Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-10-04
Copyrights. 1900. by the j. B. Lippincot. Col
CHAPTER IX-CoNTIsUEp.

CftAPIER lA.-CONTINUED.
''Well, now, Miss Ray, don't you
think it was most discourteous, most
ungentlemanly, in him to send such
a messenger" demanded a flushed and
indignant young woman, one of the
8 most energetic of the sisterhood, as
they stood together on the prom
senade deck in the shade of the canvas
awnings, stunning the glare % the
August sun.
& care you sure such a message was
sent?" was the serious reply.
s'.Sure?~ Why, certainly he did and
by his own servant, too" was the
wrathful answer. didn't he, Miss
Porter?''
And Miss gPortes. the damsel ap-
pealed to, and one of the two nurses
who sent in their message from the
Office, promptly assented. Q Miss Ray
looked unconvinced.
Servants, you know, sometimes de-
liver messages that were never sent"
she answered, with quiet decisions
|'We have seen quite little of that
in the army, and it e my fathers
rule to get all the facts before pass
ing Judgment. My brother thought
Mr.. Stuyvesant's attendant garrulous
and meddlesome.''
'But I asked him if he was sure
that was what Mr.. Stuyvesant said"
persisted Miss Porter, bridling, land
he answered they were just the very
Words"
"And still I doubt his having sent
them as a message" said Miss Ray,
with slight access of cosor, and that
evening she walked the deck long
with happy subaltern and added to
her appropriately.
There were several well-informed
and unpleasant women, maids and
matrons both, in the little sisterhood,
but somehow ..the boys" did not show
such avidity to walk or chat with
them as they did with Miss Ray. She
sorely wanted talkswith Sandy that
evening, but the Be1gic had come in
from Frisco only six hours before
they sailed and huge bags of letters
and papers were transferred from
her to the Sacramento.
There were letters for Maidie and
Sandy both-several-but there was
one bulky missive for him that she
knew to be from her father, from
far-away Tampa, and the boy had
come down late to dinner. They had
seats at tne table of the commanding
officer, thing Maidie had really
tried to avoid, as she felt that it dis
eliminated, somehow, against the
other nurses, who, except Mrs, DIR.
Wells, their official head, were dis
tributed about the other tables. but
the major had long known and loved
her father, and woula have it so.
This night, etheirD first out from Homo
lulu, he had ordered wine-glasses on
the long table and champagne served,
/. and when dinner was welf-nigh over
noticed for the first time that Ray
had turned his glass down.
''Why, Sandy" he cried, impulsive-
~, sit is just % years ago this sum-
mef that your father made the ride
of his life through the Indian lines
to save Wayne's command on the
Cheyenne. Now. there are just 90 of
us here at table, and 1 wanted to pro-
pose his health and promotion.
Won't you join us?''
The boy colored to the roots of his
dark hair. His eyes half filed. He
choked and stammered moment and
thenAback went the head with the
old, familiar toss that was so like his
father. and through his set lips San
dy bravely spoke:
Cant, major. I swore off--to-
day!"
'All right, my boy. that ends it!''
answered the major, heartily, while
Marion, her eyes trimming. barely
touched her lips to the glass, and
longed to be on Sandy's side of the
table that she might steal hand to
him in love and sympathy and sister
ly pride. But he avoided even her
when@dinner was over, and was busy,
he sent word. with troop papers
down between-decks, and she felt,
somehow, that that letter was at the
bottom of his sudden resolution and
longed to see it, yet could not ask.
At three bells. half-past nine. she
saw him coming quickly along the
promenade deck, and she stopped her
escort and held out OBTAINING
hand
you'll come and have "a little talk
with me. won't you. Sandy" she