The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-04-19
CHAPTER x.

One of Col. Frost's consuming ambi-
tons was to be the head of his depart
ment, with the rank of brigadier gen
eral, Sbutshe had. strong,rivals and knew
it. Wealth he had in abundance. 1t
was rank and power that he craved.
Four men-all with better war records
and more experimentation between
him and that coveted star, and two of
the four were popular and beloved men.
Frost was cold, selfish, intensely self
willed, indomitably persevering, and
though "close-fisted," to the scale of a
Scotch landlord a a rule, he would
loose his purse strings and pay we'll
for services he considered essential.
When Frost had a consuming desire he
let no money consideration stand in the
way, and for Mia Terriss he stood
ready to spend a small fortune. Every
body 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 q superb new gown at
the garrison ball not long after Frost
and his shrinking bride left for their
honeymoon, people looked at her and
then at each other. Mia 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 it to her, yet
smiled sweetness and bliss on every
side. Frankly she looked up into the
faces of her sisters in arms: Il know
you like my necklace. Isn't it lovely?
Col. Frost's wedding present, you
know. He said 1 shouldn't give Nita
away without some recompense, and
this Is it."
But that could have been only a part
of it, said the garrison. An honorar-
ium in solid cash, it was believed, was
far the greater portion of the consider
alton which the elder sister accepted
for having successfully borne Mia
away from the dangers and fascina-
tions of the Point-having guarded
her, dropping and languid, against the
advance 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 preserved groom.
All he demanded to know vas that
she was fancy free-that there was no
previous attachment, and on this point
Mrs. Frank had solemnly averred there
was none. The child had had a foolish
fancy for a cadet beau, but it amount
ed 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 looking pair.
Frost was bory built but sturdy, and
Nita seemed like a fairy, indeed as un-
substantial as a wisp of vapor, as she
came down the aisle on his arm. They
were so far to the south on this honey
moon trip as almost to feel the shock
and conclusion when the Maine was
blown to a mass of w%reckage. 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 to his
station at once. Going first to the Ar,
lington and hurriedly entering the
room, he almost stumbled over the
body of his wife, lying close to the
door in a swoon from which it 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 a knock, and got dizzy
and remembered nothing more. What
became of the knocker? She didn't
know. Frost inquired at the office. A
bellboy was found who said he had
taken up q card in an envelope given
him by a young Teller who "seemed
kind O. sick. Mrs. Frost took it and
Topped" and a chambermaid ran in tc
her, and then hurried for the doctor
what became of the letter or note OF
card?" asked Frost, with suspicion OF
jealousy in his heart. Two women
mistress and maid, and the bellboy
swore they didn't know, but the maid
did know. With the quick intuition oil
her sex and class she had seen that
there was pr had been a young lover
and sympathy for Nita and a dislike fol
Frost, who gave no tips, prompted hel
to hide it until she could slip it safely
into Nita's hand, Nita who read, shud.
dered, tore it into minute scraps, anc
wept more, face downward, on the bed
They had reached their winter station
before the cable flashed the stirring
tidings of Dewey's great victory in Ma
Mia bay, and within half a week came
Geographic orders for Col. Frostt to pro
coed at once to San Francisco, there tt
await instructions. The first expedi
ton was organizing when he arrived
his pallid little wife by his side, ant
there were.his instructions to proceed
to Manila as chief of his department.
an independent position, and yet it was
a horrid blow. But there was no re
course. Nita begged that. she nigh
stay with her sister. She could no
bear theidea of going. Frost knew tina
no women could accompany the expedi
ton, and, shipping his chest and desk:
by the transport, he had secured passag,
for himself and wife to Hong-Kong OF
one of the splendid steamers of tn,
English line from Vancouver, and so in
formed her. 1t dashed Nita's last hope
They were occupying fine rooms at thu
Palace hotel. The city was throngec
with officers and rapidly arriving
troops. Other army women, eager te
i accompany their husbands, were rail
ing at the fate that separated them, anc
Nita had been forced to conceal the JOY
with which she heard their lamenta'
lions. But she had yet to learn how ex
acting Frost could be. 1t had never oc
Cured to her that he could obtain per
mission to go except by transport. Il
had not seemed possible that he would
take her with him. You should have