Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-01

that even while assuring her guardian
sister that she had only a mild Interest Ia
Latrobe, she was really losing or had lost
hor heart to him, and in every way In her
power was striving to conceal the fact from
Margaret, and yet meet her lover at hours
when she thought It possible to do so with
out discovery. As the friendship strength
oncd between himself and Lathrobe they
began using him as Cupid's postman, and
many little notes and some big ones found
their way 10 and from the Fourth division
OF cadet barracks. Mrs. Frank was only
moderately kind 20 her civilian adorer then,
granting him only one dance at each hop,
and going much with ether mon, but that
dance was worth seeing. Primes was the
only black law-hammer' in the room, and
therefore conspicuous, and cadets-who know
good thing when they see it-and many
pretty girl partner, would draw
aside to watch the perfection OF
their step and the exquisite ease with
which they seemed to float through space,
clrcling and reversing and winding among
the other dancers, he ever alert watchful
quick as a cat and 1.-THE and strong as a pam
ther-she all yielding lissome airy grace.
That dance was Gov" Primes reward, and
almost only reward for hours Of impatient
NdlNluBs OlutT WOlubn, NudIlUliS ana pretty
and better women, would gladly have been
his partners Some two or three whom he
met at the hotel even intimated as much.
But not until Lady Garrison told him he
must--to protect her from scandal-did he
ask another to dance At last came the end
of the summers encampment, the return OF
the corps to the barracks and studies, one
bissful week in which he was enabled to
spend several uninterrupted hours each day
at her side, and then cataclysm. a letter
intended only for Nita's hands fell into
those of her sister, 1t was bulky. 1t was
from Latrobe. She hesitated only moment
then, with determination in her eyes. opened
and read-all Two days after Nita was
whisked away to New York, and within an
other week, leaving two most disconsolate
swains on the Hudson, the sisters,
one of them bathed in tears, went
spinning away to the west. where Frank
Garrison was on duty at department head
quarters. Prime was permitted to write
once fortnight Che sdnt volume), and La
trobe forbidden, but already the poor boy
owned thick packet of precious missives,
all breathing fond love and promising utter
constancy though she had to wait for him
for years. For month Nita would hardly
speak to her sister, but in october there
were lovely drives picnics and gayeties of
fcers and assiduous old ones and among
these latter was Frost with his handsome
gray mustache and distinguished bearing
and that air of conscious success and pos
session which some men know so well how
to assume even when their chances are
simmer than my lady's hand. The sisterly
breach was healed before that beautiful.
month was over Frost dined at the Garri-
sons four times week and drove Miss
II. 1.,,.z
Or two In November he asked question.
In December there was an announce
ment that called forth a score OF
around headquarters, and
in January the wedding cards went
all over the union-some to
West Point, but to Latrobe, who had been
looking i'll and anxious for six weeks, said
his classmates, and falling off fearfully In his
studies, said his professors, only a brief
note enclosing his letters and begging for
bers. At reveille next morning there was
40 captain to receive the report of roll call
rom the first sergeant of Company B.
Where's Latrobe?" sleepily asked the off,
,er Of the day of the cadet first lieutenant.
I dn' know" was the answer, and to the
lmazement of Latrobe's roommate who had
zone to bed and to sleep right after taps the
light before, they found evidence that Pat
lad left the post He had not even made
lown his bedding. His cadet uniforms were
vi there, but suit Of civilian clothes, usu-
lily in snug package up the chimney, that
lad been used several times running It" to
he hotel after taps in August, was now,
ike its owner, missing. After three days
Waiting and frubtless search the superin-
endent wired Latrobes uncle and best friend,
Id General Drayton, and that was the last
cen or heard of Pat" In the spring and
head of time his class was graduated with
ut him, for the war with Spain was on. In
he spring an irate and long-tired father
vas upbraiding another only son for per-
istent failures at college. "Gov Prime
viii get the sack, not the sheepskin,"
rophesied his fellows. And then somehow,
the father heard 1t was a married
woman with whom his boy was so deeply 4
n love, and there were bitter, bitter words
n both sdes-so bitter that when at last he
Jung himself out Of his fathers study Gov
'rime went straight to Mildred's
Dom, silently kissed her and walked out of
he house. This was in April. Tie next
card of him he had enlisted for the war
nd was gone to San Francisco with his
egiment. with the prospect of service in the
philippines ahead of him, but that was full
,ur months after his disappearance Thither,
ate in July, the father followed, bringing
lildred with him and-the reader knows tho
est.
Ito be Condnued.)