Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
You have heard nothing?"

Not a word
Brant drew a long. deep breath. He had
supposed she knew this. At last he said
gravely: MAZDA, the truth will prove the
kindest message, l think. He died in that
unbroken ring of defenders clustered about
Gen. Custer on the bluffs of the Little Big
Horn"
Her slight figure trembled so violently
that he held her close within his arms.
There was smile upon his face when we
found him. He performed his full duty
Nadia. and died as became soldier and
gentleman"
'But-but. this cannot be. I saw the pub
lished list; his name was not among them"
THE man who fell was Robert Nolan"
Gently he drew her down to seat upon
the soft turf of the bank. She looked up
at him helplessly. her nina seemingly dazed,
her eyes yet filled with doubt.
Robert Nolan? My father?"
He bent over toward her. pressing his
lips to her hair and strokng it tenderly
with his hand.
Yes. Nadia. darling; it was truly Robert
Hampton Nolan who died in battle, in the
ranks of his old regiment-died as he would
have chosen to die. and died. thank God,
completely cleared of every stain upon his
honor. Sit up, little girl and listen while I
tell you. There is in the story no word
which does not reflect nobility upon the SOL
diers daughter."-
She uplifted her white face Tell me- d"
she said, simply. "all you know
He recounted to her slowly carefully the
details OF lldJ desperate journey nOrthWard,
Of their providential meeting on the Little
Big Horn. of the papers left In his charge
of Hampton's riding forward with dis
patches, and of his death at Clusters side
While he spoke. the girl scarcely moved
her breath came in sobs and her hands
clasped his.
These are the papers, Nadia. I opened
the envelope as directed and found deeds
to certain properties, including the mine in
the Black Range; a will. duly signed and
attested, naming you his sole heir to-
gether with a carefully prepared letter ad-
dressed to you. giving a full account OF the
crime of which he was convicted well as
some other matters of a personal nature.
That letter you must read alone as his last
message, but the truth Of all he says has
since been proved"
She glanced up at him quickly ''By
Murphy?'
Yes, by Murphy, who is now lying In the
hospital at Bethune. slowly recovering His
sworn deposition has been forwarded to the
department at Washington. and will I'M
doubtedly result in the honorable replacing
of your fathers name on the army list I
will tell you briefly the mans confession.
together with the few additional facts nee
essary to make 1t clear.
Your father and mine were for many
years friends and army comrades They
saw service together during the great war,
and afteIward upon the plains in Indian
campaigning. Unfortunately a slight mis-
understanding arose between them This
while not serious in itself. was made bitter
by the interference Of others, and the I'M
accountable jeaousies of garrison life One
night they openly quarreled when heated
by wine, and exchanged blows. The fol-
lowing evening. your father CHANGING to be
officer OF the guard and on duty, my father
whose wife had then been dead year. was
thoughtless enough to accompany Mrs. No
Ian home at a late hour from the post ball
1t was merely an act of ordinary courtesy:
but gossips magnified the tale and bore il
to Nolan. Still smarting from the former
quarrel. In which l fear my father was ir
the wrong. he left the guard house with
the openly avowed intention of seeking i'm.
mediate satisfaction. In the meanwhile
Slavin. Murphy and trooper named Flynn
who had been to town without passes and
We're half drunk. stole through the guard
lines and decided to make a midnight raid
on the colonels private Office. Dodging
along behind the powder house they ran
suddenly upon my father. then on the way
to his own quarters. Whether they were
recognized by him. whether drink made
them reckless of consequences, IS unknown
but one of the men instantly fired Then
they ran, and succeeded in gaining the bar
racks uGSuSpected.'
She sat as if fascinated by his recital.
Your father heard the shot and sDranp
toward the sound, only to fall headlone
across my fathers lifeless body. AS he
came down heavily, his revolver was Jared
out of it's holster and dropped unnoticed in
the grass. An instant later the guard came
running up, and by morning Capt. Nolan
was under arrest. charged with murder
The circumstantial evidence was strong
his quarrel with the murdered man. his
heated language few moments previous
the revolver lying beside the body, having
two chambers discharged. and his being
found there alone with the man he had
gone forth to seek. Slavin and Flynn both
strengthened the case by positive testimony.
a a result cOurt-martial dismissed the