The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-03-02

her window, exhausted, apparently,
by her eXertions, and Field started
for his quarters, only to find the en-.
tire garrison 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 it by
either Hay or him. She had asked
him laughingly about his quarrel
with Wilkins, and seemed deeply in
terested in all the details OF
subaltern life. Either Hay or he,
fortunately, could have made good
the missing sum, even had most of it
not been found amongst Stabber's
plumber. Field had never seen her
again until the night the general
took him to confront her at 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 it 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-sol
master of quite valuable property
he must stick to the sword and live
down the possible stain.
And stay he did, refusing even a
chance to go abroad the following
spring, and devoting himself assidu-
ously to his duties, although he
shran]l 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 hos
tess 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 desc
late post to Beverly Field, and when
mid winter came, and with it the
news that Dade had but little while
to live, he took counsel with Ray, and
a months leave not much of which
was spent in the South. The old
regiment was represented at the sad
and solemn little ceremony when the
devoted husband, father and fellow
soldier was laid to rest.
Nor was Field a happier man when
he rejoined from leave, and they all
thought they knew why. Letters
came, black-bordered, with Esther's
superscription, sometimes, but only
for Mrs. Blake or Mrs. Ray. There
was never one for Field. And so 8
second summer came and went and g
second September was ushered in, anc
in the flood of the full moonlight
there was again music and dancing, al
Fort Frayne, but not for Field, not
for Esther Dade. They were all talk
ing of Nanette, Daughter of the Da
kotas, and Esther, Daughter of the
Regiment, as they called her in he1
fathers corps, and the mail came late
from Laramie, and letters were hand
ed round as tattoo sounded, and Mrs
Blake, eagerly scanning black-bor
in doors, her eyes trimming over with
tears.
Later that night Hogan tapped al
Fields front door and asked would
the lieutenant step over to Mrs. Rays
minute. and he went.
"Read that" said Mrs. Ray, pointing
to paragraph on the third page OF
the black-bordered missive that hac
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 sc
Strengthened that she has made ms
see the necessity. Hard as it is,
must yield to her for the help that il
may bring. She has been studying {
year and is to join the staff of trained
nurses at st. Lul,e's the first of DC
tober."
For moment there was silence
in the little army parlor. Fields
hands were trembling, his face was
filled with trouble. She knew he
would speak his heart to her at last
and speak he did:
CAN these months that she has
been studying I've been begging ant
pleading, Mrs. Ray. You know what
| went for last winter-all to no pur
pose. I'm going again now, if | have
to stay as a patient at st. Lulle's te
coax her out of it,"
But not until Christmas came the
welcome wire"
Patient discharged. Nurse finally
accepts new engagement"
THE END.
Earthquake Starts Up the Music.
An earhauake recently occurred il