Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-17

cover about when he had finished his own
dinner that they were Just beginning theirs,
and the extent and degree Of pleasurable
emotion he might venture on showing as he
FASTENED over to greet them, and accept
their offer to be seated with them, even II
he had been 80 unkind as to dine beforehand
solus instead Of with them. He had set his
heart on having a chat with Miss Lawrence
as part recompense for all he had lost that
morning, and all this he was thinking of
while still fumbling over that disturbing
note. Time was getting short, too; there
was no telling how much longer they might
stay. Mr.. Prime had brought his only daugh-
ter all that long journey across the CONT
ncnt on the assurance that the boy he loved,
with whom he had quarreled, and whom, in
his anger, he had sorely rebuked. had en-
listed there In San Francisco and was serv-
ing in a regiment at the great camp west Of
the city. He had come full of hope and con-
idence; he had found the young soldier de-
scribed, and, in his bitter disappointment,
he declared there was no resemblance to JUS
tify the report sent him by the boys own
uncle, who vowed he had met him with COM
rades on the main street of the city, that
the recognition was mutual. for the boy had
dartod around the first corner and escaped.
His companions were scattered by the time
Mr. Lawrence returned to the spot after a
brief, ~fruitless search, but private detectives
had taken 1t up and located as they
thought, young Prime and telegraphed the
father in the distant east.
Now, Mr.. Lawrence was away on business
Of his own. Written assurances that he
couldn't be mistaken lost weight, and Mr..
Prime, disheartened, was merely waiting the
report of an agent who thought he had
traced the boy to Tampa. In twenty-four
hours he might spirit his daughter away on
another chase. and then there would be no
further warrant for Miss Lawrence's remain
ing in the city. She would return to her
lovely home in one of the loveliest OF Cali
fornian valleys, miles away from the raw
togs and chills of the Golden Gate, and
would be no more seen among the camps.
That, said Billy Gray to himself, would take
every bit Of sunshine from his life.
All this detail. or much OF 1t. he had
learned from the fair lips OF Miss Lawrence
ehrself, for Mr.. Prime and his daughter
seemed to shrink from speaking of the mat
ter. From the first Miss Amy had had to
take the young gentleman under her per-
sonal wing, as 1t were. In her desire to aid
her uncle and cousin in every way, and
knowing them to be strangers to the entire
camp, she had eagerly sent for him as the
first familiar or friendly object she saw.
Then when he came and was presented and
| proved to possesa little interest to the care
worn man and his anxious and devoted child,
1t devolved upon Miss Lawrence to make
much OF Billy in proportion as they made
little Of him. and for three days or so the
blithe young fellow seemed fairly to walk
on air. Moreover, she had taken him into
the family condolences In telling him OF the
missing son and brother, for both her uncle
and cousin. she said, were so sensitive about
~ 10. zAaII 80. ALL 40 A-4
when actually necessary. They had leaned,
as 1t were. on the general and on Colonel
Armstrong for a day. and then seemed to
draw way from both. They even seemed
to take 1t much amiss that her father had
10 be absent when they came, though they
had sent no word, until too late, OF their
coming. He was on his return, might ar
rive any hour, but so might they go. Now
II Billy could only discover that missing
son
Then came an inspiration! Penciling a
brief note he gave II to a soldier of his com
pany and babe him take 1t to the guard
tents. 1t told Morton OF tho colonel's or
ders, issued that very day, and babe him
be patient-he hoped and believed oppor-
tunity would be afforded for an interview
that evening. Then he hunted up a sub
altern OF his own grade whom he knew
would probably be the detail for oficer-of-
~the-guard that evening. Brooke" said he.
will you swap tours with me II Gordon's
willing. i have-I'd like nightly to ex-
change II it's all the anne to you"
Brooke hesitated. He had social hopes
and aspirations OF his own. By swapping"
with Gray he might find himself doomed to
a night in camp when he had accepted for
some pleasant function in town.
Thought you were keen to go In to-
n~ight-rght after retreat" he hazarded.
well, was" said Gray, pulling his drab