Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-08
CHAPTER E%XV.


/ BronZed by months OF scouting on
those northern plains. a Eraver. older
I look upon his face. and the bars of
/ captain gracing the shoulders of his
! new cavalry jacket Donald Brant
I trotted down the stage road bordering
/ the Bear Water. his heart alternating
between hope and dread
The familiar yellow house at the
crossroads appeared so unattractive
| as TO suggest the thought that Nadia
7 must have been inexprcssibly lonely
/ during those months OF waiting. lie
/ Knocked az the sun-warped door.
Without delay it was nung open. and
a vision OF flushed face and SNOWY
drapcry confronted him.
"Nhy. Lieut. Brantl I was never
more surprised I'm my life DO. pray.
come rirht in. Yes. Naida is hero.
and ! win have her sent for 40 once.
Oh. Howard. this is Lieut. Brant. Just
back from hiss awful Indian hrhtinr.
How very nice that he should happen
10 arrive iust nc this time isn't itg'
Tho youoe o9ccr silently accepted
Mr.. Wyukoou's extended hand. and
found a convenient chair. as Miss
Spencer FASTENED from the room to
announce his arrival
why iust 90 this ume?" he ques.
toned
Mr.. Wynkoop cleared his throat
Why-why. you see. We are TO be
married this evcning-lfiss Spencer
and myself We shall be $50 delighted
20 have YOU witness the ceremony. Il
Is TO take place 40 the church. and
my people insist upon making quite
an affair out OF the observation-disclosures
is $50 popular. you know"
The lady again hustled in. her eyes
glowing with enthusiasm why.
think it is perfectly delightful Don't
you. Howard? Now Lieut. Brant and
Nadia can stand up with JUS. You
viii. won't you. TIeute1ant?"
THAT must be- LETT entirely with
Nadia for decision" be replied so
berly.
There was a rustic at the inner
door. and Nadia stood there. Their
eyes met. and the color mounted
swiftly 10 the girls checks. Then he
stepped resolutely forward. forgctful
OF all other presence, and clasped her
hand in both his own Neither spoke
word, yet each understood some
thing OF what was In the heart OF the
other.
win You walk outside with me?'
he asked at last 4 have much 10
say which l am sure you would rather
hear alone"
She bent her head and with a brief
word of explanation to the others. the
young officer conducted her forth into
the bright July sunshine They walk
ed in silence side by side along the
bank of the little stream. Brant glauc-
ed furtively toward the sweet, girlish
face. Then he spoke.
MAZDA" he said, gravely. Il have
come back. as I said would and
surely / read welcome in your eyes?"
Yes"
And I have come 10 say that there
is no longer any shadow of the dead
between us"
She looked up quickly. her hands
clasped. her cheeks flushing. Are
you sure? Perhaps you misunder-
stand; perhaps you mistake my mean
ing"
Il know it ALL" he answered. sober
ly. from the lips OF Hampton
You have seen him? Oh. Lieut..
Brant, please tell me the whole truth.
! have missed him so much. and since
the day ne rode away TO Cheyenne not
one word TO explain his absence has
come back TO me You cannot
understand what this means. how
much he has become to me through
years Of kindness"
You have heard nothing?"
Not a word
Brant drew long. deep breath. He
had supposed she knew this At last
he said gravely: Nadia. the truth
will prove the kindest message.
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 vio-
lently that he held her close within
his arms.
There was a smile upon his face
when we found him. He performed
his fun duty, Nadia, and died as be-
came a soldier and gentleman"
''But-but. this cannot be, saw
the published list; his name was not
among them"
The man who fell was Robert
Nolan"
Gently he drew her down to a seat