The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-12-17

(CONTINUED.)
! wayne nau gone, the servants HAD re-
tired, and still the pleasant friendly
chat went on. It was all we'll enough
SO far as Malcolm Leale was concerned,
but why should her mother SO utterly
confide in one of whom she knew SO lit
tie and of whom Ellis was beginning to
suspect so much? Why should Helen
Daunton be allowed to accept those I'M
mistakable attentions from Captain
Leale even when her actions plainly
showed that there had been some mys-
terious tie between her and Jack Orms-
by in the past?
Then, again, came recollections of the
note she had seen her slip in Ormsby' s
hand that night, and, longing for some
! body, for something, to distract her
thoughts from her own angry self, she
tore aside the curtain and peered out on
the night. There, not SO feet away, was
! Willis window. There, to her right,
the snow covered expanse of the parade
terminated at the far southern side by
the black bulk Of the one story barracks
and the glistening lights of the guard
house tower, where, on the lower floor,
the sergeant of the guard and his cor
porals held their sway. Off to the left
lay the rolling slopes, all white and
peaceful in their fleecy mantles and
glistening in the moonlight, save where
scanned by pathways leading to the river
and disfgured by the wooden fences Of
the back yards.
Far across the Platte the red lights
burned at Bunko Jim's, and some un-
hallowed revelry was going on, for even
at the distance the black shapes of
horses could be seen tethered about the
premises, and one or two more dim dots
Of pedestrians seemed slowly creeping
across the stream. The post of sentry
on No. 5, at the north end of the garri-
son, began back of the colonel's quar-
tiers on the point of the bluff and contin-
ued on to the rear of the officers quar-
tiers at the eastern front, where it join
ed that of No. 6. and even as Ellis gazed
from her window she could see that the
two sentries, approaching each other,
were apparently having some conference
about the situation. There was low
fence separating their yard from that
next door, and the snow was almost un-
trodden. There was no pathway around
the bachelor den next door, as there
was around No. 8. Post servants and
orderlies thought nothing Of utilizing
the Railways Of quarters occupied sole
~ by subalterns The back gate stood
open, as she could see, and the board
walk leading from it to the rear door
was visible for half it's length. That
had been clearly swept during the day,
and leading from the gate diagonally
across the yard through the snowdrifts
was the track Of man, and right at
the rear corner of the bachelors quar-
tiers, half concealed from the front and
peering eagerly around, evidently study
ing the windows of the ground floor of
the house occupied by the ladies Of the
Farrar family, was the man himself, a
big, burly, heavily bearded fellow, in
the fur cap and rough greatcoat of the
cavalry.
Even as, half alarmed, half annoyed,
yet certainly fascinated, Ellis hung at
the window she heard the party break
ing up down stairs, heard Leale wish
ing them cordial good night and clos
ing the door The silent watcher heard
that, too, for at the sound of the slam,
without which few frontier made doors
were ever known to shut, the dark fig
ure popped back and remained out Of
sight until Leale's soldierly form had
gone striding away down the row. Then
once more, slowly, cautiously, it came
partially into view, steadily scrutiniz-
ing those lower windows.
Ellis was soldiers daughter and no
coward. She was conscious Of an i'm
pulse to throw open the window and
challenge the skulker, but even then her
mothers slow step was heard ascending
the stairs and Helen's sweet voice, as
the latter came on to assist her.
Indeed you need not, Helen" Ellis
heard her say. II have grown better
and stronger with every hour, every
hour Even the sadness has been sweet.
Even the old scenes have brought new
comforts. Even the new sorrow has
brought relief and peace
''You have not yet told me of that,
nor have you told Ellis.
''She shall know, and so shall you,
dear friend, tomorrow. Tonight want
to kneel; I want to be alone" Then
Ellis heard her hand seeking the knob of
the door. Hastily she turned to meet
her mother at the threshold.
"You are better, Queen Mother, God
be thanked You have looked better
every day. Will you-not come in, Mrs.
Daunton!'
''Thank you, no; not just now. I
will go and put out the lights and leave
you two together for awhile. know
:; Mrs. Farrar is pining for a peep at her
soldier boys window. Already Mira
Farrar was moving thither, and Ellis
darted eagerly forward.
zone moment, mother, DEAR" she
cried. "Let me draw the curtain-it-
it doesn't work WE'LL