Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-11-12
CHAPTER vi.

That night Ellis Farrar was as wake.
full as the sentries ON their snow bound
posts. It was after midnight when she
returned from progressive whist at tho
DOCTORS. and though luck had befriend-
ed 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 appealing look in Helen's eyes
when once they were 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 Leale who
devoted himself to Helen and Leale
who escorted her home, and this fact
Ellis saw was something that seemed to
give Ormsby no concern whatever. Had
ahe not been blinded by her suspicious
abe 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
perplexed and worried more than she
could soy. Even placid. garrulous Aunt
Lucretia was involved in the recent
complications. for within the past three
days Major Wayne had been on no less
than three occasions in close and con-
fldential talk with Mira Farrar, a talk
that on one occasion bad left the gentle
invalid In tears and from which abe had
gone to her room and was found there
on her knees by Ellis half an hour lat
er. Explanation was denied her at the
time
mot now, Ellis, DEAR" was the
pleading answer II cannot talk to-
night. Later-after Christmas-I will
tell you all about It," And with this
the girl had perforce been content Yet
here again she mourned because while
refusing to tell her own daughter tho
reason Of her tears and agitation Mrs.
Farrar had welcomed Helen to her room
and found solace and comfort IN her
society.
This lovely, placid, moonlit night.
as they came away from Dr.. Gray's.
old Fenton was plainly disappointed
and Lucretia as plainly disturbed when
Mrs. Farrar quietly and possessively
took the majors arm md led him, rath.
or than leaned upon his strength, on tho
homeward way. Ellis, escorted by Mr..
Martin-auything to get away from
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 ct the gate,
while Leale and Helen Daunton con-
vcrsed in the, little parlor. There had
been gathering at the Amorys that
same evening, little dinner party, as
Mrs Amory expressed it, "in honor OF
those who arc engaged and those who
ought to be. " and pretty Nell Willetts,
O captains daughter. and young Alton
Of X troop were the first named, and
bewitching Kitty and Willy Farrar, one
couple, at least, included in the second.
Mrs. Amory was charming hostess
She was Of al old kentucky family, had
wealth and beauty to add to her charms
and had been woocd and won by her
dashing husband long years before,
when no was boy lieutenant doing
Kuklux duty in the distant south. Sho
declared Will was dark eyed edition
Of Just what her Frank was in tho early
seventies and that Kitty Ormsby was
"too like 1 was 90 yuhs ago TO- any
thing" And Mrs. Amory was so loyal
q Kentuckian az 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 she ought not to
be away from her mothers side just
now. and frankly explaining to Mrs
Amory 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 20 years
gone by, pretty Mrs. Amory couldn't
add to the government allowance OF
quarters and her dining room would on
~ hold ten; SO. as Ellis wasn't especial
ly interested in any man at the post
despite the attentions paid her BY Mar
tin, Jessup and other available fellows,
Mrs. Amory wisely decided her to be
deeply interested i'll somebody far away
and knew the man the moment Ormsby
came. So Ormsby and Ellis, as has been
said, went to whist and came away dis
satisfied and unhappy, and Will and
Kitty went to dinner and dance at
Amory's and had thrilling tiff, as a
result Of which she refused to ask him
in when ne took her home, even though
Aunt Lucretia, hoping it was Wayne.
beamed upon them, though it was after
midnight, from the doorway, and the
colonel and Brother Jack, looming up
through cloud Of cigar smoke, shouted
to the suffering subaltern to come in.
Wrathful and stung to the quick by Kit
tvs coquetry, Farrar turned indignant
ly away and sought his own quarters.
The lights were still burning in the par
lor, and he felt sure Leale and Mrs.
Daunton were there and he was too
unified" to care to see them. A dim
light was burning in his mothers room,
and he believed her to have retired ear
lier and 80 made it an excuse not to 60
for her good night kiss and blessing.
Inc door opened just as he was hurry
ink by and Wayne came forth into the
clear moonlight, and the boy wondered
that he should be there, instead OF at
Fepton's, as usual, but he didn't wish
to see or speak with him. He slammed
the door Of his chum's bachelor den as
he bolted in, never noticing the bright
light in Ellis window or dreaming that
his sister sat there alone in her trouble,
while he. with lovers seleshness, saw