The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-05-01

much better in case-anything were to
happen to me-
"Oh, Marion, there's no danger, is
there?"
Probably not But you can't al
ways be sure. You see, it would be
better to have it over with If l should
get-hurt"
"You won't. Pm sure you won't.
Don't tell him yet, Marion, please
don't, and oh, don't get killed! Do
you think the black butterfly meant
anything-do you?"
"Of course not. Lucia, I'm doing
wrong to give in to you. know 1t,
and-but here comes Murray, he must
not catch me here. Good-by, little
girl, gocd-by. wish you were braver.
Adios."
Taunton ran down the steps and,
keeping in the shadow of the buildings
strobe off to the troop quarters. And
the girl stood there in the darkness
locking with wide eyes up at the sky,
where gray, thick clouds drifted to-
gether and apart, showing patches Of
starry black heavens and covering
them over as quickly. The cotton
woods rustled in the wind, and her
hair blew about her face, all damp and
clinging. She bent her fan until one
OF the sticks snapped, and started at
the sound. She turned about and look
ed at the barracks where F Troop was
making ready to depart-a portion of
the troop that Is. Men ran by alone,
or leading horses; orderlies galloped
beneath the shadow of the trees. Shak-
ing with cold she stood there, her
heart seemed numb and still. From
the open door of the soldiers quarters
fell bars of light, and uniformed fig
ures passed in and cut, forward and
backward. She saw Taunton run along
and hurry to his house. In five min
utes he was back again In scouting
clothes. All this the light from the
barracks showed her. When he had
started for his quarters, she had wav-
cred for a second, almost determined to
go to- him and tell him she would do
as he wished. But, as usual, 1t ended
in indecision. 1t would be all right
when he came back; 1t would be time
enough then. She threw up her arm
and brushed away flying black thing,
whose big soft wings had touched her
cheek.
The music had stopped and begun
again, and again stopped while she
stood there. People had passed by
her, going cut, but they had not seen
her in the shadow of the corner.
There came sudden silence. The
leaves of the trees stoppd their whis-
perings, the wind died away in the
night, the voices about ceased their
murmuring, the rain-drops clung to the
branches; and out from the silence
came the word of command which all
the garrison and the rigid woman were
waiting to hear: Prepare to mount.
Mount"
A clash of accoutrements, tramp
ing of hoofs, the wind blew fresh once
more, the leaves rustled and shook
down the drops and the world went on.
The woman brushed her hair from
her eyes, gathered up her skirts, and
walked home alone.
1t was beautiful morning after the
storm. Every one was on the porches
watching guard-mounting with as
much interest as IL 1t had never been
gone through before, deply engrossed
in the choosing Of the commanding
officers orderly.
A second lieutenant sat upon the
steps of Captain Rossini's quarters, be-
side the captains fair daughter, who
was smiling and talking In her old
lively way. The second lieutenant re.
flected that she could not have been
much in love with Taunton after all;
she seemed in no wise depressed by
his absence on an expedition which
was net quite safe at best. The sec
ond lieutenant gathered hopes, for
there was lingering fondness for the
pretty creature in his own heart.
So they talked and laughed and
watched guard-mounting in the sun
shine of the cool summer morning
| When it was over, and the adjutant
and officer of the day and ex-officer OF
the day were going their ways, there
came sound of the hoofs of gallop
| ing horse and a courier from the
agency drew up at the commandant's
quarters, while the people en- the
porches craned their necks and strain
ed their ears in a vain attempt to heaI
the mud-splashed mans message.
The Rossini's house was next to the
commanding officers. Lucia jumped uI
| and ran down near the courier.
Lucia! come back here! What dc
you mean?" thundered the captain, in
dulging in some assorted oaths.
She wheeled around and faced him
81 am going to see what has happened
to my husband" she said, deliberately
and did not wait to notice the lool
on his dark face. The second lieute
nant leaned against the railing fol
support.
The ccurier's words were low; bu
Lucia heard the tiding Of death al
plainly as IL he had shouted then
| aloud She f1ushed-and then turned