Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25

welcome her, and well-n!gh precipltated
herself upon IA stranger in the natty I'M
dress uniform of the cavalry. Her instant
blush was something beautiful to see
Blakely said the proper things to restore
tranquility; sInilinSly asked for her fathei.
his captain. and. while waiting for that
warrior to finish shaving and come down
to receive him, entertained by Miss
Wren in the little army parlor. Looking
into her wondrous eyes and happy. blush
ing face. he forgot that there was rancor
between his troop commander and himself
until the captains stiff unbending greet
ing reminded him. ThoughteSS people at
the post, however were laughing over the
situation a week thereafter. Neil Blakely.
a squire of DANES in San Francisco and
other cities when serving staff duty, a
society swell and clubman, had obvious
~ become deeply Interested in this biithe
young army girl. without a cent to her
name-with nothing but her beauty, native
grace and sweet. sunshiny nature to com
nend her And every one hitherto had
said Neil blakely would never marry in
the army.
And there one woman at Sandy who
saw the symptoms with jealous and jaun-
!, diced eyeS-Clarice. wife of the major then
commanding the little -four company
garrison. Other women took much to heart
the fact that Major Plume had cordially
invited Blakely on his return from the
agency to be their guest until he could
get settled in his own quarters. The Plumes
had rooms to Spare-and no children. The
ma JOf WAS Twelve years imam MS
wife but women said it often looked the
other way. Mrs. Plume had aged very
rapidly after his sojourn on recruiting duty
in st. Louis Frontier commisSariat and
cooking played hob with her Digestion
said the major. Frontier winds and water
dealt havoc to her complexion said tn"
women. But both complexion and digestion
SEE med to take II brace" as irreverent
youth expressed it, when Neil Blakely came
to Sandy and the majors roof. True he
stayed bat six and thirty hours and then
moved into his own domiCic-quarterS No.
after moving out most reluctant junior
Major Plume ard Mrs. Plume had expected
him. they Were so KIND as to say. to choose
vacant half set, excellent for bachelor
purposes under tie roof that sheltered
Capt. Wren. Capt. WrenS maiden sister
and houSekeeper, and Angela. the captains
daughter. This set adjoined the majors
big central house, its south windows look
ing into the majors north gallery. 1T
would be 50 neighborly and nice said
Mrs. Plume. Instead however. Mr. Blake
~ stood upon his prerogative as a senior
subaltern and ranked OUT Mr. and Mrs
Brdger and baby. and these otherwise
gentle folk, evlcted and aggrieved know
ing naught of Blakely from previous ASSOC
citation and seeing no reason why he should
wish to lie att the far end of the row in
stead of the smddle with his captain.
where he properly belonged. deemed them
selves the objects Of wantOn and capri
cious treatment at his hands, and resented
it according to their opportunities.
Bridger being soldier and subordinate,
had to take 1t out in solilOquy and swear
words bdF his impetuous little helpmate-
being a Nom9n. a wife and mother, set
both witt and Tongue to work. and heaven
help the man-when woman has both to
turn upon shiu{ In refusing the room and
windows fhat Booked full-face into those Of
Mrs Plume. Blakely had nettled her In
selecting the quarters occupied by Mr. and
Mrs. Brdssr he had slightly Inconvenience
and sorely vexed the latter. With no in
cumbrances VIVA tever. with fine profession
al record. with personal traits and reputa-
.tion to make him enviable. with compare
tive wealth and. rule. superlative
health. Blakely started on his career as a
subaltern at Sandy with three serious handi-
capS-the disfavor of his captain who knew
and loved him 1ittle-the prejudice of Mrs
Bridger. who knew and loved him not at
all-and the Jealous pique of Mrs. Plume
who had known and loved him. possibly
too well.
There was little duty doing at Sandy at
the time whereof we write. Men rose at
dawn and sent the horses forth to Craze
all day in the foothills under heavy guard
1t was too hot for drills. with the mercury
sizzling at the hundred mark Indian pris-
oners did the police" work about the post;
and men and women dozed and wilted in
Then Sandy woke up and theoretically
stabbed. drilled. paraded under arms at
sunset, mounted guard Immediately there
after. dined in spotless white: then rode,
drove. flirted. danced. gossiped. made mirth
melody. or monotonOus plant till nearly
midnight: then slept until dawn of another
day