Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-01-02
CHAPTER X.-CONTINUED.


She had seated herself at the piano,
and her long, tapering fingers were
ripping over the keys. She knew full
well he did not care what she played,
and for herself she did not care just
then to play at all. She was thinking
of his insinuation at Marshall Deans
expense. She was still bordering over
Mrs. Fletcher'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 darll-brown eyes, and they were
studying him coolly, searchingly, as
he drew a chair near the piano stool,
and seated himself and met her look
with a broad, encouraging smile.
Trill and ripple, ripple and trill her
white fingers raced over the keyboard.
I'm sure you know this waltz, ma
jor," she was saying. ''They played
it beautifully at the Point two sum-
mers ago.
'I--ah, yes, it s a charming compost
tion-charming, though I don't re-
call it's name just now"
This? why it's one of Godfrey's-
The Hilda,' don't you know? I'm sure
you waltz, major"
''I-ah, used to, yes. I was very
fond of waltz" answered Burleigh,
whose best effort in that line could re-
suit IL nothing better than Q waddle
But of late years I-I-since my be-
reavement, have practically with
drawn from society,"" Then, with lam
.ch h. La. s.
tempted to Renter the list now" and
the major drew his chair nearer by
full an inch, and prepared to be fur
Their killing"
Jessie dances divinely," said Miss
Folsom. "She simply floats round
room. You should see her waltz with
her brother, Maj. Burleigh. They
might be Waiting here this very min
ute, if he were only home. What
can have detained him, do you think?"
81 wish I knew" said the quarter
master slowly. cit makes those who
are-ah-his friends, you know, anx-
ious 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
bis 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
ore none south of the Platte; or horse
thieves, and they hung the last of
the gang three months ago. Mr.. Dean,
I-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 ripping 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 floated out
upon the summer breeze. A little line
was setting deep between the dark.
arch1ng eyebrows, symptom Pap
poses schoolma ties hadlearned to note
as signal of danger, but Burleigh
knew her not, as yet.
1T is odd,'' said she, dreamily, chat
at the Point the officers spoke so
highly of Mr.. Dean, and here you
seem to think so differently of him.
1t is deep disappointment to his sis
tor thot ha sc bo,. Il
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"
ooh. ah-er-of course I hope so. 1 |
think, pardon me, that that must be |
a messenger from my office now" for /
spurred boot-heels were coming
briskly up the wooden walk. There |