Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-15
CHAPTER TX.
The Verge Of a Quarrel.

CHAPTER TX.
The Verge Of a Quarrel.
Brant's mind was a chaos of conflicting
emotions but a single abiding conviction
never once left him-he retained implicit
faith in her, and he purposed to fight this
| matter out with Hampton. Even in that
crucial hour had any one ventured to sug-
gest that he was in love with Nadia he
would merely have laughed, serenely con-
fldent that nothing more than gentlemanly
interest swayed his conduct 1t was true,
he greatly admired the girl, recalled to
memory her every movement her slightest
glance. her most Insignificant word, while
her marvellous eyes constantly haunted
him, yet the dawn of love was not even
family acknowledged.
Nevertheless, he manifested an unreason-
able dislike for Hampton. He had never
before felt thus toward this person; indeed.
, he had possessed a strong mans natural
admiration for the others physical power
and COOL determined courage. He now sim
cerely feared Hamptons power over the
innocent mind of the girl imagining his In
huence to be much stronger than it really
was, and he sought after some suitable
means for overcoming 1t. He had no faith
In this mans protested reform, no abiding
confidence in his word of honor. and it
seemed to him then that the entire future
OF the young womans life rested upon his
deliverance of her from the tolls Of the
gambler. He alone, among those who
might be considered as her true friends
knew the secret of her infatuation, and
upon him alone, therefore, rested the bur-
den of her release. 1t was his heart that
drove him into such a decision, although
he conceived it then to be the reasoning
of the brain.
And so she was Nadia ellis, poor old
ellis little girl! He stopped suddenly in
fhA t~gx 1Sn1 ,vht
He had never once dreamed of such a con-
| summation and 1t staggered him. His
thought drifted back to that pale-faced
Ied-haired, poorly dressed slip of girl
whom he had occasionally viewed with dis
approval about the post-trader's store at
Bethune, and it seemed simply an impossi-
bilty. He recalled the unconscious, dust
covered, nameless waif he had once held
on his lap beside the Bear Water. What
was there in common between that outcast
| and this well-groomed, frankly spoken
! young woman? Yet, whoever she or
had been, the remembrance Of her could
not be conjured out of his brain. He might
look back with repugnance upon those 9TH
ers, those misty phantoms of the past, but
the vision of his mind. his interchangeable
divinity of the vine shadows, would not
become obscured nor grow less fascinating
Let her be whom she might, no other could
ever win that place she occupied in his
heart. His mind dwelt upon her flushed
cheeks, her earnest face, her wealth of
gled roguery and thoughtfulness, in utter
Inconsistencies that he was already her
humble slave Suddenly there occurred to
him recollection Of Silent Murphy and his
strange, unguarded remark What could
the fellow have meant? Was there, in
deed, some secret in the life history of this
young girl-some story of shame, perhaps?
II SO, did Hampton know about it?
Already daylight rested white and solemn
over the silent valley, and only short dis
lance away lay the spot where the crippled
scout had made his solitary camp. Almost
without volition the young officer turned
that way, crossed the stream by means of
the log and clambered up the bank. But 1t
was clear at glance that Murphy had de-
serted the spot. Convinced of this, Brant
retraced his steps toward the camp of his
own troop, now already astir with the du-
ties of early morning. Just In front of his
tent he encountered his first sergeant.
watson" he questioned, as the latter
know mann am e esGSa Silent Morpy? you
THE scout? Yes. sir; knew him as long
ago as when he was corporal In your
fathers troop. He was reduced to the
ranks for striking an officer
Brant wheeled in establishment. WAS he
ever soldier in the 5th?'
He was that, for two enlistments, and a
mighty tough one; but he was always quick
enough for a fight In field or garrison"
HAS he shown himself here at the
camp"
around. He and I were never very good
friends, SIR
The lieutenant remained silent for several
| moments, endeavoring to perfect some feas-
| ible plan.
Dispatch an orderly to the telegraph
| office" he finally commanded, Ito inquire
| If this man Murphy receives any messages
there, and If they know where he is stop
| ping. Send an intelligent man. and have
| him discover all the facts he can. When
| he returns bring him in to me-"
Ho02,ad a and q shave nd
was yet lingering over his coffee when the
two soldiers entered with their report The
sergeant stepped aside and the orderly a
| tall. boyish-looking fellow with a pugna-
| cious chin, saluted stiff1y.
well Bane," and the officer eyed his
| trim appearance with manifest approval,
| what did you succeed in learning?"
THE operator said this yere Murphy he'd
| never bin thar himself. sir, but there wus
| several messages come for him. One got
| here this mornin'.
What becomes Of them?'
| They're called fer by another feller. sir. -
"Oh, they are! Who:
Red Slavin wus the name he give me Of
| tibet other buck"
| When the two had disappeared Brant
sat back, thinking rapidly. There was a
| mystery here, and such actions must have
| a cause. Something either In or about
| Glencaid was compelling Murphy to keep
| out of sight. But what? Who? Brant was
! unable to get 1t out Of his head that all
| this secrecy centered around Nadia. With
those incautiously spoken words clew.
| he suspected that Murphy knew something
| about her, and that knowledge was the
| cause for his present erratic actions. Per-
| haps Hampton knew: at least he might pos
| sess some additional scrap of Information
which would help to solve the problem. He
looked at his watch and ordered his horse
| to be saddled.
! 1t did not seem quite so simple now. this
| projected interview with Hampton, as 1t
! had appeared the night before. In the clear
! light Of day he began to realize the weak
| ness of his position. the fact that he pos
| sessed not the smallest right to speak on
| behalf of Nadia Gilis He held no rela-
/ tionship whatsoever to her, and should he
| venture to assume any 1t was highly proba-
| BILE the older man would laugh contempt
| uously In his face. Brant knew better than
to believe Hampton would ever let go I'M
| less he was obliged to do so; die compre-
| hended the impotence of threats on such
| a character, as well as his probable indif-
| ference to moral obligations. Nevertheless
| the die was cast. and perhaps provided an
| open quarrel could be avoided. the meeting
might result In good to all concerned.
| Hampton welcomed him-with distant but
! marked courtesy. having evidently thought
| out his own Immediate plan of action. and
schooied himself accordingly. Standing