The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-04-19
CHAPTER 1X.-CoNT1NuED.

CHAPTER 1X.-CoNTINUED.
And SO began the second period of
Gouverneur Primes thralldom. A
Young civilian at the Point has few
opportunities at any time, but when
The lady of his love is a belle in the
corps, he would much better take a
long ocean voyage than be where he
could hear and see, and live in daily
torment. One comfort came to him
when he could not be with Mrs. Gar
rison (who n~aively explained that
"Gov" was such a dear boy and they
were such stanch friends, real com
rades, you know. He had early made
the acquaintance of Pat Latrobe, and
there was a bond of sympathy between
them which was none the less strong
because, on Primes side, it could Meth
er be admitted nor alluded to-that
they were desperately in love with the
sisters, and it vas not long before it
began to dawn on Prime that pretty
Nita was playing a double game-that
even while assuring her guardian sister
that she had only a mild interest in
Latrobe, she was really losing Or had
lost her heart to him, and in every way
in her power was striving to conceal
the fact from Margaret, and yet meet
her lover at hours when she thought it
possible to do so without discovery.
AS the friendship strengthened be-
tween himself and Latrobe they began
using him as Cupid's postman, and
many little notes and some big ones
found their way to and from the Fourth
division of cadet barracks. Mrs. Frank
was only moderately kind to her civil
ian adorer then, granting him only IN
dance at each hop, and going much
with other men, but that dance was
worth seeing. Primes was the only
black "claw-hammer'' in the room, and
therefore conspicuous, and cadets-who
know a good thing when they see it
and many a pretty girl partner would
draw aside to watch the perfection of
their step and the exquisite ease with
which they seemed to float through
space, circling and reversing and wind
ing among the other dancers, he ever
alert, watchful, quick as a cat and
1.-THE and strong as a panther-she all
yielding ,lissome, airy grace. That dance
was Gov" Primes reward, and almost
only reward, for hours of impatient
waiting. Other women, charming and
pretty and better women, would glad
iy have been his partners. Some two
or three whom he met at the hotel ever
intimated as much. But not until Lady
Garrison told him he must-to protect
her from scandal-did he ask another
to dance. At last came the end of the
summers encampment, the return of
the CORPS to barracks and studies, one
blissful week in which he was enabled
to spend several uninterrupted hours
each day at her side, and then a
cataclysm. A letter intended only for
Nita's hands fell into those of her sis.
ter. 1t was bulky. 1t was from La.
trobe. She hesitated only q moment
opened and read-all. Two days afte,
Nita was whisked away to New York
and within another week, leaving two
most disconsolate SWANS On the Hud.
son, the sisters, one of them bathed il
tears, went spinning away to the west
where Frank Garrison was on duty al
department headquarters. Prime was
permitted to write once a fortnight (he
sem a volume), and Latrobe forbidden
but already the poor boy owned a thick
packet OF precious missives. all breath
ing fond love and promising utter con
stancy though she had to wait for hin
for years. For a month Nita would
hardly speak to her sister, but in Oc
tober there were lovely drives, picnics
and gayeties> of all kinds. There were
attractive young officers and assidu
Gus old ones, and among these latter
was Frost, with his handsome gray
mustache and distinguished bearing
and that air of conscious success ant
possession which some men know Sc
we'll how to assume evep when theil
chances are simmer than my lady!
hand. The sisterly breach was healed
before that beautiful month was over
Frost dined at the Garrisons' -four
times a week and drove Miss Mia be
hind his handsome bays every day c.
two. In November he, asked a ques
ton. In December there was an an
nouncement that called forth a scor'
of congratulations around headquar
tiers, and in January the wedding card!
went all over the union-some to Yves
Point, but to Latrobe, who had beef
looking i'll and anxious for six weeks
said his classmates, and falling off fear
fully in his studies. said his professors
only a brief note inclosing his letter
and begging for hers. At ~reveille mex
morning there .ras no captain to re
ceive the report of roll call from tn
first sergeant of company B. where
Latrobe?" sleerily asked the officer o
the day of the cadet first lieutenant
II dn' know" was the answer, ant
to the amaze of Latrobe's roommate
who had gone to bed and to sleep RICH
after taps the night. before, they fount
evidence that 'Pat" had left the post
He had not even made down his bed
ding. His cadet uniforms were al
there, but a suit of civilian clothes
usually in a snug package up the chin
ney, that had been used several time
running it" to the hotel after taps i,
August, was now. like its owner, miss
ing. After three days waiting ant
fruitless search, the superintendent
wired Latrobe's uncle and best friend
old Gen. Drayton, and that was the las
seen or heard of "Pat." In the sprin,
and ahead of time his class was grad
uated without him, for the wal witt
Spain was on. In the spring an irat
and long-tried father was upbraidinI
another only son for persistent failure
at college. "'Gov' Prime will get tn
sack, not the sheepskin," prophesiet
his fellows. And Their somehow, some
where the father heard it was a mar