The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-05-17
CHAPTER x.

was rank and power that he craved.
Four men-ali with better war records
and more cxpcricDcc--sto between
him and that coveted star, and two of
the four were popular and beloved men.
Frost was cold, selfish, intensely self
willed. indomiiably pcrse,cring. and
though 'clOse-fistcd." 10 the scale Of q
Scotch landlord as u rule. he would
loose his purse strings and pay well
for services he considered essential.
When Frost had n consuming desire he
let no money consideration stand in the
way. and for Niia Tcrris- he stood
ready to spend "A small fortune. Every
body knew Mrs. Frank Garrison co sld
never dress and adorn herself as she
did on poor Frank Garrison's pay, and
when she appeared with n dazzling
necklace and "a superb new gown M
the garrison ball not long after Frost
and his shrinking bride left for their
honeymoon. people looked at her and
then at each other. Niia Trrriss was
sold to Jack" Frost, was the verdict.
and her shrcwd elder sister was the
dealer. Mrs. Frank knew what people
were thinking and saying just ns well
as though they had said IL TO her. yet
smiled sweetness and bliss on every
side. Frankly shc looked mp into the
faces of her sisters IN arms: II know
you like my necklace. Isn't il lovely?
Col. Frost's wedding present, you
know. lie said ] shouldn't give Nitn
away without some rccompcnsc, aud
this IL it,
But that could have been only a part
Of il, said the garrison. I'm honorar-
ium in solid cash. IL was believed. was
far the greater portion Of the consider
alton which the elder sister accepted
for having successfully borne Niin
away from the dangers and fascinn-
tions Of the Point--having guarded
ncr. dropping and languid, against the
advance Of good looking soldier lads
at headquarters. aud finally having. by
dint of hours of argument. persuasion
and skill. delivered her into the arms
Of the elderly but we'll preserved groom.
All lac demanded Ia know was that
she was fancy free that there was no
previous attachment. aud on this point
Mrs. Frank had solennly a,crrcd there
was none. The child had had foolish
fancy Tor a cadet beau. but IL amount
ed TO absolutely nothing. There had
been no vows. no pledge. no promise
Of any kind. and she WAS actually free
a. air. So Frost was satisfied.
They made an odd looking pair.
Frost was bony built but sturdy. and
Nitn seemed like II fairy. indeed ~ nm
substantial ~ n wisp of ,apor. ~ she
came down IN, aisle on his arm. They
were 30 far Ia the south on this honey
moon trip as almost Ia feel the shock
ard concussion when the Maine was
blown 10 "a mass Of wrcckagc. They
were in Washington when the congress
demanded full satisfaction of Spain,
and Col. Frost was told his leave was
cut short-that he must return Ia his
station at once. Going first Ia the Ar
lington and hurricdly entering the
room, he almost stumbled over the
body Of his wife. lying close 10 the
door in "a swoOn from which II took
some time and the efforts of the house
physician and the maids Ia restore her.
Questioned later ns to the cause she
wcpt bysicrically aud wrung her hands.
She didn't know. She had gone TO the
door To answer Il knock. and got dizzy
and remembered nothing more. What
became of the kTOckcr? She didn't
know. Frost inquired NJ the Office. \
beilbuy WIS found who sad hc had
taken up a card IN an envelope given
him by young fell,r who "sccmcd
kind % sick. Mrs. Frost took IL and
Hoped" aud chambcrinuid ran in TO
her. and then hurried for the doctor
What became of the letter or note ar
card?' asked Frost, with suspicion Of
Jealousy In his heart. Two wumcn.
mistress and maid. and the bcllhDy
swOrc they didn't know, but the maid
did know. With the quick intuition nf
her sex and class she had seen that
there was ar had been young lover,
and sympathy for Niia ard u dislike for
Frost. who gave no tips. prompted her
10 hide IL until she could slip il safely
into Nita's hand. Niin who read. shud-
Gercd, tore IL into minute scraps. ard
w'pi more, face downward, on the bed.
They had reached their winter station
before the cable flashed the stirring
tidings Of Dcwcy's great victory IN Ma.
niln bay. and within half week came
tclepraphic orders for Col. Frost Ia pro-
cccd NJ once Ia San Francisco. there 10
await instructions. The first cxpcdi.
iiOn WIS organizing when he arrived.
his pnllid little wife by his side. ard
there were his instructions 10 proceed
Ia Manila ~ chief Of his department
an independents position. aud yet IL was
u horrid blow. liut there was no re-
course. Nta begged that she might
stay with her sister. She could not
bear the idea Of going. Frost knew that
no women could accompany the cxped-
tion. and, shipping his chest aud desks
10y the transport, he had secured passage
for himself and wife To Hong. Kong on
one of the splendid steamers OF the
English line from Vancouver, and so in
formed her. IL dashed Nita's last hope.
They were occupying fine rooms at the
Palace hotel. The city was throngcd
with officers and rapidly arriving
troops. Other army women, eager To
accompany their husbands. were rail
Ing at the fate that separated them, and
Niia had been forced to conceal the joy
with which she heard their lamenia-
tions. But she had yet TO learn how cx-
acting Frost could be. II had never oc-
Cured to her that he could obtain per-
mission TO go except by transport. II
had not seemed possible that he would
take her with him. "you should have
known" said he, "thnt even IL had had