Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-08


remained q while at the little table re-
served for him and his. Jane had not yet
appeared. Mrs. Fame and Clare never came
until all the other boarders were gone.
When, sword at his side, he presently left
the house. he found two students waiting
for him at the gate.
They saluted, and the spokesman said:
Captain Fame, we wish to say to you
that no member of the battalion put that
paper at your plate. We believe a serv-
ant did It, and that she had no idea of the
contents. but that 1t was given to her for
the purpose. OF course, we have seen 1t.
and the men whom we've met unite In de-
nouncing it. The whole thing is the work.
probably, of old Stetson."
When did he return?'' asked Fame. He
did not wish to discuss the matter. He
desired to be alone, but the loyalty of
these young fellows was not a thing to be
ignored He thanked them, told them 1t
a matter he would think of before
acting, then led the way to the gymnasium.
janitor, meeting them at the gateway
to the grounds, handed him a letter:
1T came with the presidents mall. sir,
few days ago and he was away, so he
didn't see it until last night"
1t was from Hazlett. Fame knew the
hand at a glance and tore open the en-
velope as he trudged up the hill. Within
was a little missive from his gentle friend
and nurse of the previous winter. How
long ago 1t seemed! How much older he
had grown, and sadder! How much he
stood now In need of such friends as
these and how few were they Yet the
first words gave him comfort:
We are coming to Chicago, dear Fane.
Price wrote that mis- wife couldn't stand the
climate, and asked to exchange. Her Sc
rene highness said yes, which settled 1t even
up to the a. G. o. So behold us packing in
preparation for the journey. Now there Is
possibility of our meeting In the near fu-
ture, and 1t occurred to me that before
settling In winter quarters In the Windy
City we might come, by way of, and Mrs.
Hazlett might bide while at. Groveton.
t. ,Irl,t
for we should leave here Thursday next.
And here 1t is Friday" thought Fame,
'and they've been wondering over my ST.
lence'
ner and Truscott, and SO have all the regi-
mental news. Our fellows all out of
Arizona by this time, and yours Will be
following in another year. Mrs STANDARDS
last letter to my better half was full of in
terest, but we'll talk over all that when we
meet. Just what influence our former post
commander may possess is more than l
can say. 1t saved him an official flashing
last spring, and now he has six months
leave. l presume he Will appear in Chicago,
perhaps is there already, in which case l
hope he may go his way before l get there.
Now, forgive me- Fame, If l intrude advice
where none is asked, but knowing how
just was your wrath against him-knowing,
too, just how deep-1 hope you will not
meet him. Your good name and fame. in
spite of him, are established-known of all
men.
How little he Knows" thought Fame.
bitterly.
He stands rebuked in like measure. There
fore say |, don't seek him-dont see him.
III affair with him of any kind you
would have nothing to gain and everything,
perhaps, to lose. We have learned to love
you and to have high hopes of your future
IN the profession you adorn, SO do nothing
to leopard your prospects.
l am wondering If you have heard about
Hayden, whom you dared so much to save.
l wonder if he was worth half the risk
had letter from Turner two days ago.
The men, he says, still talk of Fame" but
don't know what to think of Hayden. He
had been sent down to the Colorado on
escort duty last month; got into row with
man in TX" Troop; was placed under
guard, broke out, escaped and has been de-
clared a deserter. They say he took the
mail stage to the coast. Where could he
have got the money? Frankly, l never
thought much of that young fellow. though
l remember that the major seemed to favor
him.
Mrs. Hazlett sends the inclosed so 1 pre-
sumo she conveys her own messages.
Yours as ever,
So Major Piggott was east on leave and
Hayden q deserter! How odd to read of
them and their doings A few months back
Fame could hardly drive the former out of
his thoughts. For the last few weeks he
had hardly thought of him at all,
crossing had become his cares and perpleX-
tiles at college He Was standing alone
now reading his letter under the shade of
the elms at the edge of the green campus
The students had gone on to the gymna-
STUN; others were following; all cycling him
curiously, many Of them sympathetically
as they passed, for all had seen or heard
or that singing and misleading article Me-
chemically he returned their salutes, but
turned farther away into the grove before
opening the little Enclosure. 1t was only
wee note, but 1t stirred him strangely, even
at a time when he was a-thrll with nerv-
Gus wrath over the new wrong dealt him
For a moment this, too, was forgotten as
he read:
Dear Friend-Always: We have been see
ing much of Mr.. Furlong, who was with
you at the Point two summers ago. and he
has had much to tell of a girl in whom
l feel more interest than you express He
says that 1t Is generally believed that her
fathers business misfortunes were mainly
due to Mr.. Belts; that Mr.. Belts had pur-
sued her with his attentions in spite of her
repugnance, and that her quitting her
fathers roof-such roof as was left to them
after the crash-was practically to rid her
self of Belts and his opportunities. He
says further that she Is teaching French at
some western college, and he thinks it the
very one to which you were lately ordered
can hardly believe 1t, because you surely
would tell me, would you not? Yet you
have written line since the week you
went on duty. l do hope-well you know
what hoped. and said, when we parted
at Sandy, and now I'm looking forward to
be told Of her, perhaps to seeing her at
Groveton. Shall I not? Yours, e. E. H.
What was there to tell her? What op-
portunity would there now be, even had he
anything but sorrow to speak of? The i'll
fortune that had seemed to hound his every
move Of late pursued him even In this It
was now too late to wire. They would have
started. and he knew not by which route
or train They would hardly come by way
OF Groveton now. in view of his silence, and
he longed for them, longed for Hazlett's
stanch friendship and support--for her
sweet womanly sympathy. The big bell
doomed the hour; the stirring peal Of the
bugle followed at the gymnasium; he heard
the ''Here!' 'Here!" of the young voices
and the thud of the gun butts on the floor
as the sergeants called their rolls One or
two belated lads came painting up the slope,
rec-faced and worried. coming down to a
walk" at sight of him, saluting and then
fastening on. but he called them to him.
Sorrow and vexation had only served to
make him sympathetic. Wen go In to-
gether.' he said, half smiling. Gar or
the track?
They shook their heads. my fault, sir,
I'm 'fraid," said the foremost. Il thought
we had more time, and" he glanced down
at the left hand. The knuckle was bleed
ing. I'VE turned back a minute"
Some of that street gang AGAIN." queried
Fame