The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-03

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 it's outcome.
Farland tried to listen and to answer.
In his joyful anticipation he forgot that
he was sorry looking sight to go a.
wooing, that his face was burned, his
nose peeling, and his clothes ragged and
dusty. Self.consciousnes was not one of
his faults. The major broke off sud-
denly in the midst of TRADE against
Indian agents, those pet aversions of
the line.
81 suppose you are about worn OUT"
he said.
NO." said Farland; "not 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 'Mescaleros' last"
"But you have no idea whatever what
said about the Mescaleros."
81 am afraid that's So" Farland ad
mitted.
"And over there at the coral you
answered three questions that 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 it recalled so much. The major
might as well have addressed his con-
Guiding remarks to the flagstaff.
They went into the hall, and the
commandant opened the door. "There
is Clare" he said; II believe you
know each other. will 60 and get
Mrs. Cameron" He went away and
closed the door again.
Farland was not demonstrative. But
neither was he one to delay in carrying
out 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.
~ am going to be very rash," he
said, "and very precipitate."
She smiled incredulously. "How
unlike you'll" she said.
"Perhaps; but it is not unlike me to
60 straight to the point, think"
She vouchsafed no encouragement.
ut is not" was all she answered. She
had long since determined that he was
an INSCRIPTIONS flirt-worse than that,
indeed, because he made more preten-
sions than most men. Now, when she
looked into his keen gray eyes, that
consoling fiction vanished. She won
dered why he did not speak at once OF
the one thing that might reasonably be
expected to be Of iHterest-to herself,
at least. But she folded her hands in
front of her again, and stood very erect
When cav you last in the hop-room
at Grant," he said, 81 was to all intents
and purposes upon half-pay. My moth
er was alive then, and l was support
ing her."
She looked at him, puzzled. Why
should he tell her this now? While
there had yet been time he had been
chary enough of his condolences.
While there had yet been time.
She looked at him as he stood there
before the fire, young and strong, with
his pistol belt showing beneath his
faded blouse, the kerchief knotted
around his neck, the dusty boots with
| eh0AL oPuiiOu hCOio, LIS tdCC bO hDpulu-
ly sun and wind burned, glowing with
blonde redness in the freight. While
there had yet been time. She check
ed an inclination to throw out her arms
and cry aloud.
"That is why" he went on, ~ did
not feel justified in telling you-though
you might, / should think, have seen
that loved you"
She went up to him and put her hand
upon his shoulder, and tried to speak.
swell, what?" he asked. He was
submitting duly to some blow, which
he saw in her hardening eyes, was 60
ing to fall.
"I"-she was forcing the words from
her throat with harsh, dry sound
81 married Captain Whitcomb three
weeks ago, because-I did not know"
Farland turned away, and drew a
chair near TO the fire. The movement
was quite natural, quite free from any
gesture of tragedy. He was too stun
ned to feel the pain at once. That
wonld come afterward, and stay through
many years. He sat down in the chair
and watched the flaming mesquite-root.
1t was a little hard for him to draw his
breath, and the pain was beginning
now, too.
Glare stood upon the other side of