THE SOLDIER'S SECRET.

By Captain C. S. King/ "~r'"' The aflftir was entirely informal. No written invita tions had been sent out. Officers were all in undress uniform, but, with few exceptions, all were there, and the broad stripes of scarlet or yellow or white were to be seen everywhere throughout the room. Mrs. Berrien, a smile of motherly pride in her handsome dark eyes, was chatting pleasantly with the wife of a local magnate, who could 1 not say enough about Winifred's grace and beauty, and the gaze of both women seemed to follow the child as she ap peared literally to float over the smooth ly polished floor, just lightly borne on Brewster's stalwart arm. It was one of the oldest and sweetest of the Strauss waltzes that was being played at the moment, "Geschichten aus dem Wien erwald," and slowly reversing and turning, with the eyes of more than half the spectators and wall flow ers upon them, Brewster and Winifred were now gliding across the upper end of the hall within a few feet of the smiling row of lookers on, almost with in touch of the mother's hand. His face wore a look no woman could for an in stant mistake. His eyes, full of pas sionate tenderness, were fixed at the in stant upon her lovely face. His lips were moving. Something was being said. "There is one couple at least that is utterly lost to the rest of the world," said Mrs. Vance, for of a sudden the lovely upturned face was bowed almost upon his arm, and the deep, dark eyes were veiled, and the soft flush seemed to leap through the creamy skin to hex very temples. "Oh, has that fellow Bidgeway no sense whatever?" she continued, with all a woman's horror of an interrupted love scene, for at the instant Bidgeway had darted forth, watch in hand, with a tri umphant shout: "Time! My half!" And without a word, with one swift upward glance into Brewster's longing •yes—a glance fairly brimming over With meaning—Winifred released her self from the half encircling arm and placed her hand on Bidgeway's sleeve. Another moment and she was being whirled away under the guidance of a very different partner. "Miss Berrien's fan," said Brewster, bowing a moment later before her mother. "I was charged to place it in your hands." His heart was beating high. The music seemed thrilling, throbbing through his veins. He longed to hold forth both hands and say: "Read my secret. Know my heart! I love her] oh, I love her!" But there sat Mrs. Van Ness, the banker's wife, with broad sym pathy and approval glowing in her good natured face. "Ah, Mr. Brewster, it wasn't easy to give up half that dance—was it, nowi Why do you do such things in the army?" "There were only four waltzes, Mrs. Van Ness," smiled Mrs. Berrien. "Mr. Brewster had had one and had claimed this, and Mr. Bidgeway had had none at all, and Winifred and I both thought h« ought not to be denied entirely. It" is the only round dance he knows." Saying no word, Brewster had dropped behind Mrs. Berrien's chair. "He doesn't know that any too well,' said Mrs. Van Ness to herself. "Where could he have learned to dance?" The floor was crowded at the moment and unusually slippery, so that reversing or Avoidance of collision was rendered the more difficult even for experts. Twice had Bidgeway bumped into somebody 01 other without grievous disaster, but now, as luck would have it, came catastrophe, In the effort to check himself suddeu ly just as he seemed shooting into con tact with a slender light battery mat whom he could not have touched had h< tried, the young fellow's feet flew from under him. Left to herself, Winifred would no more have fallen than a bird, Drowning men clutch at straws an<3 poor, rich Bidgeway's instant impuls* on feeling himself going was to clasi her the tighter, dragging her vvith hire in his ignominious crash. His tumbh was bad enough, though he was unhurt but hers was worse. With violent shocl her head struck the polished floor anc" the room swam around. A dozen met flew to aid her, but Brewster seemed tc have seen it coming. He leaped through the air and, bending over the prostrate Bidgeway, had her up in his strong arms and over at the window before another hand could touch her. "Quick, Hunt, some water!" he or 4ered, his teeth firmly set. Then how his eyes softened as he looked down into her pallid face! "Oh, my darling, my darling!" he murmured in that little, shell like ear; and then, with wild anx iety in her eyes, Mrs. Berrien burst through the sympathetic circle. It was all over in a moment. The music never ceased. She was stunned only for an instant, and then, though Mrs. Berrien would have interposed, like the little heroine she was, Winifred was on her feet and holding out her hand to poor, bewildered, miserable Bidge way. "But come, we must finish the dance," she said, and in so saying riveted the chains of his serfdom. "I wouldn't dance with him again," said Mrs. Vance, who had an opinion to express on every subject. "Why, he almost broke her head." "If she didn't she'd break his heart, Mrs. Vance," was old Kenyon's reply, as he watched the scene. "That girl's a lady." "Am I not to be honored tonight, Mr. Brewster?" said a low voice in his ear as he stood silent, anxious, preoccupied by Mrs. Berrien's side, his eyes^ follow ing Winifred about the room. The very intonation made him turn cold. "I beg your pardon. Mrs. Knowles; 1 saw only a moment ago that you were here." She was leaning on her husband's arm. "Not half a bad fellow if he is a blind fool," said those of his own sex who knew him. Years her senior, he was yet her slave. Witness his coming out from town this late November night solely at her behest to attend a dance to which neither was bidden. "Ah, I wonder you saw at all, my friend, with that vision before your eyes; and I presume that was why you

had no time to come in person with your invitation." "No invitations are sent out for these little dances, Mrs. Knowles." "There, there, I'm not going to up braid you here. Mr, Knowles, would you get me a glass of water? Mr. Brew ster, will you not present me to Mrs. Berrien? We have exchanged calls, but I have not yet had the pleasure." ' What could he do? The request was as audible to Mrs. Berrien'as to him, and, even as she spoke. Mrs, Knowles passed around in front of him so as al most to face the major's wife, taking the introduction as a matter of course. He glanced appealingly at Mrs. Berrien as he murmured the name. He blessed her in his heart of hearts for the calm courtesy with which she greeted the local celebrity. He bit his lips witb vexation at Mrs. Knowles' very first words: "I could not resist the longing to know you, Mrs. Berrien, for 1 am utter ly lost in admiration of your lovely daughter." She, daring to speak of one so pure, so innocent, so utterly beyond her! Turning impatiently away, he en countered Major Berrien's eyes fixed upon him with a look that was not good to see. He stepped forward, hoping to explain, but Berrien, who had just en tered the room after an absence of over half an hour, whirled sharply about, plainly indicating that he did not wish to speak. This was bad enough. He had been near the seventh heaven of bliss. He had almost touched the gates of pearl. Now they were receding | through clouds and darkness, fading in the distance. But worse was to come. , Mrs. Knowles had seated herself by Mrs. Berrien's side, pouring forth rapid compliment and confidence. The musio bad ceased. Bidgeway, with Winifred on his arm, was approaching slowly, checked every moment by man or woman, who begged to hear that she was not shocked or seriously hurt. It was not until she was within a few yards that Winifred caught sight of her mother's companion—caught sight of the faint gesture and the warning in her mother's eyes. Then she pressed her escort's arm and turned him away.

"Oh, do call Miss Winifred here. 1 so long to meet her, Mrs. Berrien," cried Mrs. Knowles; and what could Mrs. Berrien do? The flush died out of Win ifred's cheeks, the soft luster from her eyes. Obedient to her mother's unwill ing summons, she stood before the lady from town, but she stood erect, and there was not the faintest cordiality in her manner. The long lashed lids droop ed over her eyes as she bowed to the elder woman, but her hand, to Ridge way's delight, refused to withdraw from his arm. No one saw more plainly than did Mrs. Knowles that nothing could be more unwelcome than that introduction; and it stung her to the quick. Checking the fulsome flatteries that were ready on her tongue, she said: "I could not go. Miss Berrien, without saying how frightened I was for you and how glad to see you were not hurt." Then, turning languidly, "And now. Carroll, will you take me to the car riage? Somebody can call Mr. Knowles. Good night, Mrs. Berrien. Do come and 6eeme." And, taking Mr. Brewster's unoffered arm, she led him down the brightly lighted and observant room. CHAPTER V.

It is Mr. Thomas Hughes who asks in "Tom Brown at Oxford," "Which is the true—aye, and the brave—man, he wh< trembles before a woman or he befon whom a woman trembles?" There an men who could have found it no difficult matter to flatly decline to serve even a temporary escort to a woman so cvi dently bent on mischief—who conl< have rebuked then and there the ar sumption of intimacy and proprietorshij which if unchallenged might mean dis aster. Brewster did neither. She read him well enough to see that, though he was too indignant to permit himself to speak, he was also too much of a gentle man to snub her. Bravely therefore she bore her part, keeping up an animated flow of meaningless words until fairly out of the hoproom, then promptly shift ing to that feminine coigne of vantage wherein lies woman's greatest strength —a gush of silent tears. She knew too much to add reproaches, accusations, angry words; that would have given him something to answer, something to overthrow. It is only when a woman weeps, silently, desolately, showing no anger, making no charge, that she has man at her mercy. Utterly false as was the position in which she had placed Brewster before the garrison world at this moment, he actually did not know but that he might be blamable for all— that he might be much less sinned against than sinning. He was no fool, only so much of one as the strongest of his kind sometimes become in the hands of the softer sex. Samson had his De lilah; Hercules, Omphale; Belisarius, poor devil, had both Anfconia and Theo dora. It was bad enough to have her shrink

to the opposite sine of the carriage the instant he'hud assisted her m and there give way to apparently uncontrollable weeping; it was bad enough to have to stand there for a moment or two untii the lady's long suffering spouse should be hunted up (lie had been having a cigar with one or two of the elders m the sanctity of the little smoking room); but what made matters simply intoler-. able was that just at the foot of the stairs, under the broad gallery, just where the lantern on the big pillar would shine full upon himself and Ms lachrymose partner, stood Major Berriec m earnest conversation with Captaic Rolfe, and both looked up, glanced quickly but searchingly at him and at her, raising their forage caps m silent salutation, and turned away. Poor Curly! As m duty bound, he leaned into the carriage, not too ardently beg ging the weeping dame to say what had so distressed her, but she would not re ply-

Possibly she thought he»might yet be induced to clamber m after her, and there m the dark interior tenderly be seech her to speak; but he was all eager ness to hasten back to the hoproom. If he could but have speech with Mrs. Berrien a moment, he might make her understand the situation; she had al ways been- cordial and sympathetic. But it was three or four minutes, per haps, before Knowles came, thanked him for his attention to his wife, stepped m, and—how her tears were explained to her liege lord nobody knows. Somebody who knew her, how ever, was mean enough to suggest that they were of the theatrical and control lable order, and, as Randolph expressed it, "she braced up and grinned as Boon as Curly was left behind." The instant the carriage rolled away Brewster turned and sped up the stairs. At the very top ho met the colonel com* in£ hastily down, a brown telegraph en velope m tie band, the soldier operator, with a look of repressed excitement on bis f*ce, close at his heels.

"Come with mo, Brewster," said Far qnhav, m preoccupied but positive man ner. "Morgan, find the adjutant and quarterm aster, and say that 1 wish to eeo them at the office."

"I'll get my cap and follow you at once, sir," answered Brewster, and has tened into tho dressing room. There he met Hazlett and Thorpe just coming out, throwing their cavalry capes over their shoulders, silent and preoccupied like their chief. Seizing his cap, Brew ster paused one longing instant for a glance into the hoproom. Again the floor was thronged. To the merriest of music—"Toujours Galant"—the young er dancers were fairly romping in the half galop, half polka step the joyous tune inspires, and in their midst, not romping, but dancing with a slower, al most languid grace, Winifred Berrien appeared to his troubled gaze, her slen der waist half encircled by Randolph's arm, her dark eyes downcast, her color and animation gone. "Come, Brewster," called Hazlett from the doorway, "Farquhar wants us at once and does not want anybody else to know." "What's up?" ■•You'll know In a moment. The colonel doesn't want it mentioned here." At the foot of the stairs, under the glare of the same big lamp, Farquhar, with Berrien and Rolfe, stood waiting. Glancing impatiently up, as though to make sure of his men, Farquhar took Berrien by the arm and silently led the way, Rolfe and Hazlett, Thorpe and Brewster falling in behind. It was but a few steps to the office.

"Pull down the shades, orderly, and one lamp will bn enough. That'll do. Close the door and remain outside," said Farquhar, as he threw off his cape, then silently waited until the sleepy trumpeter had carried out his orders and vanished. By this time, too, Warren and Drake, the adjutant and the quartermaster, had come bustling m, and, noting the silence of those already on the ground, simply removed their caps and waited the colo nel's pleasure. For an instant Farquhar stood tapping the lid of the desk with the butt of his pencil and studying the long dispatch which he held m his hand. Then he looked up.

"Gentlemen, we are ordered to the field; one battalion to go at once, the other to follow m ten hours—just as soon as cars can be provided. Berrien, you will lead off."

For a moment not a word from any body; then the major spoke: "How much time have we, sir?"

"I cannot tell. You load up the mo ment the railway company can get a train here. They have plenty of engines and cars at the junction and ought to be able to furnish what we need by day break. Meantime you will have to rouse your men, pack up everything that is not to be taken, cook three daj^s' rations and be ready to get the horses aboard. Go at it as quietly as possible. I want nobody at the hop to know of the orders. Let the dance go on. Your men must take all their blankets and the heaviest clothing they have. No one knows what may be m store for us either m furs or fighting."

Again dead silence, broken only by the rapid clicking of the telegraph in strument m the adjoining room and the soft, melodious strains borno on the winga of the whispering night wind. Another walta, and one which sho had promised him he eliould have the latter half of, thought Brewelor. Even now he listened yearningly to recognize the strain. Aye, ho might have known itl her favorite of all, "Love's Dreamland."

But the colonel was speaking again; "Of course you will do well to weed out any sick or incfrectives you may have. It is going to be a bitter campaign, and after our summer and fall under south ern suns will bo all the tougher. Holden will go with your command, Berrien, and I have sent for him. Here are your four troop commanders; so you may a* well give your instructions at once and let them get to work."

"You have heard the colonel's orders, gentlemen; i do not know of anything 1 have to add. Start out your first ser geants and the cooks at once, and let the men pack without unnecessary

noise. 1 will give all rurthe- aexam sa soon as Colonel Farquhar and I itave had a few moments' conference." Again the telegraph operator with a; dispatch. "I thought so," said Farquhar. "Mur ray, the division superintendent, was with us in the Shenandoah and at Five- Forks. He wires that the train will be here at live o'clock at the latest—two engines, twenty freight or cattle cars, two baggage cars, four passenger day cars and a Pullman. It is eleven now. If anything is wanted you'll find me here." . Back again into the chill night air, < under the shining, starry vault, Berrien and his four troop leaders paused for a moment on the gravel walk. "Hazlett, I suppose you will need to see Mrs. Hazlett home, and you, Thorpe. Better go and rouse your sergeants first, then come back to the hoproom; but, mind you, not a word there. Rolfe, you and Brewster are among the blessed to night; you have no wives to break the news to. I will give your subalterns the tip to report to you just as soon as we break up." Three hands went to the cap visor in salute, three officers turned away. War ren, the adjutant, came hurrying out. "Oh, major, Colonel Farquhar begs that you will step in a moment." "You had something to say, Brew ster?" asked the major coldly. "Yes, sir, I—l hope to hurry back in time to escort Miss Berrien home." "No, don't trouble yourself. I'll at tend to that. You have other matters to occupy you." And if ever a fa ther's tone, signified that dismissal was intended, and that further attentions were forbidden, Berrien's did as he ab ruptly turned, leaving Brewster stunned and silent at the edge of the parade. In ten minutes lights were dancing like will-o'-the-wlsps about the galleries of the men's quarters. Quick, bound* ing footsteps could be heard, and the low, brief orders of the sergeants as they went flitting from door to door. Then half suppressed exclamations, an occa sional smothered yell of excitement oi i delight from some enthusiastic Paddy ' ever ready for a frolic or a fight. Then a gradually swelling murmur of voices, the rapid scurry of booted feet, a clat* tering up and down the stairways, the slamming and banging of barrack doors, the dragging forth of heavy chests and boxes, the clank of a dropped saber, and then people at the hoproom, strolling out on the broad veranda for fresh air or flirtation, became aware of the unusual illumination over across the parade, and | listening heard the sounds of bustle and preparation. And then lights began to pop up among the windows of the secojad battalion, where the news had rapidly spread, and where dozens of troopers tumbled out of their blankets and into their boots forthwith and went charging en masse upon their own ser geants to know what it meant that "them fellers in the first battalion had! had orders to be-up and getting and none had come for us," In less time than it takes to tell it the tidings spread from porch to hall that "something was up," and other people, men and women, old officers and young, matrons and maids, quit their places in the Lancers and came stream ing forth upon the gallery. "What's the matter?" "Is it fire? I heard no alarm." "The trumpets haven't sound ed." "See! there's the orderly trumpeter going across the parade now, running to the office." "Why, the office is lighted too." "Where's Warren?" "What does it mean?" These and doz ens of other verbal conjectures and sug gestions flew from lip to lip. Men ex cused themselves to their fair partners, seized their caps, scurried away down the steps and sped over toward the lights at headquarters. A dozen or more suddenly disappeared in this way, and then it was found that the colonel and Berrien and Hazlett and Thorpe and Brewster, too, were all missing. And then Mrs. Thorpe's voice was heard wailing out upon the night air: "Oh, Mrs. Berrienl Mrs. Berrien! 1 know what it means. I saw the tele graph operator coming up the steps. It's orders-borders for the field." And then indeed— There was hurrying to and fro And gathering tears, and tremblings of dis tress, And cheeks all pale which but an hour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness. And the dance was forgotten, and the musicians, astonished, found the lighted hall rapidly emptying of the revelers, and women pressed, pallid and tearful, into the dressing room, gathering up their wraps with hasty hand and hurry ing forth to take the arm of husband or lover, as though claiming that right to the very last. And then in someway the word went around, "Only one battal ion goes—only Berrien's," and those whose lords were attached to the other plucked up heart and spirit for a mo ment, and in the midst of it all, pale but tearless, Mrs. Berrien stood waiting pa tiently for Dick's return, and by her side, even paler, but as brave and tear less and patient, Winifred clung to her mother's arm and would take no other. Ridgeway, who had scampered over to the office among the dozen departed, came panting back up the stairway. "Is it true?" asked Mrs. Berrien. "Yes; the first battalion goes at day break. The major says he will be over In a few moments." "Mrs. Berrien, permit me to escort you home," said Major Kenyon, hasten ing after Ridgeway up the stair. "1 have just seen Berrien; he has to go to the barracks a few minutes." "Miss Winifred, may I have the pleas ure? Mr. Brewster is of course needed with his troop, and mine does not go," said Ridgeway, proffering his arm. The girl hesitated one moment, half clinging to her mother's side, and casting one swift, appealing glance into her face. "Yes, daughter, we'll go home at once," was the low toned answer as Mrs. Berrien took old Kenyon's arm. and With bowed head moved toward the stairs, her escort eagerly, volubly ex plaining to her that he felt sure the ob ject of the sudden move was merely tc overawe the Indians by a display oi force. "It is exactly what was done

Here with such success a few years ago, Mrs. Berrien. The Cheyennes were wild for an outbreak, and Sheridan simply called in troops from everywhere, and when the Indians saw the great array of cavalry and infantry they caved at once. Never" had to fire a shot, madam. And that's the proper way to handle this matter. That's what this means. The Sioux will be so disheartened they won't dare resist even if orders are given to disarm them—God forgive me the lie!" he muttered under his breath. "Of course it's exasperating to think of the Twelfth being sent so far away at such a time, but better now, believe me, than later, after those misguided wretches had had a chance to jump." But Mrs. Berrien had lived, heaven only knows how, throngh many a sim ilar experience. She had seen time and again her husband's command hurried forth on the trail or across the path of savage foe. Never yet had they returned unscathed, never yet without serious loss of officers and men. She could only bow her head the lower while her lips moved in silent prayer. Just as they reached the gate a tall form came spring ing after them through the darkness, and Brewster's,Toice was heard: "I hurried back to the hoproom, Miss Winifred, only to find you gone. 1 had expected to escort you home. You have heard the news? You know our orders have come?" He glared at Ridgeway, as much as to say, "Leave, man; you are one too many, as you ought to see." But the junior lieutenant stoutly held his ground, nor did Winifred withdraw her hand from his arm. "I have heard; yes, it seems very sud den," was all she could or would say, and the dark eyes were shrouded from his longing gaze. "We'll be off by daybreak, I fear. I cannot hope to see you again before we nave to go," he went on desperately. "Won't you come in, Mr. Brewster?" called Mrs. Berrien from the steps. "You and Mr. Ridgeway can spare a moment, can you not? Oh, Dick, here you are!" she cried, as with quick, ener getic step the major sprang acrosß the road and appeared under the dim light of the garrison lamp, and back to the gate she sped to meet him and to twine her arm in his. "I'll say good night, ladies," said Ken yon. "I'll call in in the morning to see if I can be of any service. Now 1 must trot over and help Holden to pack." And, unrestrained, he went. "Brewster, Ridgeway, I won't ask you in now. You have much to attend to and but little time. Run in, Winifred," said the major. "I'll be with you at the barracks in a few moments, gentlemen." Slowly but obediently Winifred step ped forward. "Good night, Mr. Ridgeway," she murmured, holding out her little hand. "Thank you very much." Berrien stood impatiently at the gate, as though to see her safely through. With trembling lips Brewster spoke as he sprang to her side. "Goodby. Don't forget," was all he could murmur as he seized her hand, clinging to it one miserable moment with both his own. "Goodby," she said, in low, tremu lous tone, but withdrawing her hand, withholding her glance. The major threw his arm about her and almost thrust her through the gate. "It is good night only, not goodby, Mr. Brewster," said Mrs. Berrien, kind ly forgetting her own misery for the moment in the contemplation of the woe in his face. Then they hurried within doors, Winifred drooping before them, and then the door closed and Brewster and Ridgeway stood there confronting each other under the light. For a mo ment neither spoke. "Have you lost your crossed sabers?" said Brewster finally, noting that the handsome cap badge of solid gold which Ridgeway ordinarily wore upon the front of his forage cap was now missing. "No; I took it off to pin Miss Berrien's wrap about her throat." A moment more Brewster stood as though he would ask another question, then abruptly turned and plunged into the darkness. Meantime Major Kenyon had trudged up the row toward Holden's quarters. Already the lights were beginning to gleam from the various houses around the big quadrangle of the parade, where a dozen of the cavalry officers were now busily engaged in preparation for the sudden move. Over at the hospital, too, the lamps were being lighted in the steward's room and the dispensary. Holden's hall door stood wide open. The hall itself was dark, but a lamp was alight in the sitting room, and that door, too, was wide open. A tall form passed across the illumined space as Kenyon drew near. He stopped for a moment at the gate, listening to the sound of bustle, the whistling and singing of the men at the barracks. "Hardship, hun ger, privation, suffering ahead of them, even if they don't have hard fighting," he muttered to himself. "In thirty-six hours they'll be freezing, poor devils, for not a man in the battalion has a win ter kit; and just hear them laugh and sing, as though the world had no joy like soldiering! God guard them—aid these poor wives and sweethearts here. Why isn't it my lot to go instead of Ber rien's? Who the devil would shed a tear for me?" He shook himself together and tramped heavily into the gate and up the steps. "Doc!" he called at the doorway. "Oh, Doc!" No answer. The house was silent. "Oh, Holden! Where are you?" Still no reply. "Odd," said Kenyon; "1 thought I saw him in here. Who could that have been?" With the confidence of army intimacy he tramped through the sitting room on the left of the hall, then into the dining room beyond. No one there. Then across the hall again and into Holden's own sleeping room at the rear of the house. The kerosene lamp was burning on the dressing table. The bed had been occupied. Evidently Holden had turned in early, only to be routed out by the orders of the colonel. The floor creaked somewhere overhead. Then he was sure he heard a quick, light footfall on the stair. "Oh, Doc!

Here i am. It's Kenyon," he cried. But no answer came. Once more re turning to the hall, and thence to the sitting room, ho found them empty as before. The parlor door on the west side was closed. Slowly he strolled out on the front piazza, just in time to catch sight of a tall form in the dark circular cape striding up to the gate. Surely that was Holden. Then he heard a hail: "Hello, Rolfe. That you?" "Yes. You go with us, do you?" "1 do. Won't you come in?" "Not just now; I've got to go to my quarters a moment. 11l be in by and by. We'll have to make a night of it." "All right. Kathleen will get us some coffee after a while. Bring in some of the others with you." Then the doctor came bounding up the steps. "Hello, Kenyon. You here? Well, you were right after all, weren't you? I've just been over to the hospital to see to the field chests." "Weren't you in here just now?" asked Kenyon. "I? No! Not for ten minutes." "Well, some one was here—up stairs and down, both. I called twice and got no answer, but 1 saw a man and heard the steps. Thought it was you." "Rolfe, perhaps. He was in the road just beyond our gate as 1 came back, but I thought he had just come from his com pany quarters." **I£ it had been Rolfe he would have answered, I should think," said Ken yon. "Besides, the figure and the foot steps were those of a much lighter man." "Queer!" said Holden, his thoughts in stantly reverting to the event of the week before. "Did you see him?" "I saw a figure pass across the light streaming from the sitting room door. Then 1 heard the step up stairs while I stood in your room, and then very quick, light steps on the stairs—some one com ing down like a streak, now that I think of it." "How long ago?" "Not more than a minute before you got here." "By Jove, I'm going to look into this!" Said Holden quickly. "Of course you've heard of the excitement we had here. Bring that candle, will you? I'll take the lamp." Up the stairs they went—up I to the landing where Nita Guthrie had her mysterious fright and fall. The door of the room she occupied was open. All was darkness within. Holden, fol lowed by Kenyon, entered, and they set their lights upon a table. The side win dow was shut and barred, the south win dows as firmly closed. Everything looked neat and undisturbed, but cold and deserted. No sign of an intruder for a moment to the eyes of either man. Then of a sudden Holden made a spring for the toilet table, seized a small silver frame and stood glaring at it. "By Jove! look here!" "What's the matter?" asked Kenyon. "Don't you see?" was the answer, as the doctor held the face of the frame toward him, empty and gaping. "Nita Guthrie's photograph was in this frame and on that table just before the hop began when I was up here, and where is it now?" CHAPTER VI.

Pallid and wan the first faint gleam of the coming day was stealing slowly into the eastern skies. Far away down the broad valley the mist was creeping from the slow moving, silent stream. Peace and slumber and solitude hovered over the wide acres where the tasseled corn had waved m the summer breeze and the bearded rye and bristling wheat had ripened and bleached under the fervid touch of the summer sun. In the barn* yards and sheds the cattle still crouched, drowsing and huddling for warmth. In the orchards and among the maples and beeches the bluebirds and jays and be lated robins still perched among the autumn leaves, their heads tucked away under sheltering wings. Under dew laden hedgerows the mother bird nestled her little brown brood, and Bob White still dozed away the dark hour that pre cedes the dawn. All over the placid, populous valley without the reservation lines the wings of night were spread. All through the streets of the thriving county town only the tread of the watch man waked the echoes, only the glim mer of his lamp was Been. The waning moon, a dim, mist bedraggled crescent, had peeped up over the shadowy forest down the eastward valley and climbed Blowly toward a sheltering bank of cloud and there seemed to halt and hide. Puffing and panting, a long, long train had wound under the wooded bluffs and was hissing at the station platform at the foot of the curving road that led to fche broad plateau of the fort. And now lights were dancing and gleaming every where along the train; men m cavalry overcoats and topboots were busily, rapidly, silently leading horse after horae up the wooden ramps, or chutes, »nd into the dark depths of the cattle cars. Many a trooper stopped a moment

after lashing his halter strap to the rafi and murmured a few caressing, reas suring words to his wondering charger, patting him on neck or shoulder and striving to explain to him how it hap pened that he was stirred out from his warm stable at this unseemly hour and marched into a prison pen on wheels be hind those black, hissing monsters up ahead. Silence and order and discipline prevailed. Only when some excitable, nervous steed balked and refused to climb the chute was there unusual sound. Then the sharp crack of the stable sergeant's whip and astern "Hup, there!" brought the brute to his senses, and he plunged along up the wooden ramp, his iron shod hoof s thundering on the boards, his trooper's arms nearly wrenched from their sockets. The division superintendent had been better than his word, for it was only four o'clock when the train came hissing in, and in ten minutes, in long ghostly procession, Rolfe's men were leading their chargers," curveting and prancing in the keen air, down the winding road to the valley, the quartermaster's wagons following with chest and box and bale and bundles of tentage and camp equipage. In fifteen minutes more the word went up to send down the next troop, and the train pulled forward four car lengths, so as to bring the next lot of horse cars opposite the platform and chutes, while Thorpe's handsome sorrels were led wondering from the dimly lighted gangway; and so, by a few minutes after five, even the officers' chargers and the spare horses of the first battalion were all aboard, and some where across the stream, just as the major acknowledged the report, "All aboard and secure, sir," in Hazlett's Boldierly tones, a sprightly chanticleer, whose ears had at last caught those muffled sounds of hoof and voice over under the garrison bluffs, concluded it time to challenge, and woke the echoes with shrill cock-a-doodle-doo, whereat there came a low chuckle of delight from Hazlett's men. "Very good, sir. Now get aboard all your baggage as quick as you can." "All aboard now, Bir." "Then march up to quarters for coffee and breakfast—the others are at theirs now—and form under arms right after ward." Precious little sleep has there been this night—no time among the men, no inclination among,the women. Wives and daughters who had devoutly thanked heaven that only the first bat* talion was to go were soon undeceived and found that but ten hdurs' respite was to be theirs. All the night long the note of preparation could be heard in barracks and in quarters. The colonel, with his adjutant and quartermaster, hardly left the office at all. fJerrien bustled from barracks to his home, from there to stables. At two o'clock, find ing all his own campaigning kit in per feet readiness, and Winifred and her mother still huddling over the parlor fire, he noted the pallor in his daughter's face, the deep trouble in her pathetic eyes, and, taking her in his arms, he kissed her fondly again and again. "Go to your room now, little daugh ter," he said huskily; "go, dear, and try to sleep. I will not leave without com ing to say bye-bye, just as I always did." She shivered and hid her face and clung to his neck, saying no word, shedding jno tear. Gently he unclasped her hands. "Yes, my child, do as I bid you now; I I Want to speak with mother awhile." And then reluctantly she turned, but the one brief look into his eyes was so full of wordless sorrow that he was for an instant unmanned. "My little girll my little Winnie! don't look at your old daddy that way!" he almost sobbed, as again he threw his arm around her, lead ing her to the stairs. "We won't be gone long. We're all coming back, dear; and we'll have a lovely Christmas, and you shall have the jolliest kind of a party, pet- But be a brave little woman now. It—it'll all come m right." She turned with quick convulsive sob and threw herself upon his breast, again twining her soft arms about his neck, her beau tiful dark hair streaming in rippling, shimmering masses down over the creamy white wrapper. The burst of tears would have been a blessed relief, but it never came. A quick, soldierly tread was heard on the plank walk with out, and then springing up the steps. Even before the rat-tat-tat at the door she had torn herself from his arms and sped like a startled fawn up the carpeted stair. "It is Mr. Brewster," said. Mrs. Ber rien, in low tone, quickly. Berrien threw open the door. "Anything for a pretext to come here again," he mut tered angrily to himself, as he confronted the unwelcome intruder. It was Brew ster. "Major Berrien, the colonel's compli ments, and he-desires you to know that the train will be here at four insteadof five." And Brewster's eyes glanced but an instant into those of his superior, and then went wandering longingly over his shoulder. "1 had already heard it, sir. You have everything ready?" "1 beg pardon, then, for disturbing you, major. I have just left the col onel, and he thought you might not have heaid. Yes, sir, everything will be ready, though the rations are not yet coolccmSL" "Then be ready to get your horses aboard the nsoment P has finishedTbad ing. Anything else, Mr. Brewster?" Poor fellow, th|re was something else-^ something that filled heart and soul and dominated ©very thought. Gazing wistfully up the stairs, his sad eyes had caught one glimpse of that white, fleet ing form, one glimpse of the lovely pallid face all framed in dark, falling tresses, as, clinging to the balustrade, Winifred turned, unable to resist the longing to hear whatlie might have to say. '•Nothing—nothing more, 1 believe, sir." And, mechanically raising his hand in salute, poor Curly turned away, the door promptly closing behind hiaa, Berrien came back into the parlor clinching his fists, speechless indigna tion in his face. Mrs. Berrien saw the unmistakable signs, and, though in her

neart she felt full of sympathy for Brewster, she knew it best to say noth ing now. "If 1 thought it as you said,*' he hoarsely spoke at last, "if I thought that fellow had been trifling with Win nie while all the time carrying on this Faughl itmakesmefeelasthongh I could throttle him!" And Berrien strode up and down the cozy room, beating one brawny fist into the palm o! the other hand. "But, Richard dear, why do you think there has been anything serious between him and this—this woman? I think she deliberately assumed that manner at the hop tonight. I think she called him 'Carroll' solely for Winifred'B benefit and mine. I saw how astonished and annoyed,he was." But Berrien held up a warning hand. "She came down the stairs weeping and he striving to soothe her. Bhe was sob bing aloud when he put her in the car riage. Rolfe and 1 both saw and heard, Don't tell me there wasn't anything be tween them. Very possibly he does want to make up to Winifred now. but damn him! he shan't. ! won't have bet degraded by any such offer, if 1 have to send her and you to Europe to get net away from him. It is no imagination. Bess; I tell you I know. Why, only thil morning she sent him a new picture of herself; and as for calling him tJarroll for our benefit, that's what she calls, him in her letters, and I can prove it" "How, Dick?" "Rolfe saw it—saw it this very monv lag." "Captain Rolfe! Why. how came hi to see her letter to him?" "Well, it was lying open on his desk; he could not help seeing." "Why, Dick, 1 cannot understand Captain Rolfe's looking at or reading other people's letters, and" "It was an accident, I tell you." "Ah, but it was no accident bis tell ing of it, Dick. Nothing on earth should have induced him to refer to it, if, as be claims, he saw it by accident. 1 did not suppose Rolfe would do such a thing." "Well, he couldn't help himself. I dragged it out of him, I suppose." Another step, another rap at the dooi and, casting one glance aloft, Berrien, to his dismay, again caught sight of Winifred's pale face peering over the balustrade. The child could not, would not rest. "What's wanted?" he curtly asked at he threw open the door. :.. "It is Sergeant Ellis, sir." said a deep voice. "I have come to beg tbo niajoi to intercede for me. My troop goes with the major's battalion and 1 begged to be relieved and allowed to go. but the quartermaster says I must stay until somo sergeant can be found who is com petent to take charge—some one in the infantry battalion. That may require two or three days, sir, and 1 am fearful that once the command gets a\vay there will be no obtaining orders to follow it. Besides, sir, there is my horse." "You belong to the Black troop?" "Yes, sir, and 1 think that if the ma jor would but speak to Major Kenyon at once he could name a sergeant who would take my place here at stho fire house. Almost any man can do it, sir, only there is no time to be lost. Majot Kenyon is at the doctor's now." "Dr. Holden's?" "Yes, sir, and Captain Rolfe has Just joined him there." "Have you spoken to Lieutenant Brewster? He commands your troop, as you know, now that the captain's away." "I have, sir, but it was at the office, and the quartermaster spoke up at once, so that Lieutenant Brewster could de nothing." Berrien turned back into the parlor, "Be6s, dear, 1 must run over to Holden's a moment. Will you not go up to Wini fred? She is not lying down at all." Followed by the sergeant, Berrien entered Holden's gate and gave a whack at the open hall door as he passed in. Rolfe's voice was the first thing he heard. It was tremulous with excite ment. "If Colonel Farquhar will but give me authority to search one room in thie post I will guarantee that 1 can find that picture and name the thief— He broke off short at sight of Berrien. Holden rose, hospitably urging the majoi to join them in a cup of coffee, but Ber rien proceeded at once to business. "MajoT Kenyon, a sergeant of my bat talion is in charge of the tire apparatus here, but is most anxious to go with as. He says it will be allowed if yon can name one of your men—a noncommis sioned officer—to take his place at once. You will do me a very great favor if yon will." "Certainly I can," answered Kenyon stoutly. "Is your man there? Call him in. Sergeant Griggs, of B company, will be just the man, and I know his company commander will make no ob jection." "Come in here, sergeant," called Ber rien, and cap in hand the dark eyed, dark haired trooper, on whose lip the mustache was again beginning to brit tle, stood silently before them. "Are you well enough to go, my man?" spoke up Holden on the instant "You look very pale, if not ill." "1 am perfectly well, doctor, and I am eager to go. I suppose I'm a little cold and excited." "Then give my compliments to the quartermaster at once and say Sergeant Griggs.-of the infantry, will take you* duty," said Kenyon quietly, Ellis muttered, "Thank you, sir, faced about and hurried from the room. "Was that man in the hall when ( Was talking and you came in?'' asked Rolfe, in his quick, decided way "1 don't know," answered Berrien sur prised. "I think he followed me up the steps and was standing at the door." "Why do you ask, Rolfe?' queried Holden, closely studying his face "Because, if he was, the search li ■ooke of would now be uaelaM."

A tall form paused across the illumined space as Kenyan drew near.

It was Brewster.

SUPPLEMEAT TO THE ABHBUBTON GUARDIAN! SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1893.







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