Pittston Gazette

              ESTABLISHED 18 SO. I VOL. XLV. NO. 17 1 Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. L'lTTSTON, I.UZERNE CO., l'A., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2:!, 1894. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. {" fSZSZigSP1 bered, and tho whole, drift of his present investigation was to prove that Jerrold was not absent from his post, but absent only from his quarters. If so, where had he spent his time until nearly 4? Sloat's heart was heavy with vague apprehension. Ho knew that Jerrold had borne Alice Renwick away from tho party at an unusually early hour for such things to break up. Ho knew that he and others had protested against such dosertion, but sue declared it could not be helped. He remembered another thing—a matter that he thought of at tho time, only from another point of view. It now seemed to havo significance bearing on this very matter, for Chester suddonly asked: away, i'eli mm to come to my quarters." And thither Mr. Jerrold returned, seated himself at his desk, wrote several lilies of a note, tore it into fragments, began again, wrote another which seemed not entirely satisfactory and was in the midst of a third when there came a quick step and a knock at tho door. Opening the shutters, ho glanced out of the window. A gust of wind Bent some of the papers whirling and flying, and the bedroom door banged shut, but not before some few half sheets of paper had fluttered out upon the parade, where other little flurries of the morning breeze sent them sailing C/er toward tho colonel's quarters. Anxious only for tho coming of Merrick and no one else, Mr. Jerrold no sooner saw who was at the front door than he olosed tho shutters, called, "Come in!" and a short, squat, wiry littlo man, dressed in the fatigue uniform of tho infantry, stood at the doorway to the hall. Bat Chester turned a deaf ear upon him and walked away. He wanted to see Rollins and went straight home. Once each day at 7:30 a. m. tho doctor trudged across to tho hospital and looked over tho half dozen "hopelessly healthy" but would bo invalids who wanted to get off guard duty or a morning at tho range. Thanks to tho searching examination to which every soldier must bo subjected Iniforo ho can enter the servico of Unclo Sam and to the disciplined order of tho lives of tho men at Sibley, maladies of any serious nature wore almost unknown. It was a gloriously healthy post, as everybody admitted, and, to judge from tho specimen of young womanhood that camo singing "blithe and low" out among the roses this same joyous morning, exuberant well being was not restricted to the men. His eyes, sari, penetrating, doubting, yet self doubting, too, searched her very soul. Unflinchingly tho dark orbs looked into his, even pityingly, for sho quickly spoke again: NYE'S LITTLE STORY. xne goldenrod had shea its glory over the landscape, and the pokeberry hong rich and tempting in the warm blue haze. To the southwest a fleecy cloud nestled on the somber green shoulder of Pisgah, and a poison ivy was climbing up a cucumber tree about eight miles down the branch. "Why didn't you tell mo Miss Beaubien was out here last night?" was the question he asked as soon as ho had entered tho room whero, all aglow from his colli bath, the youngster was dressing for breakfast. Ho ciJIored vividly, then laughed. CONSISTING ONLY OF FACTS, IT IS VERY ABSORBING. "Captain, do come into tho breakfast room and havo some coffee. You havo not breakfasted, I'm sura" Unlike Many Modern Authors, His1 De- He raised his hand as though to repel her offer, even to put her aside. He must understand her. Ho could not bo hoodwinked in this way. scription of Scenery, Etc., Is Only Confined to a Few Statement* and Does The morning dove cooed in a sad and homesick way far up the valley, and the plowman in the distant field paused quite awhile to rest. "Well, you never gave me much chance to say anything, did you? Yon talked all tho time, as I remember, and suddenly vanished and slammed the door. I would havo told you had you asked me." But all tho same it was evident for the first time that hero was a subject Rollins was shy of mentioning. Not Interfere With the Thread. [Copyright, 1894, by Edgar W. Nye.l "Pardon me, Miss Renwick, but did you hear nothing strango last night or early this morning? Were you not disturbed at all?" The story which is given below is abaolutely true, and the facts, startling as they may appear, occurred in the mountain region of tho south, a portion of our country whioh remains almost a terra incognito, although recently considerably written about. He had done so before. All at once he stood up and listened. What was it that he heard? He almost held his breath in a strained attitude as he listened again quite awhile. In this vast solitude he could almost hear himself think. "I? No, indeed!" True, her face had changed now, but there was no fear in her eyes. It was a look of apprehension, perhaps of concern and curiosity mingled, for his tone betrayed that something had happened which caused him agitation. "Wasn't it rather odd that Miss Beaubien was not hero at tho dance? She has never missed one, seems to me, since Jerrold began spooning with her last year." "Did you go down and see them across sentry post?" A fairer picturo never did dark beauty present than Alice Renwick as sho bent among the bushes or reached high among tho vinos in soaroh of her favorite flowers—tall, slender, willowy, yet with exquisitely rounded form; slim, dainty little hands and feet; graceful arms and wrists, all -revealed in the flowing sleeves of her snowy, webllke gown, fitting her and displaying her sinuous grace of form as gowns so seldom do today. And then her face—a glorious picturo of rich, ripe, tropical beauty, with its great soulful, sunlit eyes, heavily shadod though they were with those wondrous laches; beautiful, too, in contour, as was the lithe body, and beautiful in every feature, even to the rare and dewy curve of her rod lips, half opened as sho sang. She was smiling to herself as sho crooned hor soft, murmuring melody, and every little while the great dark eyes glanced over toward tho shaded doors of bachelors' row. Thero was 110 one up to watch and tell. Why should sho not look thither and even stand one moment peering under tho veranda at a darkened window half way down tho row, as though impatient at the nonappearance of eomo familiar signal? How came tho laggard late? How slept tho knight while here his lady stood impatient? She twined the leaves and roses in a fragrant knot, ran lightly within and laid them on the snowy cloth beside tho colonel's seat at table, came forth and plucked some more and fastened them, blushing, blissful, in the lace fringed opening of her gown, through which, soft and creamy, shone the perfect neck. [continued,] a company commander like yourseit. Do you come by Colonel Maynard's order to search my quarters and question me? If so, say so at once. If not, get out." And Jerrold's face was growing book with wrath, and his big, lustrous eyes were wide awake now and fairly snapping. "Certainly. Jerrold asked me to. He said ho had to take Miss Renwick home and was too tirod to come back—was going to turn in. I was glad to do anything to be civil to tho Suttons." I hone that the reader will forgive me for sacrificing so much of background and description to direct statements of Important facts. Other writers who have The veins about his temples stood out like throbbing whipcords, and his eyes grew startled and apprehensive as the moments sped on. [ "wnat's tne matter, eioatr' "Nothing much. The colonel told me to receive the reveille reports for Hoyt this week. He's on general court martial.1' "Why, sho was here." "She was? Are you sure? Rollins never spoke of it, and wo had been talking of her. I inferred from what he said that she was not there at all. And I saw her drive homeward with her mother right after parade, so it didn't occur to me that sho could have come out again all that distance in timo for the dance. Singular! Why shouldn't Rollins have told me?" "Shots! No! Oh, Captain Chester, what does it mean? Who was shot? Tell me!" "And you heard no shots fired?" But let us pause a moment. It will not take long. "Yes, I know all that 1 mean, what are you waiting for?" "Come in here, Merrick," said tho lieutenant, and Merrick came. "How much is it you owe me now—thirty odd dollars, I think?" "Why, I'd like to know? They have never invited you to tho bouse or shown you any attention whatever. You are not their stylo at all, Rollins, and I'm glad of it. It wasn't for their sake you staid there until 1 o'clock instead of being here in bed. I wish"—and he looked wistfully, earnestly at his favorite now—"I wistfJ could think it wasn't for the sake of Miss Beaubien's black eyes and aboriginal beauty." Chester leaned upon the table and deliberated a moment Ho stood there ooldly, distrustfully eying the excited lieutenant, then turned to Sloat: Let us pause to describe more carefully the plowman who stands thus alert and listening. Tuck Picklnpack was the offspring of a long line of people. They had been his anoestors, but aside from that they had attracted little attention. He had descended from them. "Mr. Jerrold again. There's no report from his company." And now, with paling face and wild apprehension in her eyes, sho turned and gazed beyond him, past tho vines and tho shady veranda, across the sunshine of tho parade and under the old piazza, searching that still closed and darkened window. "I believo it is, lieutenant," answered the man, with shifting eyes and general unoasiness of mien. "Have you sent to wake him?" "No; I'll go myself and do it thoroughly too." And the little major turned sharply away and walked direct to the low range of bachelor quarters, dived under the piaasa and into the green doorway. —s "I will be responsible for the roll call of Company B this morning, Sloat I have a matter of grave importance to bring up to this—this gentleman, and it is of a private nature. Will you let me see him alone?" "You are not ready to pay it, I suppose, and you got it from me when we left Fort Raines to help you out of that scrape there." For centuries the Pickinpacks had de- Bloat grinned. A dreary sort of smile it was too. "You go into society so seldom you don't sco these things. I've more than half suspected Rollins of being quite ready to admire Miss Beaubien himself, and since Jerrold dropped her he has had plenty of opportunity." soended Vtom their anoestors, and those who had married into the family had thus become related to them in that way. ■( "Who?" sho implored, her hands clasping nervously, her eyes returning eagerly to his faca . Hardly knowing how to explain his action, Chester quickly followed and in leas than a minute was standing in the selfsame parlor which, by the light of a flickering match, he had searched two boors before. Here he halted and listened, while Sloat pushed on into the bedroom and was heard vehemently apostrophizing some sleeper: The soldier looked down and made no answer. "Look hero, captain," said Rollins, with another rush of color to his face, "you don't seem to fancy Miss Beaubien, and—she's a friend of mine, and one I don't like to hear slightingly spoken of. You said a good deal last night that—well, wasn't pleasant to hear." "Sloat," said Jerrold, "don't go yet. I want you to stay. These are my quarters, and I recognize your right to come here in search of me, since I was not at reveille, but I want a witness here to bear me out. * I'm too amazed yet, too oonfounded by this intrusion of Captain Chester, to grasp the situation. I never heard of such a thing as this. Explain it if you can." "It was not Mr. Jerrold," he answered coldly. "Ho is nnhnrt, so far as shot is concerned." Tuok was an only child at one time, but as years went by a person with any knowledge of mathematics would notice that he had ceased to act in that capacity."Merrick, I want a note taken to town at once. I want you to take it "Then how is ho hnrt? Is he hnrt at all?" sho persisted, and then as she met his gaze her eyes fell, and the burning blnsh of maiden shame surged up to her forehead. Sho sank upon a seat and covered her face with her hands. "Groat guns! I never thought of it! If I'd known she was to be there, I'd have gone myself last night. How did sho behave to Miss Renwick?'' For years the Pickinpacks had gons on amassing poverty and dividing it up among their descendants, but Tuck, be- "I know it, Rollins. I beg your pardon. I didn't know then that you were more than slightly acquainted with hor. I'm an old bat and go out very little, "Why, sweet and smiling and chip- Gr as you please. If anything, I think iss Renwick was cold and distant to her. I couldn't make it out at all." "Does the government pay you for this sort of thing, I want to know? Get up, Jerrold This is the second time you've cut reveille in ten days. Get up, I say!" And the major was vigorously shaking at something, for the bed creaked and groaned. "I thought of Mr. Jerrold naturally. He said he would be over early this morning, "was all she could find to say. "l nave seen mm ana presume ne win come. To all appearances, he is the last man to suffer from last night's affair," he went on relentlessly, almost brutally, but she never winced. "It is odd you did not hear the shots. I thought yours was the northwest room—this one," he indicated, pointing overhead. "Mr. Jerrold, what I have to ask or say to you concerns you alona It is not an official matter. It is as man to man I want to see you, alone and at onoe. Now will you let Major Sloat retire?"THE DIGGER'S RETURN. taken hold of this region have done fnll justice, it seems, to the description of sky and landscape, leaving me, therefore, nothing to do but proceed with my story. "And did Jerrold dunce with her?" "Once, I think, and they had a talk out on the piazza—just a minute. I happened to bo at the door and couldn't help seeing it, and what got mo was this: Mr. Hall came out with Miss Renwick on his ann. Thoy wero chatting and laughing as they passed mo, but the moment she caught sight of Jerrold and Miss Beaubien she stopped and said: 'I think I won't stay out here. It's too chilly,' or something like it, and went right in, and then Jerrold dropped Miss Behubien and went after her. He just handed the young lady over to me, saying ho was engaged for the next dance, and skipped.'' "Wake up, I say! I'm blowed if I'm going to get up here day after day and have you sleeping. Wake, Nicodemus! Wake, you snoozing, Bnoring, open mouthed masher. Come now; I mean it" Silence for a moment The angry flush on Jerrold's faoe died away, and in its plaoe an ashen pallor was spreading from throat to brow. His lips were twitching ominously. Sloat looked in consternation at the sudden change. A word or two, however, regarding the region itself may not be ont of plaoa. "Merrick, 1 want a note taken to town at once." "So it is, and I slept there all last night and heard nothing—not a thing. Do tell me what the trouble was." It was that gorgeous season of the year when at this elevation, above tide water, the air is filled with purity and things of that character; when the eye is constantly deoeived by distances, owing to the rarity and limpid character of the atmosphere. and get it to its address before 8 o'clock. I want you to say no word to a soul. Here's $10. Hire old Murphy's horse across the river and go. If you are put in the guardhouse when you get back, don't say a word. If you are tried by garrison court for crossing the bridge or abseiloo without leave, plead guilty, make no defense, awl I'll pay you double your fine ;«d lot you off the $30. But if you fail me or tell a soul of your errand I'll write to—vou know who, at Raines Do you understand and agree?" "Ida Yes, sir." A drowsy, disgusted yawn and stretch finally rewarded his efforts. Mr. Jerrold at last opened his eyes, rolled over, yawned sulkily again and tried to evade hit persecutor, but to no purpose. Like • little terrier, Sloat hung onto him and worried and shook. "Shall I go?" he finally asked "Daisy, tell my fortune, pray: He loves me not—ho loves me," Jerrold looked long, fixedly, searchingly in the set faoe of the officer of the day, breathing hard and heavily. What he saw there Sloat oould not imagine. At last his hand dropped by his side. He made a little motion with it—a slight wave toward tb» -^oor—and again dropped it nervously. His lips seemed to frame the word "Go," but he never glanced at the man whom a moment before he so masterfully bade to stay, and Sloat, sorely puzzled, left the room Then what was there for him to say? The colonel's footsteps were upon the stair, and the colonel, with extended hand and beaming face and cheery welcome, came forth from the open doorway.she blithely sang, then, hurrying to the gate, shaded her eyes with tho shapely hand and gazed intently. 'Twas Hearing 8—nearing breakfast time. But some one was coming. Horrid I Captain Chester, of all men 1 Coming, of course, to see papa, and papa not down yet, and mamma had a headache and had decided not to como down at all—she would breakfast in her room. What girl on earth, when looking and longing and waiting for tho coming of a graceful youth of 26, would bo anything but dismayed at tho substitution therefor of a bulky, heavy hearted captain of 46, no matter if he were still unmarried? And yet her smile was sweet and cordial. It was early autumn, and the black gnm, with its dark pnrple foliage, long since prophesied with unerring truth the death of summer. Earliest of autumn harbingers, it had weeks before tinged the still verdant forest with its rich and royal announcements of ooming frost and shortening days, while now to keep it company the golden glory of the sassafras shimmered in the uplands, while the darkened and dying foliage of the persimmon sauntered leaf by leaf down through the stilly silence. "Oh, don't d—n it don't!" growled the victim. "What do you want anyway? Has that infernal reveille gone?" "How did sho liko that? Wasn't she furious?" "Welcome, Chester! I'm glad you've como just in time for breakfast Mrs. Maynard won't be down. She slept badly last night and is sleeping now. What was the firing last night? I did not hear it at the time, but the orderly and old Maria, the cook, were discussing it as I was shaving." "No, That's another thing that got me. She smiled after him, all sweetness, and—well, she did say: 'I count upon you. You'll be there,' and he nodded. Oh, she was bright as a button after that!" "Why didn't yon tell me Mies Beaubien was nut here lastntghtT" "Tea, and you're absent again, and no report from B company. By the holy poker, if you don't turn out and get it and report to me on the parade I'll spot the whole gang absent and then no matinee for you today, my buck. Come, out with you! I mean it Hall says you and he have an engagement in town, and 'pan my soul I'll bust it if you don't oome out" but some things are pretty clear to my eyes, and—don't you be falling in love with Nina Beaubien. That is no match for you." Not until his footsteps had died out of hearing did Chester speak: ing a favorite with his parents, had inherited more of it than the other children.HI STOOD UP AND LISTENED. "Go and get ready and be here in 10 minutes." "How soon can you leave the post?" "I don't understand you." "How soon can you pack up what you need to take and—get away?" Meantime Captain Chester had followed Sloat to the adjutant's office. He wae boiling over with indignation, which he hardly knew how to control. He found the gray mustached subaltern tramping in great perplexity up and down tho room, and the instant he entered was greeted with the inquiry: "What did she mean? Be 'where,' do you suppose? Sloat, this all means moro to me and to us all than I can explain." *'I don't know. I can't imagine." "I'm sure you never had a word to say against her father. Tho old oolonel was a perfect typo of the French gentleman, from all I hear." "It is that I came to see you about, ooloneL I am the man to hold responsible. " At the breaking out of the war he had not kept himself informed regarding its causes, and before he could thoroughly ascertain fully regarding it peace was declared, so that he did not in any way hold himself responsible for the war or its results. It is the seduotive season when at dusk the moist odors of dying herbs salute the senses of those who are provided with those things and when the red nosed brier gleams in the stubble, the quail calls down the valley to his or her mate, as the case may be, and the pensive mule in the faraway paddock murmurs at the fate whiohChas defrauded him of his lineage and mocked at his future. "Get away where? What on earth do you mean?" "Yes, and her mother is as perfect a type of a Chippewa squaw, if she is only a half breed and claims to be only a sixteenth. Rollins, there's Indian blood enough in Nina Beaubien's little finger to make me afraid of h«r. She is strong as death in lovo or hate, and yon must have seen how she hung on Jerrold's every word all last winter. Yon must know sho is not the girl to be lightly dropped now." "No prisoners got away, I hope?" Ana so, growiing turn complaining, and yet half laughing, Adonis rolled from his oouch and began to get into his clothes. Chester's blood ran cold, then boiled Think of a man who oould laugh like that and remember 1 When, how, had he returned to the house? Listen! "Was it to see her again that night?" "Why, good morning, Captain Chester. I'm so glad to see you this bright day. Do come in and let me give you a rose. Papa will soon be down." And "No, sir. Nothing, I fear, that would seem to Justify my action. I ordered No. 6 to fire." "You must know what I mean! You must know that after last night's work you quit the service at once and forever.""I don't know at all. If it was, he fooled her, for ho never wont near her again. Rollins put her in tho carriage." "Why, what on earth could have happened around there—almost back of ns?" said the colonel in surprise. "What's gone wrong? rold been doing?" What's Jer- "Whoso? Did sho como with tho Sut- But what is the sound for which he stands and listens? Probably it is only a noise. tons?" "I don't know anything of the kind, and I defy you to prove the faintest thing." But Jerrold's fingers were twitching, and his eyes had lost their light "Don't ask mo any questions, Sloat, but answer. It is a matter of honor. What was yonr bet with Jerrold?" "Why, certainly. I thought you knew "I do not know what had hamDened or wnat was going to nappen. Ana Chester paused a moment and glanced toward the door, through which Miss Renwick had retired as soon as the colonel arrived. The old soldier seemed to understand the glance. "She would not listen," he said proudly. "I know," explained Chester. "I think it best that no one but you should hwar anything of the matter for the present until I have investigated further. It was nearly half past 8 this morning as I got around here on 5's poet, inspecting sentinels, and came suddenly in the darkness upon a ma carrying a ladder on his shoulder. I 01* dered him to halt The reply was a violent blow, and the ladder and I were dropped at the same instant, while the man sprang into space and darted off In the direction of No. 5. I followed quick as I could, heard the challenge and tho cries of halt and shouted to Leary to fire. He did, but missed his aim in tho haste and darkness, and the man got safely away. Of course there is much talk and speculation about it around the post this morning, for several people heard the shots besides the guard, and, although I t&d Leary and others to say nothing, I know it is alreadv general lv known." "Confound you, Sloat! I wouldn't rout you out in this shabby way. Why oouldn't you let a man sleep? I'm tired half to death." that" "I oughtn't to tell that, Chester. Surely it cannot be a matter mixed up with this." ''And neither oldMme. Beaubien nor Mrs. Sutton with them? What was the old squaw thinking of?" Here nature holds in her hands a healing balm for the invalid, and in the heotio of the dying year health to the human sufferer may oome again on joyous wing. At an elevation of 2,500 to 6,000 feet above the sea, and with not only an unbroken succession of glorious mountain pictures of wild loveliness, but with a mean annual rainfall wherever the eye may turn, nature seems to be in her. most gladsome mood, and the one ltmgers with unlimited means find at each wayside inn a cordial weloome and a festive board that fairly groans with its burden of hog, hominy and oilmate."She told mo only a day or two ago they were the best of friends and had never been anything else," said Rollins hotly. N. B.—The above is a true story. C "What have you done to tire you? Slept all yesterday afternoon and perhaps a dozen times at the doctor's last night You've had more sleep than I've had, begad 1 You took Hiss Ren wick home before 'twos over, and mean it was of you, too, with all the fellows that wanted to dance with her." "Do you suppose I did not recognize you?'' asked Chester. By this time they had neared the guardhouse, where several of the men were seated awaiting the call for tho next relief. All arose at tho shout of tho sentry on No. 1 turning out tho guard for the officer of tho day. Chester made hurried and impatient acknowledgment of the salute and called to the sergeant to send him tho sentry who was at the bridge at 1 o'clock. It turned put to be a young soldier who had enlisted at tho post only six months beforo and was already known as one of the most intelligent and promising candidates for a corporalship in the garrison. "When—where?" gulped Jerrold "When I seized yon and you Btruck "I can't explain, Sloat. What I ask is unavoidable. Tell mo about that bet" "Has it gone that far, my boy? I had not thought it so bad by any means. It's no use talking with a man who has lost his heart His reason goes with it" And Chester turned away. "Are yon still troubled by your neighbor's chickens?" asked one man of another. Remedy. me!" "Why, he was so superior and airy, you know, and was trying to mako me feel that he was so mnch more intimate with them all at the colonel's, and that he could have that picture for the mere asking, and I got mad and hot him he never could." "I never struck you. I don't know what you mean." "Not a bit," was the answer. ' 'They are kept shut np now." "My God, man, let ua end this useless fencing. The evidence I have of your last night's scoundrelism would break the strdngest record. For the regiment's sake—for the oolonel's sake —let us have no public scandal. It's awful enough as the thing stands. Write your resignation, give it to ma and leave—before breakfast. If you oan." "How did yon manage it?" "Why, every night Ipnt a lot of egga in the grass under the grapevine, and every morning when my neighbor was looking I went out and brought them in."—Troy News. "That wasn't my fault Mrs. Maynard made her promise to be home at 1D. You old caokler, that's what sticks In your crop yet You are persecuting me because they like me so much better than they do you," he went on, laughingly now. "Come, now, Sloat, confess, it is all because you're jealous. You couldn't have that picture, and I could.'' "You don't know anything about it," was all poor Rollins could think of as a suitable thing to shout after him, and it made no moro impression than it deserved."Was that the day you shook hands on it?" "Yes." "And that was her picture—the picture then—he showed you this morning."As has been said, Captain Chester had decided before 7 o'clock that but one course lay open to him in the matter as now developed. Had Armitage been thero he would have had an adviser, but thero was no other man whoso counsel ho cared to seek. Old Captain Gray was as bitter against Jerrold as Chester himself and with even better reason, for he knew well tho cause of his little daughter's listless manner and tearful eyes. She had been all radiance and joy at the idea of coming to Sibley and being near tho great cities, but not one happy look had he seen in her sweet and wistful face since the day of her arrival. Wilton, too, was another captain who disliked Jerrold, and Chester's rugged sense of fair play told him that it was not among the enemies of the young officer that ho should now seek advice, but that if he had a friend among the older and wiser heads in the regiment it was duo • him that that older and wiser head be given a chance to think a little ior oerroia s sane. Ana mere was not one among tho seniors whom he could call upon. As ho ran over their names Chester for the first time realized that his ex-subaltern had not a friend among the captains and senior officers now on duty at the fort His indifference to duties, his airy foppishness, his conceit and self sufficiency, had all served to create a feeling against him, and this had been intensified by his conduct since coming to Sibley. The youngsters still kept up Jovial relations with and professed to like him, but among the seniors thero wore many men who had only a nod for him on meeting. Wilton had epitomized the situation by saying ho "had no use for a masher," and poor old Gray had one day scowlingly referred to him as "the professional beauty." i I Here life is one glorious TnHtan summer, and in the pare heart the peewee is constantly caroling. In the glad autumn, the ginseng digger goeth forth for to dig, and as the dust of evening gathers he returns bearing here and there rioh dashes of coloring where the red bug has touched him up in kindly peeping with the glorious hpee of the season. Far up the ooye I bear him singing a bar or two from his favorite opera, while at his oabta door a dozen head of hounds are neighing. A brawling stream is laughing at his feet, tint he does not mind It, for others have done the same thing. Far down the valley his children hear his voloe and come boiling over the stump fenoe, a living cataract of progeny. At the door their mother stands in an easy position, holding a more reoent edition on her hip and peering out across the wold. "Wero you 011 duty at the bridge at 1 o'clock, Carey?" aeked the captain. Specified. Stranger—Can you tell me where Mrs. Brown lives? ' !' "I've done nothing to resign for. You know perfectly well I haven't" "Chester, you heard tho conversation. Yoq were there, You know that I'm on honor not to tell." "I was, sir. My relief went-on at 11:45 and caino off at 1:45." Chester fairly started. He had urgent need to see this young gallant He was staying for that purpose, but should he listen to further talk like this? Too late to move, for Sloat's answer came like a ■hot: "Do you mean that such a crime— that a woman's ruin and disgrace—isn't enough to drive you from the service?" .L«ked Chester, tingling in overy nerve and longing to clinch the shapely, swelling throat in his clutching fingers. "God of heaven, Jerrold, are you dead to all sense of decency?" Mrs. Halsey Putnam—Well, I don't know the number, but it's just a few doors below. It's the only house on the block besides this that has real lace curtains on the windows. —Brooklyn Eagle. "Yes, I kuow. That's quite enouch." ''\Vhut persons passed your post during that time?" "There was a squad or two of men coming back from town on pass. I halted them, sir, and Corporal Murray camo down and passed them in." "Do come in and let me dive you a rose she openod the gate and held forth one long, slim hand. Ho took it slowly, as though in a dream, raising his forage cap at tho same time, yet making no reply. Ho was looking at her far more olosely than ho imagined. How fresh, how radiant, how fair and gracious and winning! Every item of her attire was so pure and white and spotless; every fold and etirvo of hCDr sown seemnl oharged with subtle, delicate  as faint and sweet as the shy and modest wood violet's. Sho noted his silence and his haggard eyes. Sho noted the intent gaze, and tho color mounted straightway to her forehead CHAPTER V. Before 7 o'clock that same morning Captain Chester had come to the conclusion that only one course was left open for him. After the brief talk with Sloat at the office he had increased the perplexity and distress of that easily muddled Boldier by requesting his oompany in a brief visit to the stables and corrals. A "square" and reliable old veteran Was the quartermaster sergeant who had charge of those establishments. Chester had known him for years, and his fidelity and honesty were matters the officers of his former regiment could not too highly commend. When Sergeant Parks made an official statement, there was no shaking its solidity. He slept in a little box of a house close by the entrance to the main stable, in which were kept the private horses of several of the officers, and among them Mr. Jerrold's, and it was his boast that day or night no horse left that stable without his knowledge. The old man was superintending the morning labors of the stable hands and looked up in surprise at so early a visit from the officer of the day. Varied. ; "I bet you you never could I" I "But didn't I tell you I had a week •go?" Briggs—I read the other day that some words in the Chinese lanugage are capable of 40 different meanings. Bragg8—What a beautiful language to mace campaign promises in l—Cincinnati Tribune. "J don't mean coming from town. Who went tho other way?" "Aye, but I didn't believe it You couldn't show it I" "Captain Chester, I won't be bullied this way. I may not be immaculate, but no man on earth shall talk to me like this! I deny your insinuation. I've done nothing to warrant your words, even if —if you did come sneaking around here last night and find me absent. You aan't prove a thing. You"  "Only one carriage, sir—Mr. Sut- ton's. " [To BE CONTINUED.] "Pshaw, man! Look here. Stop, though. Remember, on your honor, yon never telL " "Could you see who were in it?" "Certainly, sir. It was right under tho lamppost this end of the bridge that I stood when I challenged. Lieutenant Rollins answered for them and passed them out He was Bitting boside Mr. Sutton as they drove up, then jumped out and Rave me the countersign and bade them good night right there." To® Mwh. "On my honor, at oonrse." "Well, there!" One morning a prominent restaurant kseper who opens at 0 o'clock had just entered his store when he heard a rattle at the door. He opened it and let in a man with a very anxious countenance. "Can I get something to eat at oneet" he said exoltedly.lie Mads a Mistake. A drawer was opened. Chester heard • gulp of dismay, of genuine astonishment and conviction mixed, as Sloat muttered some half articulate words and then came into the front room. Jerrold followed, caught sight of Chester and stopped short, with sudden and angry change of color. "What! When I saw you—almost caught you! By heaven, I wish the sentry had killed you then and there! I never dreamed of such hardihood." The whole picture is one of repose, of rest and of perpendioular real estate. The cry of the bittern in the swamp below is echoed by the distance bound, while in the solemn elm the tree toad in apparently computing the mean annual rainfall. "Rollins again," thought Chester. "Why did he keep this from mo?" "Who were in tho carriage?" he asked."And have you no word of greeting for mo?" sho blithely laughed, striving to break through the awkwardness of his reserve, "or aro yon worn out with your night watch as officer of the day?' '• "As soon as it possibly can be got," said the proprietor. "What will you • "You've done nothing but dream. By Jove, I believe you're Bleep walking yet! What on earth do you mean by catching and killing me? 'Pou my soul, I reckon yoa're crazy, Captain Chester." And color was gradually coming back to Jerrold's face and confidence to his tone. have?" "Eggs boiled," said the man absently. "Quickest thing." "I did not know you were here," he ■aid. "Mr. Sutton, sir, on the front seat driving, and two young ladies on the back seat" He fairly started. Had sho eeeu him then? DiC} she know it was ho who stood beneath her window; he who leaped in chane of that scoundrel; he who stole away with that heavy telltale ladder? And knowing all this, could sh" stand there smiling in his face, the incarnation of maiden innocence and beauty? Impossible! Yet what could she mean? "No, for it takes eggs three minutes to boil, and if they are not good they must be done over. Best have them fried." "It was to find where you were that I came " was the nuiet answer. What a delightful haven for the tired one of earth! Here the jarring storm of life is stilled in the waveless harbor of repose, and the simple heart is hushed to rest in the arms of a beautiful solitude. Here envy and hatred, malioe, jealousy and all uncharltableness cannot como. The innumerable shades of vioa that lurk and linger beneath the shadows of a great city are strangers here. "Nobody else?" Mrs. Doogin (who has stopped in or her way from market)—A-ho! Are yez that toney yez have laved off wid the growler? Phat's in the bottle, Oi dun know? "Quickest wayl I'm in an awful hurry." There was a moment's silence. Sloat turned and looked at the two men in utter surprise. Up to this time he had considered Jerrold's absence from reveille as a mere dereliction of dnty which was ascribable to the laziness and indifferenoe of the young officer. So far as lay in his power, he meant to make him attend more strictly to busineea and had therefore come to his quarters and stirred him up. But there was no thought of any serious trouble in his mind. His talk had all been roughly good humored until—until that bet was mentioned, and then it became earnest Now, as he glanced from one man to the other, he saw in an instant thai aomething new—something of unusual gravity—was impending. Chester, buttoned to the throat in his dark uniform, accurately gloved and belted, with pale, •et, almost haggard face, was standing by the center table nnder the droplight Jerrold, only half dressed, his feet throat into slippers, his fingers nervously working at the studs of his dainty white shirt had stopped short at his bedroom door, and with features that grew paler every second and a dark ■cowl on his brow was glowering at Chester. "Enough of this, Mr. Jerrold. Knowing what you and I both know, do you refuse to hand me your resignation?" "Of course I da " "Not a soul, sir. I could seo in it plain as day. One lady was Miss Sutton and the other Miss Beaubien. I know I was surprised at sooing the latter, because she drove home in her own carriage last evening right after parade. I was on poet there at that hour; too, sir. The second relief is on from 5:4(5 to 7:46." The breakfast was eaten in short order, really bolted down. The man jumped up, hurried to the counter and paid the bill. As he did so he looked up at the clock and then pulled out his watch. "Good heavens," he said, "is that clock right?" Mrs. McKahey — Dade'n Oi'm not toney. It's sick Oi am. That's woine. The doctor tould me to be afther takin bafe, woine and iron, but divil a bit better do Oi feel for the ironin, at all, at all!—Truth. "Do you mean to deny to me where I saw yon last night?" "Were you here all last night, sergeant?" was ('heater's abrupt question. Ho was Informed that it was end looked sheepish. "I deny your right to question me. I deny anything—everything. I believe you simply thought you had a clew and could make me tell. Suppose I was out last night. I don't believe you know the faintest thing about it" "Certainly, sir, and up until 1 o'clock "How did you know I had so long a vigil?'' ho asked, and tho cold, strained tone, tho half averted eyos, tho pallor pf his faro, all struck her at once. Instantly her manner changed. or more." Burglars do not enter here. They do not care to steal the glorious climate or to carry away the mean annual rainfall"Do you know what I've donef" he said. "I got up, nuulo a mistake of an hour in the time, abused my wife, swore at the girl, flung out of the house and got my breakfast here. Now I've got to loaf around an hour. I'm an infernal donkey!'' "Were any horses out during the mgnt—any omcers norses, 1 meanr- "That will do, Carey, J see your relief is forming now." "No, sir, not one." "I thought possibly some officers might have driven or ridden to town." Ah tho officers walked away and Sloat silently plodded along beside his dark browed senior the latter turned to him: "Oh, forgive me, captain. I soe you are all worn and I'm keeping you here at the gate. Come to the piazza and sit down. I'll toll papa you are here, for I know you want to see him." And she tripped lightly away before ho could reply and rustled up the stairs. Ho could hear her light tap at tho colonel's door and her soft, clcar, flutelike voice, "Papa, Captain Chester is hero to see "What's the difference between oonoeit and self esteem anyhow?" The Difference. "Do yon want me to report the whole thing to the colohel?" Here one does not see the doormat chained to the door, for virtue is its own reward, and unruffled slumber greets the trustful soul. Which he certainly was.—Cincinnati Tribune. "No, sir. Tho only horses that crossed this threshold going out last night were Mr. Sutton's team from town. They were put ap here until near 1 o'clock, and then the doctor sent for them. I locked up right after that and can swear nothing else went out" "I should say that there was no way in which Mr. Jerrold could have gone townward last night. Should not you?" In view of all this feeling, Chester would gladly havo found some man to oounsel further delay, but there was nona He felt that ho must inform the colonel at once of tho fact that Mr. Jerrold wag absent from his quarters at the tiitfe of the firing, of his belief that it was Jerrold who struck him and sped tfig foT&l officer \tos called to account for his strange oonduct tho better. As to the episodes of the ladder, the lights and thu form at the dormer window, ho meant, for tho present at least, to lock them in his heart. "A great deal. Conoeit is the self esteem belonging to somebody els*"— Chicago Keoord. "Of course I don't Naturally I want him to know nothing about my being out of quarters, and it's a thing that no officer would think of reporting another for. You'll only win the contempt of every gentleman in the regiment if you do it What good will it do you? Keep me from going to town for a few days, I suppose. What earthly business 1b it of yours anyway?" Ha Wu a Sawyer. But I must not wander from my story. At the time of whioh I speak the war had closed and peaoe had been declared. Several people had written with considerable care their impressions regarding the war and had been suitably remunerated for the same. It was quite merry at the Cass avenue boarding house table as the $4 a weekcwit and wassail went round the board, but the new boarder had little part in the festivity. He seemed to be a nice man, and the landlady wanted to make it pleasant* for him. "Ho might havo crossed the bridge while the third relief was on and got a horse at the other si da " Her llevotJou to a Cause. "Marguerite," he "'will you bo mine?" "He didn't do that, HI oat. I had already questioned tho sentry on that relief. It was the third that I inspected and visited this morning." "Harold," sh© answered, "I believe in the emancipation of our sex. My zealous devotion to tho cause compels mo to insist upon what may, to you, seem a punctilious absurdity," Chester entered the stable and looked curiously around. Presently his eye lighted on a tall, rangy bay horse that was being groomed in a wide stall near the doorway. Papa, indeed! She spoko to him and of him as though he were hor own. He treated her as though sho were his flesh and blood—as though he loved her devotedly. Even before sho came had not they been prepared for this? Did not Mrs. Maynard tell him that Alice had Doconio enthusiastically dovotoo to ner gtepfathor and considered him the most knightly and chivalric hero sho had ever seen? He could hear tho colonel's hearty and loving tone in reply, and then she came fluttering down again you." "Hasn't Mr. Sinks anything to say on the subject?" she said, addressing him. "Well, how do you know he wanted to go to town? Why couldn't ho have gone np tho rivor or out to the rango? Perhaps there was a little gamo of 'draw' out at camp. " The warhorse had recovered from his ■addle galls and received his pension "Jerrold, I can stand this no longer. I ought to shoot you in your tracks, I believe. You've brought ruin and misery to the home of my warmest friend and dishonor to the whole service, and you talk of two or three days' stoppage from going to town I If I can't bring you to your senses, oy uoo, tne coionei shall I" And he wheeled and left the room. "No'm," blushed the new boanler, who was industriously engaged in attempting to sever the piece of beefsteak on his plate. "That's Mr. Jerrold's Roderick, isn't "Nothing you say oan seem absurd," ho protested. ''Modosty forbade me," she went on, "to frame the original question, but now that you havo spoken there is no impropriety in my offering an amendment. Do not ask me if I will be yours. Ask me if I will permit you to be mine." -Wellington Star. for injuries received while in the line of duty and had reluctantly allowed himself to become identified with agri* culture. "Yes, sir. He's fresh as a daisy too. Hasn't been out for three days, Mid Mr. Jerrold's going to drivo the dogcart this morning." it?" "Oh!" she twittered. "You-always saw wood, do you?" But ho forgot that others, too, mus$ have heard those shots, and that others, too, would bo making inquiries, "Thero was no light in camp, mnoh less a little game of draw, after 11 o'clock. You know well enough that there is nothing of that kind going on with Gaines in command. That isn't Jerrold's game, even if those fellows were bent, on ruining their eyesight and nerve and spoiling thtf chance of getting the men on the division and army teams. I wish it were his game Instead of what it is." "No'm," he responded shrinkingly, "sometimes beefsteak." And a great hush fell upon the scene.—Detroit Free Press. "Since when has it been the dutv of the officer of the day to come around and hunt up officers who don't happen to be out at reveille?" he asked. Nothing causos so much ill feeling as war. Could it be carried on ii*such a way as to promote harmony there could be no objection to war, but as it is now eonduoted it is certainly injurious to both man and beast. What a curse war is! Chester turned away. On the General Count. "Sloat," said he as they left the stable, "if Mr. Jerrold was away from the post last night—and you heard me say he was out of his quarters— oould he have gone any way except afoot after what vou heard Park sav?" A lovely morning it was that beamed on Sibley and the broad and beautiful valley of the Cloudwater when once the sun got fairly above the moist horizon. Mist and vapor and heavy cloud all Boomed swallowed up in tho gathering, glowing warmth, as though tho king of day had risen athirst and drained tho welcoming cup of nature. It must have rained at least a little during tho darkness of the night, for dew thoro could have been nono with skies so heavily ovefcasi, and yet tho short, smooth tnrf on tho piirado, the leaves upon the mile shade trees around tho quadranglo and all tho beautiful vines hero on the trelliswork of the colonel's voranda shone and sparkled in tho radiant light. The roses in tho little garden and tho old fashioned morning glory vines over at tho east side were all aglitter in the flooding sunshine when the bugler came out from a glance at the clock in the adjutant's office and sounded "sick call" to the indifferent ear of the garrisonCHAPTER VI. Upguardson—How are you getting •long with the three bottles a day of brown stout your doctor prescribed for you two or thrfe months ago? Atom—How am I getting along with it? Great Scott I I'm two years ahead of his prescription already.—Chicago Tribune. "It is not your absence from reveille I want explained, Mr. Jerrold," was the oold and deliberative answer. "I wanted you at 8:80 this morning, and you were not and iiad not been here." For a moment Jerrold stood stunned and silent. It was useless to attempt reply. The captain was far down the walk when he sprang to the door to call him again. Then, harrying back to the bedroom, he hastily dressed, muttering angrily and anxiously to himself as he did so. He was thinking deeply, too, and every movement betrayed nervousness and troubla Returning to the front door, he gazed out upon the parade, then t*xDk his forage cap and walked rapidly down toward the adjutant's offioe. Tho orderly bugler was tilted up in a chair, leaning half asleep against the whitewashed front, but his was a weasel nap, for he sprang up and saluted as the young officer approached. "Papa will bo with you in five minutes, captain. But won't youJet m6 give you somo coffee? Jt'sall ready, mul you look so tired, even ill." An Eye For Color, "What in the world did yon invite Mr. Notmuch for? He's no singer, and"— But at the time of which we speak peace had returned, and in the mountain region the ruddy soil of the erect farm was dotted here and there with pallid corn. The sure footed mule might be seen ever and anon, guided up and down the steep mountain sides, stepping on the crops with unerring precision. If perchance he missed the corn in the ear, he would make it right by stepping on the corn not in the ear, and a wild cry of pain from the barefooted agriculturist would echo through the forest "Gone in the Buttons' outfit, I suppose," was Sloat's cautions answer. "I havo had a bad night,11 he answered, "but I'in growing old and cannot stand sleeplessness as you young people seem to " She—I know, dear, but he'll be sure to wear a lovely yellow chrysanthemum, and I'll have him sit over in that dull oorner to give a touch of color thero. —Chioago Inter Ocean. An unmistakable start aud shock; a quick, nervous, hunted glance around the room so oold and pallid in the early light of the August morning; a clutch of Jerrold's slim, brown hand at the bared throat But he rallied gamely, strode a step forward and looked his superior full in the face. Sloat marked the effort with which he cleared away the huskiness that seemed to clog his larynx, but admired the spunk with which the young officer returned the senior's shot: "In which event ho wonld have been seen by tho sentry at the bridge, would he not?" mm, unester, ne may nave neenout In tho country somewhero. Yon seem bent on the conviction he was up to mischief here around this post. I won't ask you what you mean, but there's more than one way of getting to town if a man wants to very bad." How It Will Be. "Ought to have been certainly." "Then we'll go back to the guardhouse. " And wonderingly and uncomfortably Sloat followed. He had long since begun to wish he had held his peace and said nothing about the confounded roll call. He hated rows of any kind. He didn't like Jerrold, but he would have crawled ventre a terre across the wide parade sooner than see a scandal in the regiment he loved, and it was becoming apparent to his sluggish faculties that it was no mere matter of absence from quarters that was involving Jerrold. Chester was all aflame flrer. that picture business, he remem- Was she faltering? He watchcd her eagerly, narrowly, almost wonderingly, }fot a traco of confusion, not a sign of fear, and yet had ho not seen her and that other figure? Mrs. Meeke—You were on a jury with 11 men, I believe? Mrs. Ginger—Yes. Reassuring. "How? Of course he can tako a skiff and row down tho river, but he'd never bo back in time for reveilla There goes 0 o'clock, and I must get home and shave and think this over. Keep your own counsel, no matter who asks you. If you hear any questions or talk at*nit shooting last night, you know nothing, heard nothing and saw nothing." Mr. Roby—I am afraid, love, yon will find me rather exacting at times, and I am afraid, too, that I am a little inclined to find fault without oausa Mrs. M.—Did yon find any tronblein agreeing with them? Mrs. G.—I didn't agree with them. They agreed with me.—New York Press* "I wish you could sleep as I do," was tho prompt reply. "I was in tho land of dreams 10 minutes after my head touched tho pillow, and mamma made mo come homo early last night because of our journey today. You know we aro going down to visit Anut Grace, Colonel Maynard's sister, at Lake Sab- Ion, and mamma wanted me to be looking my freshest and best," she said, "and I never heC"-d a thinsr till reveilla " Mrs. Roby—Oh, don't worry, dear. I'll coe that you always have oausa— Tit-Bits. Ton years had passed since peace had beeu declared, and whore bofore the war there stood only a few scattered cabins and one settlement now the tourist potod another cabin and 37 children. Where 80 years before the road was rough and almost impassable, now it had been changed entirely and the mudholes moved to other parts of the road. Those Girl Friend*! Maud—Ned proposed to me last night, and I refused him. " What is your authority here, I would tike to know? What business has the officer of the day to want me or any other man not on guard? Captain Chester, jam seem to forget that I am no longer Jour second lieutenant and that I am "Where did Major Sloat go, order ly?''. was the hurried question. "Over toward the stables, sir. Him and Captain Chester was here together, and they're just gone." Hard to Look Down. "There are few more disappointing things in life," says the Manayunk philosopher, "than a balloon ascension to a man with a stiff neck."—Philadelphia Record. Maud—How did you know it? Marie—I know it. "Shooting last night?" exclaimed Sloat, all atroe with eagerness and excitement now. "Where was it? Who was it?"  Marie—He told me he had taken the fatal leap and landed on his feet—- Now York Herald.  "Knn over to tne quarters or n company and tell Merrick I want him right