The Delta independent., 1898-06-24

for . moment that extraordinary o.
currence the night Of the hop-the
shadowy civilian who tossed pebbles mp
at her window and then foored him in
the twinkling Of an eye when he had
sought to challenge. Furthermore,
Maynard had caught tho outlines Of the
strangers bulk that night, and those
outlines strongly resembled those of the
man who bent SO confidentially over her
AZ she stood with bowed head, yes, with
apparently attentive ear, down at the
end of the row by old No. !. What
could be the explanation: What but
that some former lover was pursuing her
here and that she, though unable to
welcome him to the garrison. WAS not
unwilling to meet him, and if she would
meet him stealthily by day away out on
the prairie in some of its swales or de-
preesions, why not by night, when none
could spy upon her actions? What other
explanation could there be? Was not
her beauty enough to lure . man from
the ends Of the earth? Would not he
have sought and followed her anywhere.
! faith and trust. Love her? He did, deep
ly, passionately. miserably, for now he
recalled that she bad never given him
encouragement: that only for day or
two before his mishsp had she shown
shy pleasure at his coming, and all those
days that he used to ride cut in search
Of her. was IL not more than probable
now that he had only been very much
in the wsy-a nuisance to her and to
her skulking lover? Very bitter were his
thoughts, and, manlike, he included in
his jealous anger not only the girl who
had caused him such poignant suffering,
but that other-the sistsr.who had been
the first to open his eyes to his queens
unworthiness.
And 30 when Grace Maynard came to
him coon after evening gun fire with
some dainty refreshment Mrs. Stannard
had prepared for him he turned away
almost petulantly and with his face to
the wall said he could not bear the sight
Of anything to sak Aud this was the
brother who ever since babyhood had
been her charge to keep her loyal and
obedient vassal.
Signing heavily, she turned away and
back. "GTaoe," he said, there's some
thing I've got to ~. I'm getting all
right can dt mp Just ~ we'll ~ not,
and fh0s's no reason Why tomorrow o.
next day shouldn't 20 TO my own room
and why within the week I shouldn't
hurry after the regiment"
"Oh. Ronald, +" she interrupted. "the
Doctor ays IL would be death 70 you to
Try it,"
frstting 70 death here. It's killing me
BY inches Grace, and / want to get
away, and-we've staid too long here
at the Stannards' anyhow. It's awfully
good Of them, but we have no right, no
claim, 20 I'm going to move day after
tomorrow to my own den. and-you
ought to be thinking about starting for
home"
Think about starting for home, in
deed? Was she in her sound sensesi Was
this her little Ronald telling ber she
should be returning TO that far Mohawk
village before he was fairly well3 1t
was incredible, II was moro than that,
Il was ungrateful, undutiful, cruel,
heartlesa She had arranged 1t all on
very different lines. The doctor was to
give . certificate. She had studied ont
the whole ntuation-a certificate on
which Ronald was to be granted .
month . leave with permission 10 apply
for another. and then she would bundle
up hef hero baby brother. and BY easy
stages she would trundle him home, and
there he would swing in his hammock.
and she and Gertsade would do all the
reading asd nursing and pcttins-she
and Gertrude at first, 20 as to arouse no
suspicion and consequent rebellion
then she would gradually slip away for
. few moments at time, then for half
an hour or 90, and moro and more leave
them alone together, and Cupid aud
proximity would do the rest.
But here be was calmly. positively
telling her that IL was his purpose to
move to that other roof, never suggest
ing that she should follow syd occupy
Dana's room or Hollis, but with al
most callous indifference saying It was
time for her to be thinking Of tho
bo.neward start because he meant as
soon ~ possible TO take the field. Il
meant defeat to her hopes and plans. IL
might leave him still under the infiu-
ence Of this dangerously lovely New
England girl, whom she was bound to
regard ss unworthy his notice. yet could
not really believe guilty, no matter
what Mrs. Turner thought, Of anything
gravef than indiscretion.
The same cleaning that shroudsd
Nathalie and her gentle friend I'm the
adjoining quarters had stolen in upon
this upprompted conference. Tho sister
could no longer see her brothers facc.
He lay there vaguely conscious Of. yee
never hearing. the rapid beating Of her
sching heart. Perhaps in his own dumb
misery the young fellow did not wish
70 see OF hear the 6rst synptom Of
either pain or femonstrance. The one
ahnr,uhA sux.xusz.~A L. IL suis<l -.