The Irish standard., 1907-10-19
CHAPTER XIV.
The PARTING Hour.

To Lieut.. Brant these proved days
Of bitterness. He had called twice
upon Hampton, both times finding the
wounded man propped up in bed, very
affable, properly grateful for services
rendered, yet avoiding all reference to
the one disturbing element between
them.
Once he had accidentally met Nadia,
but their brief conversation left him
more deeply mystified than ever, and
later she seemed to avoid him alto
gether. One day he deemed her but
an idle coquette; the next, warm
hearted woman, doing her duty brave
~. Yet through it all her power over
him never slackened.
The end of this nervous strain came
in the form of an urgent dispatch re-
calling N troop to Fort Abraham Lin
coin by forced marches. The COM
mander felt no doubt as to the full
meaning of this message, and the SOL
der in him made prompt and joyful
response. Brant had learned of the
consolidation of the hostile savages,
melted by Sitting Bull, into the fast
ness of the Big Horn range; he was
aware that Gen. Cook was already ad-
vancing northward from the Nebraska
line. Now he realized that he was to
be part of this chosen fighting force
and his heart responded to the sum-
mons as to bugle call in battle.
Instantly the little camp was astir,
the men feeling the enthusiasm Of
their officers. With preparations we'll
in hand, Brants thoughts veered once
again toward Nadia. He rode down to
the Herndon house with grave face
and sober thought. He recalled long
the plainly furnished room into which
Mrs. Herndon ushered him to await
the girls appearance-thef formal look
of the old-fashioned hair-cloth furni-
ture, the prim striped paper on the
walls, the green shades at the win.
dows, the clean rag carpet on the floor
The very stiffness chilled him, left
him i'll at ease. Then he heard the
rustic of Naida's skirt and turned to
meet her. She was pale from her
weeks of nursing, and agitated for fear
of what this unexpected call might
portend. Yet to his thought she ap-
peared calm, her manner restrained.
Nor could anything be kinder than her
first greeting, the frankly extended
hand, the words expressive of well
come.
"Mr. Wynkoop informed me few
minutes ago that you had at last re-
ceived your orders for the north" she
said, her lips slightly trembling. Il
wondered if you would leave without
word of farewell
He bowed low. II do not under
stand how you could doubt, for have
shown my deep interest in you even
from the first. If have lately seemed
to avoid you, 1t has only been because
I believed you wished it So"
There was an embarrassing pause,
as though neither knew how to get
through the interview.
"No doubt you are rejoiced to be
sent on active service again" she said,
At last.
"Yes, both as . soldier and as a
man, Miss MAZDA. am glad to get
into the field again with my regiment
to do my duty under the nag, and !
am equally rejoiced to have something
occur which will tend to divert my
thoughts. had not intended to say
anything of this kind, but now that
am with you I simply cannot restrain
the words. This past month has been
l believe, the hardest have ever been
compelled to live through. You sim
ply mystify me 90 that I alternately
hope and despair. Your methods are
] cruel:", r