People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-09-15
THE GOLD OF SILENCE
And What Came of II.


More harm has ueen wrought in
this world by the gold of silence than
by the silver of speech. Especially is
this true of matters of the heart.
Farland came to realize it in the
end; but as he left the commanding
officer and walked in his deliberate
way across the hop-room to where
Miss Cameron stood, he was priding
himself upon his ability to hold his
tongue, and, with a wretched sort of
vainglory, nerying himself TO hold it
for seven hours longer.
Miss Cameron was talking to the
regimental quartermaster, and when
she caught sight of Farland, she
grew radiant. The regimental quar-
termaster observed this, nd was, of
course, annoyed. He went away and
lft her with the lieutenant.
It is the fate of woman to be for
ever smiling. Few men have learned
to distinguish that eternal smile.
Those who have, have observed the
Subtlest tragedies of life.
Farland was not OF them. He was
too distinctly manly to understand
women. He was, therefore, strength
ened in his resolve to keep silence
when Miss Cameron's expression in
nOwise changed as he told her that
she must excuse him from the next
lance.
Il have just seen the colonel, and
he has been pleased to inform me that
| must leave at reveille."
For what portion of the globe?"
She gazed over his shoulder in ap-
parent absorption in something at the
other side OF the room. If Farland
had been a student of the sex he
would have known that this was over
acting. 1t was one OF the many OF
Miss Cameron's charms that she usu-
ally fixed her entire attention upon
the person at hand.
Where are you gOing?" she re-
peated.
ITO join Blake's command. After
that, wherever the will of heaven and
the craft Of the Apache may lead
me-"
For just one instant her expression
changed. But Farland was not acute.
Upon a scout, them" she asked.
Upon scout, yes. And as have
to leave before reveille, and, as it is
now eleven o'clock, there is no time
to be lost"
Miss Cameron was smiling again.
you will not sleep much tonight.
Things must be serious"
"They are" he told her.
There was a pause-one OF those
intervals when the gods benumb our
mental powers that instinct may
have fair play. But we defeat their
ends. We have trained instinct TO lie
quiet.
The lieutenant moved uneasily. Miss
Cameron, with the delicate much
sung discernment of women, thought
him RESTLESS to be gone. She drew
herself up to her full height, and the
regal poise of her head was accen-
tuated. Farland determined that she
was indifferent and hard, and his
resolution was enforced.
"You must not let me keep you,"
she said.
Farland was far too well trained to
allow his anger and unhappiness to
appear in more than an exaggerated
unconcern. He took her extended
hand.
"Shall you be here when return?"
he asked. His resolution was near TO
breaking. If her tawny eyes had
grown ever so little soft, he would
have flung his golden wealth of ST.
lence to the winds. But her pride was
mighty, and it was aroused.
'My visit comes to an end this
week." she said.
eve shall probably meet again." he
ventured.
She shrugged her shoulders negli-
gently.
Probably. One can never be sure
that one has seen the last of anybody,
in an army" And then she added:
"Good-by."
She would have been glad to bow
her head upon her arms and to have
kept her heartache in silence. In.
stead, she gave the dance which was
to have been Farland's 10 a married
captain. and succeeded perfectly in
her effort to appear TO enjoy it.
And Farland went out, morally and
bodily. into the night. His was the
code OF honor-which considers moi
the woman-that holds that If mar
may not ask woman to marry hin
then and there, neither may he tel
her of his love. He thought he wa:
doing right, and he was not one tt
rail at Fate. A little tempest of temp
tation had ruffled the deep waters o.
his conscience for time. But they
were calm again. He remembered
with resen tment the haughtily poise(
head. and the placid smile, and tht
last glimpse he had caught of hel
through the hop-room window
yealow-gowned figure, swaying to TIL
music in full enjoyment of life.
Well, she would have gone back 4
Bayard by the time of his return, am
one could never be sure one woult
not forget-after years. He went int
the barracks and gave his orders.
When the brass mouths of the bu
giles pealed their reveille welcome t
the sun, as ii rose above the noun
tains, far across the prairie. Farlan,