine ways Rowland
was badly In love: had been for several
years, but many things had happened TO
prevent his marriage. At first he had had
a mother and sister 10 support on Sec
cnd lieutenant's pay; then the sister had
married and his mother had died. so his
fortune was all his own: but at tina, time
Doris Trowbridge was engaged TO marry
another man.
when she found that she cared moro
for Howisn6 than for her fIance. she
broke the engagement and was meek and
fearful and ashamed OF herself for a
month, until she and Rowland arranged
things satisfactorily between them. They
were 10 have been married six months
before. but Rowland was ordered OF on a
scout; and three months after that she
bad been at the point OF death: so now.
though The season was unpropitious, they
had determined 70 take time by the fore
lock, make the most OF the chance Wis.
% a clergyman. and be married In the
middle Of July.
A; this juncture Rowland was being
sent away and he grew deSnerate
Nevertheless, he said gooe-hve 70 ,it.le
Miss Trowbridge with exemplary calm
ness. ana was more careful, than shs no.
to show depression.
Your come back. surely. won't yous''
she bexvet.
"cf course I will. xoosry. Dor-t GO
10 tne agency on an average OF twice a
nsorth nearly ell shs tirner''
Il know. But this seems different"
Rowland agreed with her. but he laughed
at her for al that.
It's ike the legend Of Sir Olaf ssu,.
TT He went away the night before he