Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-08-08
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CHAPTER v.

| AAseA ~AS~ ~~%s
| CHAPTER v.
| A few weeks passed in monotony al
the fort-a monotony wherein was
much time for futile planning and idle
| speculation. :
The novelty Of the situation and the
| natural effervescence of her spirits
made Lavender gay and Hght-hearted,
in spite of the anxious waiting. But
to her mother it was irksome; a period
of unrest, and carking care. Her
health, too, showed signs of decline,
and she felt already the unwholesome
breath of the swamp land.
For Winslow, the days dragged in a
way that required all his philosophy
to bear. Ordinarily, quiet, even dull
ness, appealed to his student nature.
But for this Burr expedition he had
nerved himself to point of unwonted
energy; had summoned ALL his forces
against the time for telling work-for
endurance. And all for what? For q
time of idle waiting-of 1naction by
the chimney corner Of q stranger! He
was thrown little in Lavender's soci-
ETY.; the officers OF the garrison showed
her much attention, and in their favor
he obscured himself. His attitude was
that of the guide, the elder brother,
and bore no trace of the warmer ad-
miration openly avowed by the others.
The maid herself had no part in this
arrangement, and if in her heart she
wished it otherwise, she acknowledged
the weakness to none.
Early in February there came un-
pleasant news to the fort. The Burr
expedition was not success-some.
thing had happened, but definite facts
could not be ascertained.
Winslow was in fever of anxiety
and suspense. Ugly rumors were cir
culated; there was talk of treachery
to the government. Traitor" and
conspiracy" reached his ears from
time to time. To Wlnslow's inquiries
the commander responded that he had
received no positive information, but
believed the boats, with their men,
and even the chief himself, had been
detained in the south. Probably but
a temporary check" he concluded,
suavely. For Winslow's connection
with, the affair was we'll known, and
the 'coloneps words were meant to
spare his feelings. But winslow left
his presence with pang of anxiety all
the sharper that his fears were half
formed. He could only console himself
with the reflection that, whatever had
occurred was doubtless such an ordeal
as had confronted Burr at Nashville,
and his own party on >Blennerhasset
island. In either case. he could not
press his inquiries upon tho people
about him-they had no sympathies in
common with the expedition. On the
contrary, if aught, however imaginary,
threatened the government, theirs was
the first duty to protest; they could
not be expected to countenance any
thing which gave the slightest room
for suspicion. And he, and the ladies'
with him, were guests to re-
spect feeling or prejudice on the part
of those whose hospitality they shared.
Matters developed, and were brought
to crisis on the occasion of a ball in
the commanders quarters.
A raw, clustering day had settled
into a foggy, starless night, when the
little company assembled for the frol-
ic. The low-ceiled dining-room was
thrown open and decorated with holly
and mistletoe. About every pillar and
from the rough rafter hung festoons
of evergreen jeweled with berries, red
and white.
In qualification of Lavender's whim,
Mrs. Creighton had allowed her to
wear the gown in which she, belle
of Philadelphia, had danced at the
Meschianza. The once stately folds