The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-04-10
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
A STORY OF THE FRONTIER.


but never mind you've done your
best, no doubt"
After the major left her, Margaret
sat for a long time simply repeating
to herself, Curtis gonel gone!" And
then she set to thinking over their
friendship; how much he had really
been to her, and now good, and brave.
and kind. She had really loved him
once, she thought to herself; and she
knew in her heart of hearts that he
loved her, and loved her yet-and now
he was gone, and what had he left?
The door of the officers mess
opened and a man came out on the
piazza and waved a tennis racquet,
She did not see him, nor did she no.
tict him at all until he spoke her
name next her. Then she rose sud-
denly. YOU" she exclaimed.
"The same, Miss Margaret Why,
must have frightened you, you said
'You!' in such a tragic way. Just
like the Camille we saw at Tabor's
last month in Denver. But won't you
come and play tennis?2
mir. Robinson, Curtis Burke has
left the post"
Curtis gone!"
That was just what she had said to
herself a hundred times during the
last minute.
eyes" she answered.
"Why?"
Il sent him away"
Margaret, did you send him away
on my account?" And he looked
straight into her eyes. He thought
she was his, for her eyes reflected his
glance for moment; then she shrank
back.
81 did not send him away, Mr.. Rob
inson. You drove hin away"
~"
"You did, and I hate you for it."
and you love him?" he asked,
breathlessly.
q 90, Mr. Robinson, and we are
your enemies after this" and she
swept into the house
Robinson hardly realized that he had
left her yeranda as he walked across
the parade ground and sank into a
chair in his own quarters.
That afternoon, as the major passed
the surgeons house, he saw Margaret
on the stoop again.
What are you doing, Margaret"
why major?" she asked sadly.
''If you don't stop, every officer in
the regiment will be leaving the post"
mfr. Robinson"
Left about ten minutes ago by the
west gate"
A great rapping came at the ma
jors door, and a hurried call: MA
jor! Major Wright, quick, let me I'M"
The major had been sleeping sound
ly, but awoke suddenly and hurried
to the door. who is it? What is
it?"
TITS me-MacLaughlin."
Whats the matter, sergeant?"
Major, Black Snake and his band
are off the reservation"
"What?"
Sure, they've been dancing for the
last two days, and this afternoon the
Snake and about fifty bad r. Apk
to the trail. They looted 5passed by
and half killed Scott" TIL At
gasped out each word, L,v,o.f so
winded and excited.
Which way did they go?' asked
the major. He had gone back into
his room and was hurriedly dressing.
Il can't tell you, sir. The rest of
the Indians are SO excited with the
dancing and their medicine that you
can't get a word from them. Cross and
a couple of men from troop B happen
ed over to SCOTS and found him nearly
dead"
officers and men were coming out of
their quarters. The bugle sounded
and the call was taken up by the
trumpeter of each troop. In shadowy
sQuadrons they formed in on the par
ade ground, and in a moment they were
gone through the west gate, with the
Major at their head, pounding out into
the darkness.
Fer a day Curtis Burke had beer
: in the mountains, alone with his
/ memory and his rife The keen joys
Z Of a good killing made him feel thC
more like facing the world again, ant
> there was something of lightness in hi'
heart as he descended the trail through
2 the Stage Coach Pass and came int
the foothills. Hs had ridden hard fo