Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-28


GRAND WIS rendered tine more perilous. 1t
was June yet far above the small plateau
on which the army post was built, snow
fingered on the silent mountain peaks |
The<a Clin1mered in the moonlight OF sl-
very whiteness. iTlusive and unearthly, as
If the great and solemn SUBMITS were now |
while m n slept, the watching place oil guar
dian angels. The mountains leaped suddenly |
from the plateau, blackIy boulder-fianked |
with depths of dark and lowering woods |
In a still deeper black was marked the me
of the canyons descent. where the netting !
SHOWS of thousands of winters had bitten |
into the rock with deafness ferocl'S. AZ
one solitary point upon that inky line the /.
girl noted where the moonbeams CLEANED |
upon a cataract. whose foam spanked in |
the light. a diamond set in ebony. Thence !
thu waters tumbled down. until from the |
roar Of rage. their tired voices softened and |
sank to the querulous babble of the creek /
as # ran below the bank on which she |
stood
The girl delayed cautiously In the shadow |
of the last hOuSe on the creek SIDE W1tlttt. |
the limits of the post. AT last theFe zen
unon her anxious ears the call of the trun- |
peter at the adiutants office, almost 1mnle-
diateIy followed by the buSles at the nag
staff. with the first call for tattoo. ehe
ran to the edge of the shadow. then tripped |
across the stepping stones and vanished IN
the woods which covered the island formed
by the forking of the stream just above the
post .
1t stretched a mile in length, of varying |
breadth. Over its whole surface q tansle |
of thicket spread and scrubby oaks, so that, !
even by daylight. a wanderer would De
completely hidden in its recesses from the
people of the post. By night battalion
could have scattered over 1t and renamed
snsuspected. The girl pushed her way
boldly forward, undeterred by the silence
of the thickets, the solitude and the dark
ness She followed a rough and stony path
as if she were certain of her road sun
when she reached little spring which bub-
bled in clear space just beside the path, she
hesitated. put down the basket she had
been carrying on her arm, and bent for
ward, listening intently, but from the
thicket about her no sound came. The girl
put her fingers in her mouth like boy
and from her lips came one long. soft
whistling note. A bird sprang from bush
near her, and aroused some others by its
flight; otherwise there was response.
The girl stamped her foot angrily.
He has gone withOut-seeing me- she
muttered, and her lip quivered, she
picked up the basket and started to go
back. when she paused again. From the
center Of the island there foated through
the night the music of a violin. The girls
face instantly changed from anger to re-
lief and joy. She left the path and ran in
the direction Of the music. In a minute
or two she had reached the player and
thrown one arm about his neck. while with
the other she snatched away the bow.
You foolish boy. she whispered. They
Will hear you across the creek. Why did
you bring the violin, anyhow? They will
track you all the better if you are seen
carrying it?
Gould l go without it?'' he asked in sur
prise Did you whistle? What time is it.
Katy ''LiSten-tapS.
They were silent. cIasping each others
hands until the call ended The violin
player sighed.
Il shall never hear it again." he said.
We'll" said the girl practically IF you
don't want to hear the bugies again You
must be off at once
me the bow and l Will play you fare
well-Ho. not a farewell, only a song to-
the time when shall met again
The girl shook her head and held the bow
away from his reaching hand. The moon
light burst through the leaves above and
shone upon them. He was in the army
Uniform: his cap bore the bands device.
He was very young. almost a boy. His
form was slight; his smooth face was lit
up by TWO great. faTaway, brown eyes.
The girl was different Her willful face
was strong Her black eyes glowed with
passion and purpose There seemed little
fl them to respond to the dreaminess of
the lads. Yet now she threw her arm
around his neck and patted his cheek af-
fecti0la,cly. prOtectingIy-
Il believe you love your violin more than
you do me-, she whispered What an
idea. Noel. it was for you to enlist. l al
ways hated 4 deserter, but with you-it is
different"
Il am free he cried in exultation.
mot quite yet" she said, patting his
cheek as if he were a child, and then opened
her basket.
Eat now" she said land I Will tell you
all / have heard. l don't think they would
even bother to send out after You, If IL
were rot for Lieut.. wynn, the adjutalt
1t is not as II You were a trooper in the
ranks. You play the fiddle very beautifully
and the cOrnet in the band fairly well, but
you know, an able-bodied private is worth
five of you"
Katy
Not to me. dear" she whispered. NO
they would let you go, but You insulted
the adjutaEt-''
Vel. you told him the nasty truth
which is the same thing. and you know
what he is. l am afraid when he finds
you missing at tattoo he will send out a
detail That Is why l said you must be OF
at once. / have mapped out your road
You have plenty OF money. but you ought
TO leave the violin behind"
Il couldn't" said he quietly
Very we'll she said. but look"
From the bottom Of the basket she tool
ont some citizen clothes.
of course. you won't keep to the trails
she said. but even on the plain, until yol
reach the railroad. you must not wear tn,
uniform
You are my angel" he said. II neve
thought OF til just wished TO go away
to be alone with the violin. far from those
those fellows-to be free"
81 know. The army is no place for Won
Now You must be on
katy" he said. couldn't you come. too
now, / mean?'
She shook her head and laughed
when you are settled down, wherever
IS, write and will GOMEZ promise, Noel
My dearest, 1t won't be long"
Before the last note of taps had died sadl
away in the bills thefe was silent hustle a
the stables Sleepy and growing men wer
throwing the saddles the horses an
leading them out, until half troop wa
formed As they came. Corp. Healy tprne
to the surgeant IN charge.
An what the devils eating the adjutan
now, sergeant he asked with a yawn."
"Deserter." said the sergeant briefly
Fayal OF the band
Healy swOre gently.
"A bandsIIan! The wee man that PLAY
the fiddle2 Is it hiIa we're making ali III
fuss about2 Besab and begOb there's bi
ten good men taken a walk In the year al
we let EN- go. an now we're after hall
built man. fiddler, whin the blankets
hungry for Us, Leg him go"
so say T. said the sergeant sulIepI,
Prepare TO mount! Mount! Right b
twos march, No talking"