The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-12-10

Stein and other elders, ana did his best
to amend. It was Terry Rorke that was
incoTigible. Time and again he broke
the rules he laid down for himself, and,
as Terry had been the household
"striker" in the days when it was Cap
tain Farrar, and they first lived at
Frayne, he found especial favor in the
gentle eyes Of the endowed mother, and
was encouraged to come and see her, for
in all that crowded garrison he alone
could recall her irstborn-her hand
some, daring. dashing Royle, when he
was boy Of IA.
To all the world he was an outcast,
but the mothers heart had never yet
been able to quench the flame of love
that, burning like beacon in her pure
and prayerful heart, seemed ever beck
oning to him to return. Yes, Terry
Rorke had never forgotten "Masther
Royle," and he alone could come and
talk with her Of the son when all the
rest of the world would only too gladly
believe him dead and forgotten.
Thrice had Will, busting into the
hallway, as was his custom, without
knock or ring, come suddenly upon his
mother in conference with his old
friend and hers, and Rorke had sprung
to attention and stood like statue and
had striven to say "the lieutenant
and not ''Masther WILL" in his refer
ence to his officer, but Will plainly
showed he thought this frequent COM
ing an imposition. Mother, DEAR
said he one day, eff old Rorke is an
noying you by coming so often, I can
give him gentle hint"
Annoying? Why, Willy, dear, l
love to talk with him. He was the most
faithful, devoted creature we ever
knew. All through your boyhood he
watched over you, and he was almost
the only friend your poor brother seemed
to have"
II appreciate all that, mother,' said
Will, tugging uneasily at his budding
mustache. ''at least try to, but all the
same, you know, it isn't the thing. Of
course Rorke never presumes exactly, I
understand that. and he only comes be-
cause you bid him, and then it is only
to the back door and all that, but still
it's the effect Of the thing on the other
men, and it's time he was learning to
understand I'm decidedly no longer
Master Will"
All, there was the rub! Two days be-
fore in the presence of Wills fair little
ladylove had one Of Rorke's lapses &C.
CURED, and the lieutenant had been
Masther Willed and had redeemed to the
roots of his hair, seeing which Kitty
Ormsby, as determined as ever lived,
had taken to calling him "Masther
WHIP on her own account, and thun-
derstorms were imminent. There were
other fellows, presentable fellows, in
the garrison who were quick to feel the
fascination of this charming little niece
of Fenton's, and just the moment Will
showed disposition to sulk she show
cred smiles and sunshine on the first
subaltern to appear, and thereby drove
Will nearly rabid. Had his comrades
ventured to dub him "Masther Will"
there would have been a row. Had any
of the other bellies of the garrison so
transgressed he would have turned his
back upon her then and there, and SO
elegant dancer and reputably wealthy
young officer was not to be offended,
even before Kitty came. But Kit could
and did torment him without mercy
and without fear of consequences, and
before she had been at Frayne week
was making life burden for the fellow
who had prayed for her coming as its
sweetest blessing.
And SO, like the big outside world,
the little community Of Fort Frayne
was living its life of hopes and fears,
smiles and tears, love and jealousy and
hate, while Kitty had speedily made
herself completely at home and was
tyrannizing over everybody at the colo
nel's as we'll as over Will, ana torment
ing Aunt Lucretia by making eyes at
Major Wayne, who never saw them,
while Wayne had got to drifting over
to his new colonel almost every even
ing, just as 20 years before he infested
the quarters of his old friend at Leaven-
worth, rousing once more all the f1ut-
tering of that Eiaidenly heart, and,
while Mrs. Farrar, rejoicing in the evil
dences of love and reverence in which
her husbands name was held on every
side and in the honors Will was win
ming in his chosen profession, and even
while she found comfort in the fact that
one faithful old friend could recall her
hayward boy as he was before dishonor;
and disgrace had swamped him, she
would have been less than woman had
she been insensible to Fenton' repressed
but unvarying devotion.
Never intruding, rarely calling, he
was gentleness, tenderness, personified
in every look and word. It was evident
that all these years had never served to
Danish her image from his heart
Mourner though she may be, can wom-
an live and not rejoice in knowing her.
self the object Of so much love on every
side? Widowed though even by few
brief months does she resent it that the
man lives who would be glad to teach
her to forget? Life was not without ro-
nance, then, even to one who had lost
her best beloved not three years gone by