Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-29

InsIinljnJ the hCnry lrC0poH, he hnndcd
a. &"hnissirSiY 10 his inDcriouS ouocn.
officer of the day." said lie. indicating
Kitty. and you will report for duty
instantly.
lsresclute, rejoicing, disappointed
and pcrturbed all in oEe, Farrar stood
one moment hardly knowing what TO
de-, when Kitty seized him Nv one arm,
and Lcaie. noting his embarrassment,
stcpacd to his aid. ...
Il am going tn the guardhousc, Will.
and | will look after your duties thc:c.
Have your dincc and return at your
convenience. The colonel will let you
20 after awhile
AM! then Kitty resumed her sway.
1 silan't dane" one step with YOU until
YOU take that dreadful thing off," said
she. indicating his dangling sbor ard
utterly Ignoring his protest that, as
officer of the gard o. WAS al essential
part of his uniform AID equipment. Her
only response w:;s that he was to re-
member that lie was then OH duty to
her. Take off that sword. sir, and hur-
~ about II. for there goes the band. 2"
And s". rnsliagimg the heavy weapon,
he handed it submissively to his impe-
rious queen. who promptly slowed il
away under the wooden scttee against
the wall and then, cOartesying to her
partner. indicated to him that at last
he was at liberty to lead her to the
dance.
Aud now. smiling. joyous and once
s,Nn L.
light as she bore her sulky prize across
the room. Kitty came suddenly upon
the major. standing incoming and preOc-
cupicd, gazing apparently at the por-
trait If Colonel Farrar, yet, as was
equally apparent to the little knot OF
laughing lockers on, seeing it not at ali.
Kitty was on the point of accosting and
bringing him To himself; bur, with eager
whisper and gesticulations, Amory, Mar
tin and others called her to them.
Don't wake him." they murmured
DO let Aunt Lou have that comfort.
See, she's coming To him now And,
~ what Kitty most wanted at that mo-
ment was AN opportunity tn restore her
interrupted dominion over her angered
lover. and as he was blind and deaf To
ANYTHING but thu consideration Of his
own grievances, personal and official,
Wayne was left In become the central
object of interest, while Kitty drew her
dcr"scd officer of the guard To distant
corner.
Wayne WAS IA study. That he was
struggling to recall some important
matter WAS evident TO all who had long
known him. and for the time being lie
was lost to- all consciousness of sur
rounding sights and sounds and had
fioated off into that dreamland of rem
inisccnce III which only he was thorough
iy at home. One or two Of the ladies
who were at the moment resting from
the dance stood leaning on the arms Of
their attendant cavaliers and watching
with them the result of Lucretia's tim.
Id yet determined approach Almost
tlptoe,nc, as though afraid that her
noiseless football might rudely awaken
HIM, sine WAS stealing to his side. and
presently they saw her lay her hand up-
on his arm and peer trustingly IN into
his face. Thinking only Of him and for
HIM. she. too. then, was almost uncon-
/ sclous or any observation. kindly and
| good natured though it was
Unwilling to interrupt too suddenly
the current Of his mctiitations, she hest
tated before speaking. Then. half tim
idly. she suggested, You like the pic
ture, MAJOR"
Slowly his gaze came down from the
flag draped portrait, and through his
eyeglasses Wayne benignantly regarded
her. Finally his wandering wits return
ed. and he aroused himself to a faltering
answer to her repeated question 1T
makes him lock too DID," he said. II
can't bear anything that looks old. don I
you know" Then, dimly conscious Of
something he might have put IN far
happier form. he quickly strovs to re.