The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-04-17
COPYRIGHT 1919 BY A.c.rTclUso & Co

JkiSNt Si< p' D.SsTTSLoSo INA
he recognized Miss Mcdonald. Would
she notice him-speak to him? The
man could not forbear lifting his eyes
to her face as the carriage swept by.
He saw her glance toward him, smile,
with a little gesture Of recognition,
and stood there b~areheaded, his heart
%throbbing wildly. With that look,
hat smile, he instantly realized two
facts Of importance-she was willing
to meet him on terms Of friendship,
and she had not recognized him the
evening previous as he ran past her in
the dark.
Hamlin, his thoughts entirely Gen.
tered upon Miss Mcdonald, had scarce
ly noted her companion, yet as he lin
gered while the carriage drew up be-
fore the Majors quarters, he seemed
to remember vaguely that she was a
strikingly beautiful blonde, with face
Swallowed by a broad hat. Although
larger, and with light fluffy hair and
blue eyes, the lady's features were
strangely like those of her slightly
younger companion. The memory Of
these grew clearer before the Ser,
geant-the wilderness Of the face, the
sudden lowering Of the head; then he
knew her; across the chasm Of years
her identity smote him as a blow;
his breath came quickly and his fin
gers clenched.
MY God!" he muttered, uncon-
sciously. THAT was Vera! She has
changed, wonderfully changed, but
but she knew me. What, in Heavens
name, can she be doing here, and
with Molly?"
With straining eyes he stared after
them until they both disappeared to-
gether within the house. Miss Nc
Donald glanced back toward him once
almost shyly, but the other never
turned her head. The carriage drove
away toward the stables. Feeling as
though he had looked upon a ghost,
Hamlin turned to enter the barracks.
An infantry soldier leaned negligently
in the doorway smoking.
you're the sergeant who saved that.
girl down the trail, amt yer?" he
asked i%ndolently. Thought SO; I was
n O. Gaskins' men,"
Hamlin accepted the hand thrust
forth. but with mind elsewhere.
do you happen to know who that
was with Miss McDonald?" he asked.
Didn't see 'em, only their backs as
they went in-nice lookin' blonde?"
Eyes; rather tall, with very light
hair"
ooh, that's Mrs. Dupont"
Mrs. Dupont?" the name evidently
a surprise; wife Of one of the off,
cers?"
mo, she's no army dame. Hus-
bands a cattleman. Got a range on
the Cowskin, south O. here, but 1 rec
kon the missus don't like that sorter
thing much. Lives in st. Louis most
ly, but has been stoppin' with the Nc
Donalds fer a month er two now.
Herd she was a niece o. the Majors,
an reckon she must be, Ell thar'd been
a flare up long ago.. She's a high fly
er, she is, an she's got the Leftenant
goin' all right"
"Gaskins?"
"Sure; he's a lady-killer, but thet's
bout all the kind O. killer he is, fer as
l ever noticed-one O. yer he-flirts.
Thar amt hardly an officer in this
garrison tibet amt just achin' fer ter
kick that squirt, but Their women-oh,
Lord: they think he's a little tin god
IN wheels. Beats hell, don't it, what
money will do fer a damn fool?"
Hamlin stood a moment silent, half
inclined to ask another question, but
crushing back the inclination. Then
he walked down the hall to the quar-
tiers assigned IN" troop, and across to
his bed in the far corner. There were
only a few of the men present, most
of whom were busily engaged at a
game of cards, and he sat down where
he could gaze out the window and
think. Here was a new complication,
q fresh puzzle to be unraveled. He
had never expected this to
come into his life again; she had be-
come a blurred. unpleasant memory, a
bit of his past which he had supposed
was blotted out forever. Mrs. Dupont
then she had not married LIE Fevre
after all! He DULY wondered why,
yet was not altogether surprised. Even
as he turned this fact over and over
In his mind, specializing upon 1t, he
became aware Of a man leaving the
rear door of McDonald's quarters, and
advancing back Of officers row to-
wards the barracks. AS the fellow
drew near, Hamlin recognized the SOL
der who had been driving the car.
riage. A moment later the man en-
tered the room, spoke to the group of
card players. and then came straight
across toward him.
Sergeant Hamlinf"
Eyes,"
II was asked to hand you this note:
there is no answer"
Hamlin held 1t unopened until the
fellow disappeared, h~esitating between
hope and dread. Which Of the two
women had ventured to write him?
What could be the unexpected mes
sagef At last his eyes scanned the
three abort 1{noa.