People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-09-15
dren from the officers line and the

occasion now, and Major Cameron re-
scented FarlandS haste.
Il say, Farland," he protested,
"slow up What is your hurry. You
will not get dinner before retreat,
anyway"
Little the lieutenant rocked OF din
ner. But he obliged himself to walk
more reasonably. Major Cameron
talked Of the scout and its outcome.
Farland tried to listen and to an
swer. In his joyful anticipation he
forgot that he was a sorry-looking
SIGHT to go a-wooing, that his face
was burned, and his nose peeling, and
his hair half-cut, and his clothes
ragged and dusty. Self-consciousness
was not one of his faults. The major
broke off suddenly In the midst OF
TRADE against Indian agents, those
pet ayersions of the line.
II suppose you are about worn
out" he SAID.
NO" said Farland; mot in the
least. Why?"
"You appear not to be able to keep
your mind upon anything. You have
no notion of what | said last"
"You said Mascaleros' last"
But you have no idea whatever
what l said about the Mescaleros."
Il am afrald that's so," Farland ad-
mitted.
"And over there at the corral you
answered three questions that I
hadn't asked"
Farland apologized civilly. But he
had seen, through the window, Miss
Cameron standing with clasped hands
and head thrown back, before the
open fire. 1t was favorite pose with
her, and 1t recalled so much. The
ma or might as we'll have addressed
his concluding remarks to the flag
| staff.
They went into the hall, and the
commandant opened the door. There
Is Clare" he said; 81 believe you
know each other. l will go and get
Mrs. Cameron" He went away and
closed the door again.
Farland was not demonstrative. But
neither was he one to delay in carry
ing out a resolve. He took the hand
that the girl held out to him, and
then went to the Fireplace, and rested
his arm upon the mantel and looked
at her speculatively.
81 am going to be very rash," he
said, "and very precip]tate."
She smiled incredulously. How un-
like you!" she said.
Perhaps; but it is not unlike me
TO go straight to the point, | 'Ghink.'
She vouchsafed no encouragement
'Tt is not" was all she answered. She
had long since determined that he
was an INSCRIPTIONS flirt-wcrsC
than that, indeed, because he made
more pretensions than most men
| Now, when she looked into his keeT
gray eyes, that consoling fiction van
ished. She wondered why he did no
speak ait once of the one thing tha
might reasonably be expected to be
OF interest-to herself, at least. Eu
she folded her hands in front OF hei
again, and stood very erect.
"W1hen / saw you last in the hop
room at Grant," he said, 81 was 10 al
inteDts and purposes upon half-pay
My mother was alive then, and wa
supporting her."
She looked at him. puzzled. VIII.
should he tell her this now? Whil
there had yet been time he had beer
chary enough of his condolences
While there had yet been time Sh
looked at him as he stood there be
fore the fire, young and strong, wit
his pistolIbelt showing beneath hi
faded blouse, the kerchiof knotte,
around his neck, the dusty boots iitI
their spurred heels, his face so alb
surdly sun and wind burned, glowint
with blonde redness in the fire-light
While there had yet been time
She checked an inclination to thrO'
out her arms and cry aloud.
"That is why" he went on, IL di
not feel justified in telling you
though you might, I should thinl
have seen-thSt loved you"
She went up to him and put he
hand upon his shoulder, and tried t
speak.
"Well, what?" he asked. He wa
submitting duly to some blow whic
he saw, in her hardening eyes, wa
going to fall.
"T''-She was forcing the word
from her throat with harsh, dr.
sound married Captain Whitcom
three weeks ago, because-I did nc
know"
Farland turned away and drew
chair near to the fire. The movemer
!. was quite natural, quite free frol
; amy gesture of tragedy. He was to
stunned to feel the pain at once. Ths
, would come afterward, and sta
through many years. He sat down
, the chair and watched the hamin
mesquite-root. 1t was little har
for him TO draw his breath, and tf
, pain was beginning now, too.
Glare stood upon the other side
: the hearth, and looked duly ahea
} OF her. Then she drew her han,
slowly, across her eyes.
81 must go home" SIZE said.
Farland did not answer her. an
she went out and closed the door.
! Gwendolen OyertOn, in the Argonau