The Redwood gazette., 1897-02-25
FORT FRAYNE.
(CONTINUED.)

But Helen would not believe, and
with unabated hope she awaited
Wayne's return to the post. They ar
rived week before him, for on leaving
his charge at Washakie the previous
month he had hurried straight to Wash
ington in response to a summons from
the secretary Of war, had made his re-
port and then gone to New York. Not
until the Monday before the Wedding
did he reappear, and then only by de-
termined effort did Helen corner him
long enough for cross examination.
"Certainly, said Wayne. Il remem-
Der the note perfectly well. l put it
with one from the club that I found
there and handed both to him togetheS.
He'll be here to the wedding He's COM
ing right along with Kitty. I'll ask him
again, if you like. -
Don't dare ever mention it, major,
or that I asked any questions concern
ing it. How long has he been back?"
asked Helen, with vivid interest, an
other question uppermost in her mind.
''Not week. Just back, you know. I
only saw him minute. Twas just start
ing for the train. He looked astonish-
ingly well, and, you know, I forgot to
ask was Leale better. He was full of his
wedding preparations. -
''Her wedding preparations-Kitty's
you mean, do you not, major?''
''No, his; l give you my word. He
said so, you know. He told me the
lady's name-part of it, at least. Efie
something. can't recall it just now.
He'll tell you. Oh, it was all on that
account, you know, Kitty couldn't start
sooner. She had to wait for him.
Helen was astounded. It was news she
declared she would never believe, and
yet she remembered having heard men
tion of an attractive cousin, Miss Effie
Leale, and might it not be possible that
in his wanderings with the blinded in
valid, with his own sore heart, Jack
Ormsby had met and found consolation
in this fair relative of his stricken friend,
that she in turn had quickly learned
to admire the manly fellow who was so
devoted to their particular hero? At all
events it was something not to be men
toned to Ellis, thought Helen.
But what was the use? Wayne told it
to Lucretia, Lucretia told dozen during
the day. It was all over the post before
night, and despite Helen's effort Ellis
heard it among the first. One more
among the many mishaps with which
to usher in Willis wedding day!
At 10 that beautiful June morning
there was something more than pathetic
about poor Lucretia's sorrows While
Fenton, Mrs. Farrar, Helen, silent,
brave faced Ellis, and a dozen SYM
pathetic souls from all over the post
were gathered on the north piazza over
hanging the bluff and the roaring
waters Of the Platte, signaling to Will
and watching eagerly his vigorous
movements, the lady of the house re-
mained within doors, wept INCREASINGLY
and refused to be comforted.
cit is dreadful to think of the con-
dition that. chicken salad will be in, y
she moaned. cit is preposterous to talk
to me of patience! I've said all along it
was to be an unlucky day, because you
all know perfectly well-at least if you
don't you ought to-that it is just Is
years ago this day that we were all
gathered at Fort Crook for the funeral
of Captain Crocus, which was to take
place the moment the ambulance got in
from the front, and the band was all
ready, and the escort and the hearse and
and after all the whole thing had to
be abandoned, for when the ambulance
got in there were no remains at all-at
least there were. but they weren't It ready