The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-10-30


ing his nerve. 1t couldn't be that. But
had his trouble SO weighed upon him
that he really welcomed the possible
coming of the end? Braytcn's was a
hard lot just now. AsSiduously he was
hiding from his own captain all indica-
tions of the forthcoming meeting.
Somehow he felt that Barclay would
not hesitate to disclose the project to
the post commander, and then every
cad in Texas would jeer and crow and
say it was Winn and he who crawfisbed.
Barclay had noted that Winn seemed
avoiding him again and spoke of it to
Brayton, who answered that Wina was
avoiding everybody. He was blue and
depressed about his affairs.
"Yet 1 understood that he had re-
ceived more than enough to settle those
commissary accounts, - said the captain.
''Oh, yes, answered B-ayton, but
there are other matters" How could
be tell Barclay that he thought VIM s
love and faith in his wife were dead
and gone? How could he tell him that
Wiun would touch no dollar of the
money until he had first met and salts
| would have been aroused at Orce.
Bet Winn was having another trou-
! BILE now. Laura had set her heart on
! going to the picnic, and for no other
reason, she declared. than that she
must show the women there was moth
ing amiss If he and size, either or both,
should fail to attend the Fraziers' en-
tertainment. every one would say lie
still believed her guilty of having a
rendezvous with Barclay at that un-
earthly hour and that she was unfor-
! given.
AS he had done many time before.
Winn yielded. What mattered it? There
might be only that day for him. He
could accomplish nothing by absentine
himself Fe could aid in brushing away
az clcnd upon her game by going and
being devoted to her. So go they did
and women who watched with wary
and suspicious eyes long remembered
how fond and loverlike were Winn'
attentions to his beautiful wife; how
often on the way he rode to the side o.
that ambulance to say some little wore
to her; how anxiously he seemed 4
scan that lowering westward sky, TO
by the time they reached the BlancI
gorge the cloud banks were climbing Il
the zenith and the westward heaven
, were black as the cinder patches alonj
|. the heights about them, where FIR ant
spruce and stunted pine had strewn tn,
slopes with dry, resinous carpet, tot
easily ignited by the sparks from hunt
er's pipe o. clmpfre. At 2 o'clccl
Blythe, BROOKS and Frazier, clan Der
ing a rocky ridge to the southeast G
the lovely picnic cove. looked gravel,
at the blackening sky. then gravely in
!. to enc snother's faces. 81 think W
, ought to start at once" said the colo
mel. ''That's no place to be caught in
storm" And he pointed downward q
he spoke.
J At their feet was the deep, grass,
: valley, hemmed by PERCEPTIONS bluffs
The Erecnswcrd at the base Of the tar
, rier ridge was soft and velvety. A rich
er soil ncurishcd ihe roots of tie b,;ucl
J grass, and all mcn kew that r.ore tha:
once in bygone days the sudden swell
ing OF the brawling waters that cam
foaming and swirling down the ravin
from the depths of the crested height
within had turned that beautiful liffl
sheltered nook into deep lake tina
slowly emptied itself through the mar
row. twisting, rocky gorge that endet
at the White Gate. On the level tur
J the dancers were merrily footing j
even now to the music of an inspirin;
quadrilIe, the pretty gowns of the wo
men, the Uniforms Of the men, addin,
brightness to the picture. Below tn
camp the mules and horses were placid
ly grazing close by the inner opening O
the gorge, the white covers of the waQ
ons and the snowy canvas Of the two o
three tents adding to the picturesque
ness OF the sceno. AL at the feet of tn,
watching group was Ifs, laughter ans
: earsleaa JOY, all beyond Shaa HDerry
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