The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-11-26
THE POISON OF Love.

1t was high neon, midsummer, ana
| Arizona; and though the abode was as
cool as only IN abode can be in fiery
| weather, the major was hopping his
brow in great discomfort.
That's it! that's it!' he calculated.
"Think of sending Il man off on the
| very day before he is to be married.
| It's a bcastly unpleasant thing to nave
to do. But I'm too old for a trip X
that; Gowan's on the sick list, Hcnder-
sons away, T%hompson's wife may dle
n minute. Trowbridge won't be
| back from Grant until early tomorrow
| morning, and you're half dead Ireclous
| hospital we have0 and officer OF the
day besides. Then, moreover, How
| lands about the only II who can nan
die those things right and not make a
mess of it. He's got to go, that's aH!s'
Il might be able to manage the bust
ness; you let him take the sabre ana
I'll 60" suggested Briggs.
You look like it, don't you. Pretty
healthy specimen you'd be to send OH
q ride like that"
ut wouldn't hurt ME, and it might
do MT good. l ask it "s a favor
major" d.
well ! won't. Howland's going
He rang the bell for his orderly and
sent that nnduly erect individual to
find Lieut.. Rowland, give him the COM
manding officers compliments. II say
he would like to see him in the adJu-
tant's Office Immediately.
When the orderly had gone on his
way saluting, Briggs tilted back in his
chair, with its burnt ornament OF =.
M. D., and fingered his sabre-knot, and
watched the flies circling with Il faint
buzz in the centre of the room. II
commandment turned his attention to a
legal cap document much undcrScored
and lined in red ink, and glanced UNI
easily at the door. The official iapcr
did not claim his attention long.
HE can start now and be back by
noon tomorrow"
Yes said Briggs. "he can.'
81 suppose he'll see the reason for
it."
Il suppose So assented Briggs.
"He's a sensible fellow
Eyes. he's sensible" Briggs agreed.
The major felt that his junior officer
was not exactly encouraging. What
the deuce would you have me do theD:'
he snapped.
LET me &C. .
"Yor're as p~ig-headed as a DONKEY
thundercd the major. You shan't go,
l tell you"
"All right, but Id rather not be
around when YOU send Rowland, that's
all. It's a rude Interpretation Of loves
young dream. You've my sympathy,
as you've got the talking to do. Here
he comes. Shall | help you out, or may
/ go?" asked the brave soldier, rising
and looking longingly toward the door
go, by all means, and leave me the
nasty job"
Briggs resumed his seat, his sabre
clanked and he knocked down an army
register for 70. While he was pick
ing it up Rowland came in. He was
the most promising officer in the legi
ment, and was tall and strong and
homely. He had a square jaw and Il
straight mouth, and the jaw looked
squarer and the mouth straigntcr just
now. He foresaW something Umpleas
ant when he caught sight of Briggs
and the major. Briggs was small an(
thin, the major was short and fat, an(
both were unusually impressed witt
Howland's stature.
"E-e-eh," commenced the command
ing officer, and dog-eared the legal caI
document and Strengthened it on
again. "Eh Howland?'
well, sir?"
"Why-eh, I've got to ask you {
deuced unpleasant thing, Rowland"
81 will try to answer it, major"
Not a question. not a question
It's something I've got to ask you tt
do, and. by Jove, I'd rather be shot"
Anything l can do for you l shall b.
most happy to do"
See here. Everybody is sick or ava,
and I'm so old and fat, and Briggs i
just out of a fever bed and hardly abb
to stand. you know, and some n ha
got to go up to the agency and quie
a fuss among the bucks about the bee
issue. Whoever goes has got to z
now and get there in a hurry. l SUI
pose | might attempt it. | suppose
might; but I'd make a mess of the bus
ness. l can't manage those bucks.
lose my temper too fast-and then II
so fat said the major, sadly. "Brige
insists upon going, but you see h
shouldn't; 1 won't allow him It
Don't you see how it is? There's onl
you available"
".Certainly, sir"
I've got to ask you to do it to pr
vent a lot of trouble. l knoVH you al
? to be married Tomorrow, and that
the most disagreeable thing l ever la
: to do, to send you away to-day. 81
you see how it isT' he reiterated.
"Of course, ! see. sir; and Ill go
not exactly with pleasure-but still l
go. l can get back by noon tomorrow
, and thatll give me time to shave az
DRESS" he added, with a grim smile.
They discussed the matter at son
length, and Rowland went to get
his scouting clothes for the long. h
ride through dust as drying and cho
IL ing as flour, and to say good-by to CaI
Trowbridge's youngest daughter.
n Like the princess of fairy lore, S
!, was as good as she was beautiful, al
:, had light hair and brown eyes al
IL dimples and clinging, feminine way
e Rowland was badly in love; had be
l. for several years, but many things Ii
happened to prevent his marriage.
= first he had had a mother and sist
/ to support on Il second lieutenan
II pay; then the sister had married a.
his mother had died, so his fortune W
~ all his own; but at that time Dol
" Trowbridge was engaged to marry |;
ID other man.
When she found that she cared mo
for Rowland than her tiance she bro
the engagement and was meek 4,