Evening star., 1903-07-27

he. but sooner than give the real reason,
added iamely. MY daughter IL too young. v
Now he thought he saw impending duty
In his sisters somber eyes and potSe. he
knew 1t when she began by rolling her RS
1t WAS 80 like their chilhood's spiritual
guide and mentor. MacTaggart. erstwhile
Of the Aud LIGHT persuasion. and a
power.
wait bit. Janet" said he. Nickel.
get my horse and tell Sergeant Strang to
send me mounted orderly Then as
Nickel dropper the saber in the open door
way and departed. he turned upon her.
where's Angefa?' said he, and what
was she doing out after recall? The stable
sergeant says twas six when Punch came
home"
'R-r-r-o-bert, 1t Is Of that I wish to speak
to you. and before she comes to dinner.
Hush! She's coming now
Down the row of shaded wooden porticos.
at the majors next door. at DR.. Graham 8.
the Scotch surgeon and Wrens especial
friend and crony. at the Lynns' and Sand
ers' beyond. little groups of women and
children In cool evening garb, and officers
in white, were gathered in merry, laughing
chat. Nowhere. save In the eyes of one
woman at the commanding officers, and
here at Wren's, seemed there anything ON
inous in the absence of this officer 80 lately
come to Join them. The voice of Angela,
glad and ringing. fell upon the father S
ears in sudden joy. Who could associate
shame or subterfuge with tones so charged
with merrtment? The face Of Angela, COM
side veranda Deamed instantly upon him.
sweet trusting and welcoming. then slowly
shadowed at sight OF the set expression
about the mouth. and the rigid. uncom-
promising, determined sorrow In the fea-
lures of her aunt.
Before she could utter a word. the father
questioned:
"Angela. my child, have you seen Mr..
Blakely this afternOon?"
One moment her big eyes clouded, but un-
finchingly they met his gaze. Then some
thing In the stern scrutiny OF her aunt
regard stirred all that was mutinous within
her; yet there was an irrepressible twitching
about the corners OF the rosy mouth, q
twinkle about the big brown eyes that
should have given them pause. even as she
demurely answered:
Yes"
"When?" demanded the soldier. his mus
cular hand clutching ominously at the
wooden rail: his jaw setting souarely
"When-and wherer
But now the merriment with which she
had begun changed slowly at sight Of the
repressed fury in his rugged Gaelic face
She. too. was trembling as she answered.:
Just after recall-down at the pool"
For an instant he stood glaring, incredu-
lous. AT the pool! You! My bairnier'
Then. with sudden outburst of passionate
wrath. Go to your roomP said he
But listen-father. dear" she began, i'm
plorinEly. For answer he seized her slen-
der arm in almost brutal grasp and fairly
hurled her within the doorway. mot 9
word" he ground between his clinched
teeth. "Go instantlyr' Then. slammins
the door upon her. he whirled about as
though to seek his sisters face. and saw be-
yond her. rounding the corner OF tho north
west set OF quarters. coming in from the
mesa roadway at the back. the tall, white
figure of the missing man.
Another moment and Lieutenant Blakely
in the front room of his quarters looking
pale and strange. was being pounced upon
with eager questioning by Duane. his
junior. when the wooden steps and veranda
creaked under q quick. heavy. ominous
tread. and. with livid face and clinching