Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08

One Of Colonel Frost's consuming amDl-
tions was to be the head Of his department
with the rank OF brigader general, Dut ne
had strong rivals, and knew It, Wealth ne
had in abundance. 1t was rank ana power
that he craved. Four men-all with Detter
war records and more experimentation pe-
tween him and that coveted star, ana TWO
OF the four were popular and beloved men
Frost was cold selfish, intensely self-Willeu'
indomitably persevering, and though CLOSE
fisted" to the scale OF Scotch lanuloru as
rule, he would loose his purse strings anu
nav well for services he considered essen
tial When Frost had a consuming desire
he let no money consideration stand in the
wav. and for Nita Terriss he stood ready to
spend a small fortune. Everybody knew
Mrs. Frank Garrison could never dress and
adorn herself as she did on poor Frank
Garrison's pay, and when she appeared with
a dazzling necklace and a superb new gown
at the garrison hall not long after Frost
and his shrinking bride left for their
honeymoon, people looked at her and then
at each other. Nita Terriss was sold to
Jack" Frost was the verdict, and her
shrewd elder sister was the dealer. Mrs
Frank knew what people were thinking and
saying Just as well as though they had said
1t to her, yet smiled sweetness and bliss on
every side Frankly she looked up into
the faces of her sisters in arms: 81 know
you like my necklace Isn't it lovely:
Colonel Frost's wedding present you know
He said l shouldn't give Nita away with
out some recompense and this is it,
But that could have been only a part OF
It, said the garrison An honorarium in
solid cash, it was believed, was far the
greater portion OF the consideration which
the elder sister accepted for having sue
cessfuly borne Nita away from the dan
gers and fascinations of the Point-having
guarded her, dropping and languid, against
the advances of good looking soldier lads
at headquarters, and finally having, by
dint OF hours Of argument, persuasion and
skill, delivered her into the arms of the
elderly but well l-preserved groom. All he
demanded to know was that she was fancy
free-that there was no previous attach
ment, and on this point Mrs. Frank had
solemnly averred there was none. The chila
had had a foolish fancy for cadet beau,
but it amounted to absolutely nothing,
There had been no VOWS, no pledge no
promise OF any kind, and she was actually
free as air. So Frost was satisfied.
They made an odd-lookng pair. Frost
was "pony built but sturdy, and Nita
seemed like a fary-indeed as unsubstan-
tial as wisp Of vapor, as she came down
the aisle on his arm. They were 80 far to
the south on this honeymoon trip as almost
to feel the shock and concussion when the
Maine was blown to a mass of wreckage.
They were in Washington when the congress
determined on full satisfaction from Spain,
and Colonel Frost was told his leave was
cut short-that he must return to his sta
ton at once. Going first to the Arlington
and hurriedly entering the room he almost
stumbled ever the body of his wife, lying
close to the door in a swoon from which 1t
took some time and the efforts of the house
physician and the maids to restore her.
Questioned later as to the cause, she wept
Historically and wrung her hands. She
didn't know. She had gone to the door To
answer knock and got dizzy and remem-
bered nothing more. What became OF the
knocker? She didn't know. Frost inquired
mt the Office bellboy was found who said
he had taken up a card in an envelope
given him by young feler who Seemed
kind O. sick. Mrs. Frost took it and
Topped" and a chambermaid ran in to her
and then hurried for the doctor. "Wha,