Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-17
CHAPTER X.


One of Col. Frost's consuming ambi-
tions was to be the head of his depart
ment, with the rank of brigadier gen
eral, but he 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 perseyering, and
though "close-fistcd," to the scale of a
Scotch landlord as a rule, he would
loose his purse strings and pay well
for services he considered essential.
When Frost had a consuming desire he
let no money consideration stand in the
way, and for Nita 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 q dazzling
necklace and 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. Nita 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 we'll
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 | shouldn't give Nita
away without some recompense, and
this is it,
But that could have been only 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 Nita
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 was 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
hnn al ni-a
of any kind, and she was actually free
as air. So Frost was satisfied
They made an odd looking pair.
"<cst was bony built but sturdy, and
Nita seemed like 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 concussiop when the Maine was
blown to mass of wreckage. 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 fest to the Ar
lington and hurriedly entering the
room, he almost stumbled over the
body of his wife, lying close to the
door in 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 card in an envelope given
him by young feller who seemed
kind O. sick. Mrs. Frost took it and
| Topped" and a chambermaid ran in to
her, and then hurried for the doctor.
What became of the letter or note or
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 of
| her sex and class she had seen that
| there was or had been a young lover,
and sympathy for Nita and dislike for
! Frost who gave no tips, prompted her