Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20

days on the wide mountain waves of Wyo-
ming-the dreamy. delightful Indian SUM
mer in the Hudson highlands and one soft,
hazy afternoon a fair-faced girl, still wan
and sad and in deep mourning, stood iean-
ing against the railing of the old north
piazza, gazing silently over that incomplete
bic vista of earth and flood and sky. Two
big tears seemed trimming in her SOFT
eyes. Some one. who had come searching
through the deserted hallway, faltered at
the door, irresolute, unwilling to intrudet
yet eager and rejoicing-a woman burdened
with blissful duty-and letter. AT last
almost on tiptoe, she approached, and the
girl started, turned and smiled upon her
she came
"A letter for you, Ethel
For me- Mrs. Hazlett?''
For you. and for no one else" was the
answer. and the bearer vanished. leaving
the bulky little packet In hands that sud-
denly grew tremulous.
Il am sending you the letter" (were the
first words that met her eyes she opened
the outer envelope) written nearly three
years ago when, to save me, you would
have accused your brother. Last year when
l tried to speak you would not hear me,
Ethel. Now will you read? 1 go again to
Groveton to take up the work L left when
needed in the field. Read, and tell me may
l come first to YOU
She did not know he was even then so
near nor had he told her What was more
natural, when he heard of Hazlett'S detail
at the Point, than that he should follow
on to see them. his ever-devoted friends?
A summer of splendid, vigorous life had the
regiment enjoyed summer of scouting
through the grandeSt country in all Amer
lea, a summer of radiant sunshine and
mountain air, a country rich in scenic
beauty, with uninterrupted peak and wooden
range and green rolling foothill and flash
ing, foam-creSted torrent on every side and
when the early snow clouds settled down
upon the cliffs and the white, filmy veil
came sitting slowly earthward, blanketing
the game trails and the upland prairies, the
recall sounded at the distant outposts. and
by easy stages the regiment came riding
Jauntily homeward from beneath the morn
ing shadows of Cloud Peak, across the
swiring Big Horn, rounding the base of
Heart mountain, dipping again and again
in the deep ravines that scanned the east
ward slope of the Shoshone range-the val
leys of the Meeyero. Meeteesee and Gray
Bull, still home of the elk and the buffalo.
Then. over the huge barrier of the Owl
Creek mountains, and into the broad
lands of the Wind river, with the grand
triplet sentinels of the Tetons standing
guard at the west and the peaks
of Fremont glistening against the south
ern skies; and then the long, winding
way through the sheep herders' paradise,
and the Chamber over the green bulwark to
the Sweetwater beyond, and thence,
through Devils Gate, to rejoice again at
sight of the dear old Platte, frisking north
ward to meet them, and then obligingly
turning away southeastward to be escort
and companion through days of brisk, eX
hlarating ride, through starry nights of
song and slumber, past Fetterman
Heights past La Prele. La Bonte and on to
hospitable old Laramie and here ''the
chief summoned Fame to headquarters
and babe him push ahead to Cheyenne and
Chicago with dispatches for the division
commander and "a four weeks leave for
himself. Many letter had met Nem at
Laramie, and Jimmy Hoyt had come to
tell him of HaZletts orders to the Military
Academy-of Mrs. Hazletts September with
Ethel at 'Sconset, of EthePs being with the
Hazletts even now. What more natural,
indeed. than that Fame should wish to see
these old and tried and trusted friends be-
fore again reporting for duty to the
selfsame, yet very differently greeting,
president at Groveton? Long enough he
stopped at his quarters for that letter and
for needed raiment in which to return to
civil life and civilization Then, within an
other day, he was speeding after It, Ethei
Hoyt had barely time to read it-thrlce TO
dream over it at all, or even whisper that
her heart said Come when, sun tanned,
vigorous brimful of the ozone and energy
of the wide frontier. just where they had
parted in the old north piazza just the year
agone, he stood before her and read sur
render in her soft, yet shining, and at last
uplifted eyes.
There was q house warming when the
Hazletts moved from the hotel into the new
quarters and welcoming hop at the OIL
ficers club, and full uniform was the ordet
of the evening. There were insignia of
famous military societies on the UNIFORM
of many senior among the ofhcerS present
the Loyal Legion, the Army of the Poto-
mac "Sheridan's Cavalry and the IKE
shone Respondent under the globe llghts'
but between the double row of cavalry put-
tons the breast of Ronald fane huns
medal in dull bronze, surmounted, In min
iature by the national flag. There was none
to match it in the crowded room, though IL
came to others later, and though there were
1,-all dnsa
others there that had wen ue9eiN '0' 49,
never received it. -,
.Where's your medal?' Hazlett had
bluntly asked when Fame came down from
his room. 49,, .,
II said l shouldn't wear it, answered
Fame. ,, .
Il said he should quietly remarked d
young lady whose half mourning was 10
keep her from the dance at which fane
must needs appear, though 1t seems nc o'u
not long to remain. . ),
..Then-somebodyl have to pin 1t on
said the owner.
II, takes a woman to do that quoth
Hazlett Perhaps I'd better call-my vile,
whereat he vanished, grinning, and tane
stepped forward, the priceless trifie in his
hand.
way to the dark dining room beyond, the
freight from the open hearth, the SOFT
eIeam from the chandelier and sconces,
falling full upon her sweet face, from
which the pallor and the sorrow had van
a faint flush upon the cheeks. There was
radiance in the quick, upward glance as
gently he drew her forward to the nreSloe'
then smiling stood attention.
IT'S the way Dolan and | had to stand
first time il was ever pinned on, said he,
and I've never worn it since.
So, facing him, she leaned her white hands
Oh his breast his deep eyes glowing upon
hers as trembling just little bit, the slen-
der fingers drove the stout pin through the
blue and snapped it in its seat Then,
daintily, they smoothed and patted the soft
ribbon; then, slowly, they would have come
away when suddenly his arms We're about
her, holding her close and strong the
blessed trophy of his soldier valor almost
crushed into the soft fabric that fluttered
a bove her heart. Even then, not SATISFIED,
suddenly again he loosed his hold: master
fully he seized the soft, white hands; lifted
them over the glittering shoulder-knots I'M
til they had to clasp about his neck; then
once again his arms EMBODIED and held her.
and his lips scorning faint struggle and de-
NAL, sought and found hers and claimed
their own before he murmured:
Il know what my medals worth-at last"
THE END.