Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03

astir. The rest they knew.
Asked how she came to know Of the
money in the traders safe, he said no secret
had been made of 1t by either Hay or him.
She had asked him laughingly about his
quarrel with Wilkins, and seemed deeply
interested in all the details Of subaltern life.
Either Hay or he, fortunately could nave
made good the missing sum, even had most
Of it not been found among Stabber's
plumber. Field had never seen her again
until the night the general took him to con-
front her at the Hays, and all too late
had realized how completely she had lured
and used him. In pride, honor. self respect,
he had been sorely wounded, and, even
when assured that the general attached no
blame to him, and that his name was no
longer involved, he would have resigned his
commission and quit the service had ii not
been for these soldiers three-Webb, Blake
and Ray. They made him see that, all the
more because his fathers death had left
him independent-sole master of quite
valuable property-he must stick to the
sword and live down the possible stain.
And stay he did, refusing even chance
to go abroad the following spring, and de-
voting himself assiduously to his duties al
! though he shrank from society. They made
him sometimes spend quiet evening at
Rays or Blake's, where twice Miss Dade
was found. But that young lady was quick
to see that her hostess had been scheming,
as loving women will. And then, when he
went hoping to see her, yet half afraid, she
came no more. They could not coax her.
The early spring had taken him forth on
long campaign. The ensuing fall had taken
her to the far distant east, for gallant old
Dade was breaking down. The doctors sent
him on prolonged sick leave. Then was
Fort Frayne indeed desolate post to Bev-
erly Field, and when midwinter came, and
with it the news that Dade had but little
while to live, he took counsel with Ray.
and months leave, not much of which
was spent in the south. The old regiment
was represented at the sad and solemn lit
tie ceremony when the devoted husband,
a. 49, fDJ1 col ia ma a q
Nor was Field a happier man when he re-
Joined from leave, and they all thought they
knew why. Letters came, black-bordered,
with Esthers superscription, sometimes,
There was never one for Field. And so
second summer came and went and sec
ond September was ushered In, and in the
food of the full moonlight there was again
music and dancing at Fort Frayne. but not
for Field, not for Esther Dade. They were
all talking of Nanette, Daughter of the
ment. as they called her in her fathers
corps and the mail came late from Lara
mic, and letters were handed round as tat
too sounded, and Mrs. Blake, eagerly scam
ming a black-bordered page, was seen sud-
denly to run in doors. her eyes brimming
over with tears.
Later that night Hogan tapped at Fields
front door and asked would the lieutenant
step over to Mrs. Rays minute, and he
went.
.sRead that" said Mrs. Ray, pointing TO
paragraph on the third page of the black
bordered missve that had been too much
for Mrs Blake. And he read:
Through it all Esther has been my
sweetest comfort, but now / must lose her.
too. Our means are SO straitened That she
has made me see the necessity. Hard as it
is. / must yield to her for the help that 1t
NAV bring. She has been studying year
and is to join the staff of trained nurses
at ST. Luke's the first of>October"
For a. moment there was silence in the
ri Fields ha nds trem-
hing his face was filed with trouble. She
knew he would speak his heart to her at
last and speak he did:
"All these months that she has been stu
diving I've been begging and pleading. Mrs.
Raw You know what went for last win
ter-all to no purpose. I'm going again
now if / have to stay patient at st.
Iuke's to coax her out of it,
But not until Christmas came the well
come WIRE
Patient discharged. Nurse finally ac-
cepts new engagement"
Finis.)