The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-05-03

with the-teenth-messing with them,
in fact, when he was not dancing at
tendance on Miss Prime-heard all this
camp talk and told her. Thus it hap
pened that the very next day when
he drove with the cousins (Mr. Prime
being the while in conference with the
detectives still securing the city for the
young deserter, who the father now felt
confident was his missing boy), Miss
looked the captain full in
the face with her clear, searching eyes
and pumped at him the point-blank
question::
"Capt. Schuyler, do Mr.. Gray's broth
er officers really consider him in dan
ger of dismissal?"
"Miss Lawrence, I grieve to say that
not one has any other opinion now"
There could be no doubt of it. Amy
Lawrence turned very pale and her
beautiful eyes filled.
ut is a shame!" she said, after a
moments struggle to conquer the
trembling of her lips. "Has-is there
no one-infuential e~nough-or with
brains enough (this with returning
color) to take up his case and clear
him?"
They were. whirling through the
beautiful drive of the Golden Gate
park, passing company after company
at drill. Even as Amy spoke Schuyler
lifted his cap and Miss Prime bowed
and smiled. A group of regimental Of
fcers, four in number, stood, apparent
ly supervising the work, and as Miss
Lawrence quickly turned to see who
they might be, her eyes met those of
Col. Armstrong. Five minutes later the
carriage returning drew up. as though
by some order from its occupants, at
that very spot. Armstrong and his ad-
irtant were still there and promptly
Joined them.
Long weeks afterward that morning
lived in Stanley Armstrong; memory.
1t was one of those rare August days
when the wind blew from the south
east, beat back the drenching Pacific
fogs and let the warn sun pour upon
the brilliant verdure of that wonderful
park. Earth and air. distant sea and
dazzling sky, all seemed clarifying their
Creator. Bright-hued birds flashed
through the foliage and thrilled the
ear with their caroling. The plash OF
fountain fell softly on the breeze, min
gled with the rustling of the %luxuriant
growth of leaf and flower close at hand.
1t was not chance that brought the
stalwart soldier instantly to Amy's
| side. Her gaze was upon him before
the carriage stopped, and irresistibly
drew him. The man of mature years
the hero of sharp combats and stirring
campaigns with q fierce and savage foe
the commander of hundreds of eager
and gallant men, obeyed without
thought of demur the unspoken sum
mons of a girl yet in her teens. There
was a new light in her clear and beau
tiful eyes,, a flush upon her soft anc
rounded cheek, a little futter, possibly
in her kind and loyal heart. HEAVIER
knows his heart beat high with an emo
ton he could not subdue, though hi!
bearing was grave and courteous Il.
ever, but about that sweet and flushing
face there shone the halo of a woman!
brave determination, and no sooner haC
he reached the carriage side than. bend
ing toward him, she spoke. Mildred
Prime could not repress a little gasp O.
amaze.
"Col. Armstrong, wiz you kindly
open the carriage door? want to tall
with you q moment"
Without a word he wrenched the
handle and threw wide the door. Ligh1
as a bird she sprang to the ground, he1
fingers just touching the extended
hand. Side by side they strolled away
across the sunlit lawn, he so strong
virile, erect, she so lissome and grace
full. Full of her purpose, yet fearful
that with delay might come timidity
she looked up in his face:
Sol. Armstrong, l have heard only
to-day that Mr.. Gray is in really seriou
danger. Will you tell me-the truth?
Just what Armstrong expected i
might be hard to say. The light tina
had leaped to his eyes faded slowly ant
his face lost something of the flush o
robust health. There was a brief paus
before he spoke as though he wishe'
time to weigh his words.
II fear it is true," he gravely said
Then in a moment: Miss Lawrence
will you not take my arm?" And b
felt her hand tremble as she placed j
there. It was a moment before she be
gan again.
"They tell me he should nave counse.
but will not heed. l have not seen hir
to-day. There is no one in his battalion
it seems, whom he really looks IN tc
He is headstrong and s~elf-confiden1
Do you think he should-that he need
one?" And anxiously the brave eye
sought the strong, soldierly face.
ut would seem so, Miss Lawrence"
She drew a long breath. She SCENE
to cling a little closer to his arm. Thel
straight came the next question::
"Col. Armstrong, will you do me
great favor? Will you be his counsel?
He was looking directly to the from
as she spoke. Something told him wha
was coming, yet he could not answe
all at once. What did it mean, after all
but just what he had been thinking TO
a week, hat the girls fresh youn.
heart had gone out to this merry, hand
some, soldierly lad, whom he, too, has
often marked with keen appreciation
when in command of his big compan.
at drill. What possible thought of her
could he, more than twice her years,
have ever hoped to win? She had com
to him in her sore trouble-and he
lover's-as she would have gone to he
father had he been a soldier schooled il
such affairs. Armstrong pulled himsel
together with quick, stern self-com
mand.
Looking down, he saw that her eye
were filling, her lips paling, and a rus
of tenderness overcame him as he sim
ply and gently answered.: