The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-28

and words were meager things. The
younger man had risen, also, and now
stood with his hand upon the others
shoulder, while they gaxed with I'M
seeing eyes out across the parade
and of to the west where the sun
hung like ball OF flame low above
the horizon. painting all the world
about them with marvellous rose and
violet hues. Neither saw the beauty
there; their eyes were filed with the
inner vision Of the separation impend-
ing 1t was to mean to them.
At last the Scot, with a sigh, turn
led from the window, and taking his
hat from the table started out OF the
door.
We'll let 1t rest. major, until after
supper. The women will be expecting
JUS; and it's time we were reporting
lat headquarters, isn't it,"
! A shadow of the wonted happy
smile the doctor had for all, crossed
his face only to accentuate the sor.
row that had lined 1t within the last
few hours. Smiling in reply, the com
mandant secured HIS hat and Joined
the other. Linking his arm in that
,of the doctor. he turned with him to-
ward the living quarters.
They did not see the figure that
With their departure emerged from
: concealment behind the shubbery near
tie window at which they had stood
end with swift movement ran along
the headquarters building, lodged
f><,o <~oa e. h,,ch ocraS~ kho n~or
spaces between the buildings and
reached the rear of the Muir quar-.
ters as the two men came to the
front
Wantta, for 1t was Muir's Indian
wife, had gone in search OF her hus
hand to tell him that she was going
u the settlement to make few small
purchases. She had decked herself
out In her finest, a gaily lowered
/ blouse, short blue petticoat Of some
eoft material, fringed buckskin leg
gins and beaded moccasins OF the
same soft skin. Her hair, black as
the ravens wing, was done in two
long braids that hung over her shout
ders, bound at intervals and tosseled
with beaded bands and ornaments
Her eyes were bright and her face
talight with happiness that made her
t-uly beautiful. But as she reached
the door, the happy greeting on hel
lips was arrested by the sound OF
her husbands voice vibrant with feel
ing, filed with new note that awak
ened instant apprehension in her. A
1sw words overheard served to drive
from her mind ali thought OF tn.
. afternoons outing. Quickly she turn
ed and made her way to a point neal
j the open window. fattening hersel
J sginst the wall beside it, we'll bidder
| by the dense shrubbery. There she
Earned the whole heart breaking
story. Some Of 1t was beyond hel
emple understanding; but enough she
tomprehended to know that the hus
band idolized OF her heart was IN
core trouble and distress, and that she
was the cause Of 1t all.
I AS she Rugged close to the rough
1ogs, arms outspread and head thrown
(, back, she seemed like a creature at
bay: but as a. full realization of the
impending trouble was borne in upor,
her. the little head sank low upon her
breast and the small brown hano-
cropped listlessly at her sides. And
then through the cloud Of sorrow that
darkened her eyes sprang the light OF
E firm resolve. Once more the little
fead was proudly erect, the whole
1.-THE figure of her grew tense, the
lands were clenched till the knuckles
ehone white beneath the tawny skin,
and her breath came in little gasps
as her bosom heaved with the stress
of this purpose that had come to her
IS she stood.
| Evening had come. The little gar
Iison was out on the parade ground
Here and there were men and women
grouped together or strolling about in
twos and threes. Now and then a
laugh or a bit Of song was borne on
the breeze across to where the com.
mandant and the surgeon had with.
drawn from the rest to discuss the
question uppermost in their minds.
! Wanita, watching them from where
she sat on the door sill Of their quar-.
t,rs, followed their every move with
trooding eyes. Quietly, with all the
patience Of her race, she watched
them as the day waned and died and
the moon mounted high in the heav-
ems.
! At last they turned and made their
way, out the great gate in the outer
blockade wall, and Wanita sprang
quickly to her feet with evident in
! tent to follow them. But after taking
{ few steps she paused irresolute.
tien turned bask to the window OF
their home where she could look in
IRON her two children. one boy Of
tour. the other wee girl Of two,