The Princeton union., 1900-10-11

Gated girl just out OF school-so said
burleigh, albeit most charming one;
ana he, who had>monopolized her time
the entire morning, bore down once
more upon his prize
She had seated herself at the piano,
ana her long, tapering fingers were
rlppllng over the keys. She knew full
We'll he did not care what she PLAYED,
and for herself she did not care lust
then to play at all. She was thinking
OF his insinuation at Marshall Deans
expense. She was still pondering over
Mrs. Flctchcr's stealthy scrutiny of
the quartermaster's team. On these
two accounts, and no other, he was
possessed OF certain interest in FL
inor's dark-brown eyes, and they were
studying him coolly, searchingly, as
nc are" chair near the piano stool,
ana seated himself and met her look
WIN a broad, encouraging smile.
Irlll and ripple, ripple and trill her
"hlte hngers raced over the keyboard.
m sure you know this waltz, ma
jor'" She was saying. ''They played
1t beautifully at the Point two SUM-
mers ago
"l--ah, yes, It's a charming compost
tlon-charming, though. I don't re-
call its name just now"
This? why it's one of Godfrey's-
The Hilda,' don't you know? I'm sure
you waltz, major"
"T-ah, used to, yes. | was yery
fond Of waltz" answered Burleigh.
whose best effort in that line could re-
suit in nothing better than a waddle.
but of late years I-I-since my be-
reavement, have practically with
drawn from society,"" Then, with Ian
gushing smile, he added: II shall be
tempted to reenter the list now," and
the major drew his chair nearer by
full an inch, and prepared to be fur
ther killing"
Jessie dances divinely," said Miss
Folsom. She simply floats round a
room. You should see her waltz with
her brother, MAJ Burleigh. They
might be waltzing here this very min
ute, If he were only home. What
can have detained him, do you think?"
Il wish l knew said the quarter
master slowly. 1T makes those who
are-ah-his friends, you know, anx-
1ous in more ways than one, because
there is-er-nothing to warrant de-
lay-nothing to-excuse it. He should,
In fact, have been at his post, where
his troop is sorely needed, full four
days ago. and Burleigh looked heavy
with portent.
us it not possible that he has found
something along the lower Laramie
something where his troop is needed
much more than here doing stable
guard?"
"How can it be possible?" said Bur-
leigh. The only thing to warrant
his delay would be Indians, and there
are none south OF the Platte; or horse
thieves, and they hung the last Of
the gang three months ago. Mr.. Jean,
l-ah-regret to say, is fonder of fish
ing and hunting than of his legiti-
mate duties, and this, I fear, is why
he is not here to welcome his sister,
The piano went rippling on, but the
brown eyes kept up their steady gaze.
In the deep bass chords now her slen-
der fingers were entangled. Slowly
and thoughtfully the rich melody
swung in the proud waltz rhythm
through the airy room and foated out
upon the summer breeze. A little line
was setting deep between the dark,
arching eyebrows, symptom Pap
poose's schoolmatesh hadlearned tonote
as signal of danger, but Burleigh
knew her not, as vet.
1T is odd," said she, dreamily, "that
at the Point the officers spoke so
highly of MIR. Dean, and here YOU
seem to think so differently of him.
1t is deep disappointment to his Sis
ter that he is not here, but do YOU
know, major, we were saying only
this morning before you came that
there was some excellent reason for
his delay, and we'd know it within
another day"
"Oh, ah-er-of course hope so. I
think, pardon me, that that must be
a messenger from my Office now" for
spurred boot-heels were coming
brlskly up the wooden walk. There
was a bounding step on the piazza, a
ring at the bell. The servant hustled
through the hall and threw open the
door. 1t was not messenger from
the depot, but stalwart, sunburnt
man in rough ranch garb, who
whipped off his broad-brimmed hat
and stood abashed within the hall as
he asked for Mr.. Folsom.
And all of sudden over went the
piano-stool with crash, and out into
the hall, joyous, bounding, light as a
fairy, vision of dark, girlish beauty,
went Pappoose.
"Why, Ned Lannion!' she cried. as
she seized the swarthy young fellows
hands and shook them up and down.
Don't you know me-Winona that
used to be? Why, how well you look!
When did you leave the ranch? How
did you leave them? Is Hal here-or
coning?"
And at sound of her voice old Fol-
som had started up from his sofa and
came trotting out into the hall, lust
reused from his sleep, and blinking a
hit QS ha fO0 hold fow+L 1~~l!>1 |