Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-22
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
That night Ellis Farrar was as wake.
full IA the sentries ON their SHOW bound
posts. IL was after midnight when she
returned from progressive whist ut the
doctors, and though luck had befricnd.
cd her and kept Ormsby from her SIDE
she had been able at times to watch him
when chance brought him near Helen
Daunton. She noted with jealous mis-
cry the appalling look in Helen's eyes
WHEN once they We're for an instant left
to themselves. She could have sworn
she saw little scrap of paper handed
Ormsby at that moment and quickly
slowed in his waistcoat pocket. But the
rest Of the evening it was Lcale who
devoted himself to Helen and Lcale
who escorted her home, ard this fact
Ellis saw was something that seemed to
give Ornsby no concern whatever. Had
she not been blinded by her suspicious
she would have seen that poor Jack had
only one real source of trouble that
night. and that was her own determined
avoidance of him.
Wheels within wheels were whirring
in the garrison. and Ellis Farrar was
pcrplcxcd and worried more than she
could say. Even placid, garrulous Aun,
Lucfctia was involved in the recent
complications. for within the PAST three
days Major Wayne had been on 10 less
than three occasions III clOso and con.
tidcntial talk with Mrs. Farrar. q talk
that on one occasion lad left the gentle
invll Il in tears and from which she had
gene To her room and was found there
On hrr knees by Ellis half an hour lat
or. Explanation was denied her ut tie
time
'Eut now. Ellis, dear" was the
pleading answer. 81 cannot talk to-
night. Later-afrcr Christmas-I will
tell you all about it," And with this
the girl had perforce been content Yet
here again she Inuuracd because while
refusing to tell her own daughter the
reason IT hcr tears and agitation Mrs.
Farrar had welcomed Helen 20 her room
and found sOlace and comfort III her
society.
This lovely. placid. r.oonlit night,
"a th'J came away from DT. Cray's,
old Fcnton was plainly disappointed
and Lucrctia ~ plainly disturbed when
Mrs Farrar quietly and pcssessivcly
took the majors arm and led him. raih.
or than leaned upon his strength, on the
homeward way. Ellis. escorted by Mr
Martin-anythirg 10 get away froin
Ormsby this night-had hurried home.
ward and then To- her room and out Of
sight. yet noted how long her mother
detained the dreamy major at the gate.
while Lcale and Helen Daunton con
verscd III the little parlor There had
been gathering ut the Amorys that
same evening. a little dinner party. as
Mrs Amory expressed it, lin honor of
those who are engaged and those who
ought To- b.. and pretty Nell Willetts,
captains daughter. and young Alton
al IL troop were the first named, ard
Lewitching Kitty and Willy Farrar. one
couple, at least. included in the second
Mrs. Amory was charming hostess
She was Of an old Kentucky family. had
wealth and beauty tn add 10 her charms
ana had been wooed and won by her
dashing husband long years before.
when he was boy lieutenant doing
kukluS duty in the distant south. She
declared Will was u dark eyed edition
of just what her Frank was in the early
seventies and that Kitty Ormsby was
TOO like ] was 30 yUhs ago To- INV.
thing" And Mrs. Amory was 40 loval
KcntUckian rs never to forget even
the sweet. soft dialect Of the blue grass
country she so fondly loved. Ellis. to
Mrs. Amory's relief, had begged off the
dinner, saying she felt che ought not to
DO away from her mothers side lust
now. and frankly explaining to Mrs
Amcry the apprehensions they all felt
ON that mothers account. especially at
this trying time, So near the anniver.
sary of the colonel's death.
With all the worldly goods with which
she had endowed her husband 30 years
gone by. pretty Mrs. Amory couldn Z
add to the government allowance OF
quarters and her dining room would on
~ hold ten; 50. Is Ellis wasn't especial
ly interested III any man at the past
despite the attentions paid her by Mar.
tin. Jessup and other available fellows.
Mrs. Amory wisely decided her to be
deeply interested III somebody far away
and knew the man the moment Ormsbv
came. so Ormsby and Ellis. as has been
said, went TO whist and came away dis
satisfied anf unhappy. and Will and
Kitty went TO dinner and dance IT
Amory's aud had thrilling tiff. rs a
result Of which she refused to ask hin,
In when he took her home. even though