Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-06-20

II u 4I4N We StdfICQ " tnc SQU&3
"a on the following morning
wv rode far at the rear under
guard | recall little Of our
journey toward Laramie save that aft
er day or two we swung out from
the foothills into short grass country
and so finally struck the steady up
ward sweep of valley along which
lay the great transcontinental trail.
do not know whether we travelled two
days or three or four, since all the days
seemed night to me and all the nights
were uniform in torture. Finally we
drove down into dusty plain and so
came to the old frontier fort. Here,
then, was civilization-the stagecoach,
the new telegraph wire, men and wo-
men, weekly or daily touch with the
world. that prying curiosity regarding
the affairs of others which we call
news. To me it seemed tawdry, sor-
did, worthless, after that which I had
left. The noise seemed insupportable.
the food distastefuI. | could tolerate
no roof and in my own ragged robes
slept on the ground within the old
stockade
was still guarded as prisoner.
was approached by none and had con-
versation with none until evening OF
the day after my arrival. When / ate
1t was at no gentleman's table, but in
the barracks. I resented judgment,
sentence and punishment. thus exc
cuted in one. Evening gun had sound
ed, and the flag had been furled on my
second day at Laramie, when finally
Colonel Meriwether sent for me to
come to his Office quarters.
Mr.. Cowles, said be, 1T is time
now that you and had talk. Pres
emily you will be leaving Laramie. I
cannot try you by court martial, for
you are civilian In short, all can
say to you is to go. with the hope that
you may never again cross our lives"
/ looked at him a time silently, hat
ing not him personally as much as /
hated all the world. But presently
asked him, "Have you no word for me
from her?"
Miss Meriwether has no word for
you" he answered sternly. NOR ever
will have. You are no longer neces-
sary in her plans.'
''Ah. then" said I. ''you have chang
ed your own mind nightly"
He set his lips together in his grim
fashion. EYES," said he. Il have
changed my mind absolutely. / have
just come from a very trying inter-
view. 1t is not necessary for me to
explain to you the full nature Of it,
'sThen she has sent for mew
"She will never send for you. have
said.'
her back to you safe and sound. Set
ting aside all my own acts in other
matters. why can you not remember
at least so much as that? Yet you
treat me like dog. I tell you / shall
not leave without word from her, and
when | leave shall make no prom
ises as to when ! shall or shall not
come back. So long as one chance re-
mains
IT tell you that there is no longer
any chance, no longer the ghost of q
chance. 1t is my duty to inform you,
sir, that proper sutton long ago APP
piled for my daughters hand, that he
has renewed his suit and that now she
has accepted him."
For time / sat staring stupidity at
him. "You need speak nothing but the
truth with me" said at last Colonel
Meriwether. have never given bonds
to be gentle when abused"
II am telling you the truth" he said.
my daughter, Miss Meriwether, is en-
gagged to Lieutenant Lawrence Bel
KNAPP OF the Ninth dragons! You feel
your honor too deeply touched? Per
haps at later time Lieutenant Bel
KNAPP will do himself the disgrace Of
accommodating you"
''If killed him." said finally, "how
would it better her case? Moreover.
before l could take any more risk 1
must go back to Virginia. My mother
needs me there most sadly"
Yes. and Miss Grace Sheraton needs
you there sadly as well,'' he retorted.
"Go back, then, and mend your prom
ises and do some of those duties which
you now begin to remember. You
have proved yourself a man Of no
honor. ! stigmatize you now as a
coward
you speak freely to your prisoner,
Colonel Meriwether," said slowly at
length. There is time yet for many
risks chances for many things. But
now think you owe it to me to tell
me how this matter was arranged
Continued Next Week.