Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-27

to escape Hazlett fully believed. That
| Fame and his party had been massacred to
man he regarded as more than probable
| The sudden hegira of 300 braves could only
have been caused by some such stirring
emergency as the attempt to wrest a noted
| chief from the hands of his captors. That
| many or most Of them were already back
| again went far to prove that, one way or
another. their mission was ended; that
| with confidence the agent could signal that
SoIalay had escaped and was safe in the
! w1lds of the Sierra Blanca added to Haz-
| ietts firm conviction of the truth Of the
story. AS for the rest Of 1t. the doctrine
| OF probabilities ruled In It's favor. What
chance had Fame and his little party sur
] rounded among the rocks of the Sierra by
ten times his force in foes? 1t was with
sad heart that Hazlett ventured home at 8
! IN the morning, praying she might be asleep
and well Knowing she would not be. She
was up and had coffee ready for him, and
| his campaign kit spread out upon the bed,
and had closed the door to the childrens
| room lest they should wake and hear and
! be terrified; and from passing members of
the guard she had heard the story and so
| spared him the sorrow of having to tell it.
she met him with fond arms and kiss at
the doorway to their little army home,
and drew him within and hung his sword
ana belt upon their accustomed hook II
| heard 1t from one of our men," she said.
But L shall not believe 1t yet VIII YOU
| be sent out-do you think?'
NO one will be sent out" he answered,
| drawing her within the clasp of his strong
arms, no one. that Is, except the couriers
| to call In all that are out-even the hay cut
ters, even the big guard at the Fork Nell,
now thankful am we have no telegraph
Then you think it-true?" she ques-
| toned. her brave eyes swimming her lips
| troll.
'I-fear so, unless Turner-ignored his
| orders.
Two big tears began to trickle down her
sun-burned cheeks. They were heroines
these army women of 1.-The days of the en-
pires - the early days of the con-.
they could and did endure; 's Death attn
| they dared, but compilations they sacrI-
f1ced-some of them irrevocably-to mari
| tai love and devotion. The woman of the
| orient blackens her teeth to prove her 10y
atty TO the lord of her bosom. 1t is left
Tor the army wife to tan her own skin.
| Madame Yale was then unknown. Cold
/ cream would speedily have become hot and
| spoiled, and similar preparations could
never have survived a week of that fierce,
| furnace-like heat. The only balm that
| never lost Its power to soothe was the kiss
| or love, gratitude and unchanging admira-
| ton that rewarded, If it could not quite
| repay, the lavish tribute of a wife's devo-
tion Nell Hazlett, sure of her soldier hus-
| bands heart and soul, was happy Wo-
! man even in her isolation, save when as
| now, she had to think of other womens
sorrows. and more than all others she was
| thinking now of Ronald Fane's mother and
| sisters, of whom he had talked to her every
| day and evening since his coming to the
| post six weeks before and of Ronald Fame
| sweetheart OF whom he had only just be-
gun to talk within the week that saw him
sent forth to his soldier duty-to, perhaps
his soldier fate.
| He left certain things In my care" she
murmured, nesting her chair close beside
his own. after pouring his coffee. 1t lacked
| still three hours of dawn but well she
knew that he would not now rest or re-
| move his clothes, until relieved from guard
| And he asked me to take especial care of
| n her ba
| didn't come back. You know how eager
| he was to go at first, and then how he
came to US just before the start-after
| Captain Turner had been talking with him."
| Il know" said Hazlett gravely. He had
| been thinking of just that same matter
| of Fane's grave and anxious face as he
captain.
| well. dear. the letters came-yesterday.
three Of them. all postmarked Lenox, within
ten days of each other. 1t is going to be
! hard to have to write to her."
| DO you suppose there is an engage
ment?' he asked.
He said no. but think-three letters in
| nine days. and in the height of a social
| after"
| Hazlett finished his coffee and pushed
back his chair. He was thinking deeply,
| painfully, and yet his arm encircled and
| drew her to his side. II. too, have a let
| ter, two letters in fact, only 1 haven't liked
| TO speak of them as yet. 1 did not see my
| for-for-well, I suppose it's the same
| girl
"Why?" and her eyes opened wide as she
| turned her face full upon him.
| "Oh. it's nothing against herr he began
| In haste, for the tone of the question told
| the trend of her thought AT least-well,
rs from the general, his father. Coloners
pay, you Know, doesn't go far at Fort
| Adams when wife and daughters delight in
| the casino and society"
But L thought he, or she, both of
| them, had money"
That's just it. That's just the worst of
| it," answered Hazlett gravely.- "If they'd
never had it, and had been bred to self
| denial and simple living 1t wouldn't be so
hard. Nell, dear. Mrs. Fame has never
been a Mrs. HaZlett, and now the dear old
fellow is worrying his heart out over the
| situation. Her money, what there was of
1t, went five years ago. His hasn't been
enough to supply the demand. Now he's
poor man, with a wife and daughters
| richly endowed in the extravagances of life.
| He has heard fabulous tales of Arizona
mines-that led to his letters. Then he
began to open his heart. He says there's only
a little life insurance; that he can't live
many years; that his boy may have to look
out for the mother and some of the sisters,
| and he fears Ronald has fallen in love.
| Bad as that was, how infinitely worse will
| 1t be if-we've lost him entirely"
| She bowed her head upon the broad
shoulder with its worn old strap of
! furnished gold and pallid blue. Fallen in
/ worships that girl, believed What's more,
believe she cares for him. Listen! There's
some one running?"
| Hazlett was first at the door, his young
| wife close following Somebody was run
| ming. running swiftly. up the gentle slope
toward the commanding officers, at whose
window light was dimly burning Other
| lights were blinking in the low log bar
racks across the quadrangle and down at
| the loop-holed guardhouse, where, in the
| faint moonbeams. half dozen dark forms
Y 11AI o1At% ,tAlyI