The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-08

-NNN@N> pNS'' - Sh'heo MhitO oOlulSlst
from sheer sense of duty and justice, in
terposing against their own kind to save
the red man. III your coming they
would read only treachelJ and would
argue that you came to urge their re-
manning so that we might join our
whitc brethren in surrounding and wip-
ing them out of existence. Whatever
you urged, even in my name, they
would be sure not to do. No, 1 must
sond Warren. They know him we'll and
trust him" But Fenton was thankful
he had SO good an excuse, for even with
out it he could not have brought himself
to send Marjorie Farrar's only remain
ing son upon mission that might provo
periloas--that would certainly seem
perilous in her eyes,
Fastening to the ohaplain's as soon
as Thorpe made his melodramatic exit,
Ormsby was met ut the door by tho good
old dominic himself and begged him to
say to Mrs. Farrar that there was no
cause for alarm. There had been fight
between Indians and cowboys several
miles away, and Colonel Fenton had de-
cided to send force out to keep the
peace. She heard his voice, and family
but eagerly asked that he should como
i'll. 1t was Helen, not Ellis, who bore
her message-Helcn, who noted with
comfort, and Ellis, with mixed emo
ton, hat the mother had learned to
lean upon this stanch and devoted
friend. Mrs. Farrar took his hand and
looked appealingly up into his face as
he briefly told her what had happened
and what the colonel had decided to do.
"Will Willy have to go?' was her
one question, and, ignorant as yet that
Lealo's troop would be designated to re.
main, Ormsby gravely answered that he
presumed the entire command was or
derod out. But" he added reassur-
ingly, THAT fact itself is the surest
guarantee of peace. There can be no
further disorder in face of SO strong
forcc''
For answer she bowed her head and
hid it in her slender white hands No
wonder it seemed as though Christ
mas ever brought its tragedy to her at
old Fort Frayne.
And then came diversion that was
merciful. There was rush Of light
footsteps, futter Of silken skirts on
the porch without, a bang at the door
and III came Kitty, flushed, disheveled,
fearful, indignant
whats this about Willy's going?'
she demanded "Where is he? What
business has he- Why, he cannot go,
Mrs. Farrar. Hos engaged to me for
the german tomorrow night
There was something so comical In
her utter inability to understand tho
gravity Of the situation, to realize that
soldiers duty far outranked oven 70
solemn compact as an engagement to
dance with his sweetheart, that even
Mrs. Farrar forgot her grief and appre-
heusion for the moment and opened her
arms to the imperious little lady and
drew her to her heart.
"Ah, Kitty, you have the same lesson
to learn that had long years ago. F." she
cried as she sought to soothe and coi-
sole the child, but Miss Ormsby was In
no mood for pctting. She was up In
arms She was heing dofrauded. Unclo
Fenton had no business whatever to
send Willy away on such quest rat
such time. 1t was worse than incon-
siderate. 1t was outrageous, and then
Mrs Farrar's face went white again as
she asked what Kitty mcaut, and then
Kitty's nerve gave way, and she buried
her bonny face on that motherly shoul.
der and burst into tears.
81 thought you'd heard, !" she sobbed.
"Thcy have only just told me. Captain
Farwell came homo to change his dress,
and asked him where Will was, and
he said he left him Offering his services
to Uncle Fenton to ride ahead to the
Indians, and lie wanted to know il 7
didn't think Will was trump. l
don't--I didn't think it's simply
h-h-heartless in himp'
And then Mrs. Farrar raised her eyes
appealingly to Ormsby, and he went
without word. He knew what she
needed and hastened in search of Will.
He found him at Fenton's, whittier he
had accompanied the colonel, and where
no was still pleading and tugging at
his tiny nuStache and tramping up and
down and biting his nails, while Fen
ton, in the adjoining room, was calmly
getting out Of his dress clothes and into
winter field garb.
Would you mind dropping this and
going down to the chaplain's and COM
fortln9 your mother and my sistor?"
said Ormsby as soon as he could got in
O word edgcwise
Eyes Go, WILL" said Fonton, "and
tell her that there is nothing whatever
in this affair to worry about. We're
merely going to bring old Big Road mp
here to take Christmas dinner at the
fort. There's no chance for fight or
you should go along. No, it's useless
! arguing, my boy. I'd do anything for
you that's right, but this is absolutely
unreasonable on your part. Now 80 and
| tell those two blessed women that You re
to remain on guard over them, and
they'll rise up and call mo blessed-at
least they ought to.
And so, finally, Ormsby got the pop
perry young fellow out OF tho house aud
fairly started, Ormsby keeping pace with
him as he strobe exoitedly from the
| room.
81 want you to do something for me,
Will, " said he in low tone as they
hastened along. I'm going with the
command, and haven't b moment TO
spare. Give this note 60 Mrs. Daunton
for me as soon as possible after you
reach tho house. May rely upon your"
And rs no spoke he held forth an en-.
velope, evidently snugly filled, and Far
rar took it mechanically and without
reply. The boy was thinking only Of his
own disappointment. "Do you under
stand, WHIP" persisted Ormsby. "It is
of great Importance that she should