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HHHI ^ lewis >i- grist, proprietor, j %\\ Independent Jamil]! ffeujspaper: Jor the promotion of the fjolitical, Social, Agricultural and Commercial Interests of the ^outh. jterms?$2.00 a year in adyance. VOL. 36 YOEKVILLE, S. C.5 "WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1890. NO. 11. DONHAVE A Story of Ameri . BY CAPT. CHARI Author of "The Colonel's Daug Deserte Copyrighted 18S8 by J. B. Lippincott C< special arrangement through tb k nTr?r> TTT 1 DA IV. WEET tempered a fel low as Mr. Perry conJH fessedly was, there was 5?r something in tin-* stranger'sconduct that sibly. From his handsome mount, his garb and his general appearance, Perry set this stranger down as one of the Englishmen residing at the ranch Tfc was nut. fpnr nf nrrpst and capture that sent him scowling away across the prairie; it was deliberate intent to avoid, and this was, to Perry's thinking, tantamount to insult. One moment he gazed after the retreating form of the horseman, then clapped his forage cap firmly down upon his head, shook free the rein and gave Nolan the longed for word. Another instant, and with set teeth and blazing, angry eyes he was thundering at headlong speed, swooping down upon the unconscious stranger in pursuit. Before that sunburned, curly haired, bulkily framed ydung man had the faintest idea of what was impending, Mr. Perry was reining in his snorting steed alongside and cuttingly accosting him: "I beg your pardon, my good sir, bu? may I ask what you mean by trotting ' away when it must have been evident that I wanted to speak with you?" The stranger turned slightly and coolly eyed the flushed and indignant cavalryman. They were trotting side by side now, Nolan plunging excitedly, but the English horse maintaining his even stride; and stronger contrast of type and style one could scarcely hope to find. In ( rough tweed shooting jacket and cap, i brown Bedford cords fitting snugly at the knee but flapping like shapeless bagt j from there aloft to the waist, in heavy leather gaiters and equally heavy leather gloves, the stocky figure of the Englishman had nothing of grace or elegance, but was sturdy, strong, and full of that burly self reliance which is so characterestic of the race. Above his broad, stooping shoulders were a bull neck, reddened by the sun, a crop of close curling, light brown hair, a tanned and honest face lighted up by fearless gray eyes and shaded by a thick and curling beard of lighter hue than the hair of bir massive head. He rode with the careless ease and supreme confidence o"f the skilled horseman, but with that angularity of foot and elbow, that roundness of back and bunching of shoulders, that incessant rise and fall with every beat of his horse's powerful haunch, that the effect was that of neither security nor repose. His saddle, too, was the long, flat seated, * ??u? 1-1 ~i.:? ?I iiuaurciiiaii uiuuei, [Jig OMU, ?itu uugc rounded leathern cushions circling in front and over the knees, adding to the cumbrousness of his equipment and in no wise to the comfort; but his bit and curb chain were of burnished steel, gleaming as though fresh from the hands of some incomparable English groom, and the russet reins were soft and pliable, telling of excellent stable management and discipline. Perry couldn't help admiring that bridle, even in his ! temporary fit of indignation. As for him?tall, slender, elegantly made, clothed in the accurately fitting j undress "blouse" of the army and In rid- 1 ing breeches that displayed to best ad- ; vantage the superb molding of his pow- j erful thighs, sitting like centaur well down in the saddle, his feet and lower legs, cased in natty riding boots, swinging close in behind the gleaming shoulders of his steed, erect as on parade, yet swaying with every motion of his horse, graceful, gallant, and to the full as powerful as his burly companion, the advantage in appearance was all on Perry's side, and was heightened by Nolan's spirited action and martial trappings. Perry was an exquisite in his soldier taste, and never, except on actual campaign, rode his troop horse without his broidered saddle cloth and gleaming bosses. All this, and more, the Englishman seemed quietly noting as, finally, without the faintest trace of irritability, with even a suspicion of humor twinkling about the corners of his mouth, he ! .1 . rcpueu; "A fellow may do as he likes when he's on his own bailiwick, I suppose." "All the same, wherever I've lieen, from here to Assiniboia, men meet like j Christians, unless they happen to he road | agents or cattle thieves. What's more, 1 am an officer of a regiment just, arrived here, and, from the Missouri down, there isn't a ranch along our trail where wc were not welcome and whose occupants were not 'hail fellow well met'in our camps. You are the first people to shun us; and. as that fort yonder was huilt for your protection in days when it was badly needed, I want to know what there i* about its garrison that is so obnoxious Dunraven Ranch?that's what you cali it, I believe?" "That's what?it is called." "Well, here! I've no intention of intruding where we're not waufed. I simply didn't suppose that on the broad prairies of the west there was such a place as a ranch where one of my cloth was unwelcome. I am Mr. Perry, of the ?tli cavalry, and I'm bound to say I'd like to know what you people have against us. Aro you the proprietor?" "I'm not. I'm only an employe." "Who is the owner?" ntj b nut nere now. "Who is hero who can explain the situation?" "Oh, as to that, I fancy I cau do it as well as anybody. It is siuiply because we have to do pretty much as you fellows?obey orders. The owner's orders are not aimed at you any more than anybody else. He simply wants to be let alone. He bought this tract and settled here because he wanted a place where he could have things his own way?see people whom he sent for ami nobody else. Every man in his employ is expected to stick to the ranch so long as he is on tho pay roll, and to carry out his instructions. If he can't, he may go." "And your instructions are to prevent people getting into the ranch?" "Oh, hardly that, you know. We don't interfere. There's never any one to come, as a rule, and, when they do, the fence seems to be sufficient." "Amply, I should say; and yet were I to tell you that I had business with the proprietor and needed to ride up to the ranch, you would open the gate yonder. I suppose?" "No: I would tell you that the owner was away, and that in his absence I transacted all business for him." "Well, think you for tho information If BANGS, can Frontier liife. iES KI\(?, r. S. A., ;hter," "From llie Ranks," "Th r," Etc. ? ? >mpany, Philadelphia, and published b te American Press Association. given mo at all'events. May I ask tli name of your misanthropical boss? Yoi might tell him I called." "Several officers calivd three year ! ago, but lie begged to be excused." "And what is the name?" "Mr. Maitland?is what he is called." "All right. Possibly the time ma; come when Mr. Maitland will be a nrrrinnq fcn have the cavalrv around hie as he is now to beep it away. But i you ever feel like coming up to the fort just ride in and ask for me." "I feel like it a dozen times a week you know; but a man mustn't quarn with his bread and butter. I met one o your fellows once on a hunt after straye mules, and he asked me in, but I couldn' go. Sorry, you know, and all that, bu the owner won't have it." "Well, then there's nothing to do fo it but say good day to you. I'm goin back. Possibly I'll see some of you people up at Rossiter when they come t get a horse shod." "A horse shodl Why, man alive, w shoe all our horses here!" "Well, that fellow who rode out c your north gate and went up towards th fort about an horn: or so ago had hi horse shod at a cavalry forge, or I'm duffer." A quick change came over the Er glishman's face; a flush of surprise an anger shot up to his forehead; h wheeled about and gazed eagerly, lowei ingly, back towards the far away build ings. "How do you know there wasWhat fellow did you see?" ho sharpl asked. "Oh, I don't know who he was," ar swered Perry, coolly. "He avoided in just as pointedly as you did?gallope across the Monee and ?>ut on the prairi to dodge me; but he came out of tha gate on the stream, locked it after liirr and went on up to the fort, and his hors had cavalry shoes. Good day to yoi my Britannic friend. Come and see u when you get tired of prison life." Anc with a griu, Mr. Perry turned and rod rapidly away, leaving the other horsi man in a brown study. Once fairly across the Monee be au bled placidly along, thinking of the od situation of affairs at this great prairi reservation, and almost regretting tha he had paid the ranch the honor of call. Reaching the point where th wagon tracks crossed the stream to th gateway in the boundary fence, h reined in Nolan and looked through vista in the cottonwoods. There was th Englishman, dismounted, 6tooping ove the ground and evidently examinin; the hoof prints at the gate. Perr chuckled at the sight, then whistlin, for Bruce, who had strayed off throug the timber, he resumed his jaunty wa; to the post. In the events of the morning ther were several things to g'l've him abun dant causo for thought, if not for livel; i curiosity, but he had not yet reache< the Bum total of surprises in store fo him. He was still two miles out fron the fort, and' riding slowly along th bottom, when he became aware of ; trooper coming towards him on the trail The sunbeams were glinting on the pol ished ornaments of his forage cap am on the bright yellow chevrons of hi snugly fitting blouse. Tall and slende .and erect was the coming horseman, i model of soldierly grace and carriage and as he drew nearer and hir ' an< went up to the cap visor in salute i gesture from his young superior brough an instant pressure on the rein, am horse and man became an animate! statue. It was a wonderfully suddei yet easy check of a steed in rapid mo tion, and Mr. Perry, a capital rider him self, could not withhold his admiration "Where did you learn that suddei halt, sergeant?" he asked. "I never sav anything so quick except the Mexicai training; but that strains a horse an< throws him on his haunches." "It is not uncommon abroad, sir," wa the quiet answer. "I saw it first in tin English cavalry; and it is easy to teacl the horse." "I must get you to show me the knacl some day. I've noticed it two or threi times, and would like to learn it. Wha I slopped you for is this: You've beet stable sergeant ever since we got here have you not?" "Yes, sir." "Then if anybody besides members o the troop had horses shod at our forg< t?Aii ti'Aiil/1 Ko nvnff rr nnf fA lmAm ifV J VU ?>UUJVi UO LJ 1/ bV auvn IV* "I know that no one has, sir." And s flush was rising to the young sergeant' face and a pained look hovering abou his bright blue eyes. Yet his manne was self restrained and full of respect. "Don't think I'm Intimating anything to the contrary, Sergt. Gwynne. Ni soldier in the regiment more entirely holds the confidence of his captain?o all the officers?than you. I was no thinking of that. But somebody dowi there at that big ranch below us has hat his horse shod by a cavalry farrier?i may have been done while the Eloventl were here?and, while I knew you woult not allow it at our forge, I thought i possible that it might be done in you absence." "It's tho first time I've been out o sight of the stables since we caino to tin post, sir, and the captain gave me per mission to ride down the valley tlii morning. May I ask the lieutenant wb; ho thinks some ranchman is getting hi | shoeing done here at the post?"' j "I've been down there this morning ; and met a man coming up. He avoide< me, and rode over to the south side, ani so excited my curiosity; and as the] keep that whole place inclosed in a win fence, and he had evidently come out o tho north gate, 1 was 6truck by tin sight or the hoof prints; they were per fectly fresh there on the trail, and plait as day. There's no mistaking the shoe you know. By the way, ho rode up tt ! the fort, and probably entered at yoni side of the garrison; did you see him?" "No, sir, and, except for breakfastjust after reveille?I have been at stable all the morning. I was there when tin lieutenant got his hcrse." "Yes, I remember. Then no one rodi in from tho valley?" "No civilian?no ranchman, sir. Tin only horsemen I've seen were som< Cheyenne scouts during tho last tw< hours, and Dr. Quin?just before eicl i call." "Dr. Quin!?the post surgeon! Ar you sure, sergeant?" "Certainly, sir. The doctor rode int< the p^>st just aboutau hour after the lieu tenant left?coming up the valley too Ho went right around to his own stable over towards the hospital." A look of amaze and stupefaction wa settling on Perry's face. Now for th first time he recalled Mrs. Lawrence' intimations with regard to the doctoi and his connection with the signal lights Now for the first time it occurred to hit j that the secret of those cavalry hoc prints at the gate was that no ranchmar | hut an officer of the garrison, had bee the means of leaving them there. No^ for the first time it flashed upon him tha 1 the Englishman's astonishment and cot cern on hearing of those hoof tracks it ' dicated that the story of a mystery a Dunraven in which the doctor was cor i nected amounted to something mor i than garrison rumor. Now for the firs | time an explanation occurred to him c j the singular conduct of the horsema who had dodged him by crossing th Monce. Never in his young life had he known the hour when ho was ashamed E or afraid to look any man in the eye. It stung him to think that here at Rossiter, wearing the uniform of an honorable profession, enjoying the trust and confidence of all his fellows, was a man who had some secret enterprise of which ho dared not 6peak and of whoso discov? ery he stood in dread. There could be little doubt that the elusive stranger was Dr. Quin, and that there was grave reay son for the rumors of which Mrs. Lawrence had vaguely told him. For a moment he sat, dazed and irresolute, Nolan impatiently pawing the turf 0 the while; then, far across the prairie 11 and down the valley thero camo floating, quick and spirited, thoii4h faint with 3 distance, the notes of the cavalry trumpet sounding "right, front into line." He looked up, startled. "They're out at battalion drill, sir," V said the sergeant. "They marched out 3 just as I left the stables." a "Just my infernal luck again!" gasped * ? 1 A- lk-Y _ 1 J ferry, as no strucK spur 10 i>oian ?.uu sent him tearing up the slope; "I might have known I'd miss it!" J CHAPTER V. 6 evening a group > - 'fflf of cavalry officers came i- r-S~ 7 sauntering back from stables, and as they reached the walk in front of officers' row a dark featured, >' black bearded, soldierly looking captain separated himself from the rest and enl* tered the colonel's yard. The commande ing officer happened to be seated on his d veranda at the moment, and in close e confabulation with Dr. Quin. Both gentlemen ceased their talk as the captain l? entered, and then rose from their seats 10 as ho stepped upon the veranda floor. "Good evening, Stryker," said the col1S onel, cheerily. "Come in and have a seat. The doctor and I were just wone dering if we could not get you to take a hand at whist to-night." "I shall be glad to join you, sir, after '* parade. I have corno in to ask permis" sion to send a sergeant and a couple of e men, mounted, down to the Monee. One l* of my best men is missing." a "Indeed! Who is that? Send the men, e of course." 0 "Sergt. Gwynne, sir. The first time 0 I over knew him to miss a duty." a "Your stable sergeant, too? That is e unusual. How long lias he been gone?" r "Since battalion drill this morning. Ho 5 was on hand when the men were Bads' dling, and asked permission to take his S horse out for exercise and ride down the 'l valley a few miles. I said yes, never y supposing he would bo gone after noon roll call; and wo were astonished when e he failed to appear at stables. Perry says l" he met him two miles out." y "The two culprits!" said the colonel, ^ laughing. "Poor Perry is down in the r depths again. Ho rode up to me with 3 such a woebegone look on his face'at e driTTThis nidriiing that I could hardly a keep from laughing in front of the whole * line. Even the men were trying hard not to grin; they knew ho had turned ^ up just in the nick of time to save hiuis self an 'absent.' What do you suppose r can have happened to Gwynne?" 1 "I cannot imagine, sir, and am in> clined to bo worried. He would never ^ willingly overstay a pass; and I fear 3 some accident has happened." * "Is he a good rider?" asked the doctor. "Nono better in the regiment. He is ^ a model horseman, in fact, and, tliough 3 he never alludes to nor admits it, there * is a gejieral feeling among the men that ho has been ip the English cavalry service. Of course, there is no doubt of his 3 nationality; he is English to the backV U/nwa ourl T foMnr Ina coon hoffnr uuu| a ? i>ua wvvu wvvva 3 days." * "What made them think he liad been in the cavalry service abroad?" s "Oh, his perfect knowledge of trooper 3 duties and management of horses. It 1 took him no time to learn the drill, and ho was a sergeant before ho had been * with me two years. Then, if you ever 3 noticed, colonel," said Capt. Stryker, appealing to his chief, "whenever Gwynno 1 stands attention ho always has the fin' gers of both hands extended and pointing down along the thigh, close against it?so." And Stryker illustrated. "Now, you never 6ee an American soldier do 3 that; and I never saw it in any but English trained soldiers. He has quit it 1 somewhat of late, because the men told ? him it showed where he was drilled? we have other English 'non-coms,' you r know?but for a long time I noticed that in him. Then he was enlisted in New * York city, some four years ago, and all his things were of English make?what j he had." "What manner of looking fellow Is he?" asked the doctor. "I think I would j have noted him had I seen him." t "Yes, you Englishmen are apt to look to one another," said the colonel in rej ply, "and Gwynno is a particularly fine ? Spt^UUCJl. LJO IUU> J VV11 cjwg Uiiu *?MU, doctor, but hasn't had time to grow grizzled and bulky yet, as you and I f have. One might say that you and the > sergeant were from the same shire." "That would help me very little, since s I was only three years old when the govr ernor emigrated," answered the doctor, ! s with a quiet smile. "We keep some traces of the old 6od, I suppose, but Fve been a Yankee for forty years, and } have never once set eyes on Merrie Eng1 land in all that time. Did the sergeant , say where ho wanted to go?" And the a questioner looked up sharply, f "Nowhere in particular?down the 3 valley was all. I remember, though, that Mr. Parke said he seemed much exl ercised over the name of that ranch down the Monee?I've forgotten what they call it Have you heard It, colonel?" . "Seems to me I have, but I've forgotten. You have, doctor, have you not?" "Heard what, colonel?" s "The name of that ranch down the L, Monee?an English ranch, they tell me. about seven miles away." j "Oh, yes!?that one! They call it Dun raven Ranch.?Did the sergeant take any a of the hounds with him, captain? It oca curs to mo ho might have been running j a coyote or a rabbit, and his horso have . stumbled and fallen with him. There is no end of prairie dog holes down that e way-" "No, the dogs are all in. I wouldn't j be surprised if he had gouo to the ranch. That's an English name, and they are all Englishmen down there, I hear. Very . possibly that is the solution. They may have tempted him to stay with English 3 hospitality; though it would astonish me o if he yielded. I'll tell the men to inquire 9 there first, colonel, and will go and send them now." And, bowing to his com. mander, Capt. Stryker turned and left a the porch. f The doctor rose, thrust his hands deep i, In his pockets, paced slowly to the southn ern end of the veranda, and gazed down ,v the distant, peaceful valley, an anxious cloud settling on his brow. The colonel t- resumed once more tho newspaper he i- had dropped upon the floor. After a moLt raenl Dr. Quin came slowly back, stood t- in front of the entrance a few seconds e looking irresolutely at the soldier it sprawled at full length in his reclining if chair, stepped towards him with a pren paratory clearing of his throat as though e about to speak, and then, suddenly and helplessly abandoning the idea, he 1 plunged down the short flight of steps, i hurried out of the gate and disappeared i around the fence corner in the direction \ of the hospital. Immersed in his paper, ( the colonel never seemed to note that he 1 had gone; neither did he note the fact \ that two ladies were coming down the walk. i The soft swish of trailing skirt being c insufficient to attract his attention as c they arrived nearly opposite the shaded 1 veranda, a silvery peal of laughter broke \ the stillness of the early evening. Mrs. t Belknap's laugh was delicious?soft, me- f lodious, ripp'.ing as a canary song, and e just as spontaneous. Neither lady had j said anything at the moment that was 1 incentive of merriment; but if Mrs. Law- i rence had given utterance to the quaint- j est, oddest, most whimsical conceit imaginable, Mrs. Belknap's laugh could not a have been more ready, and her great, 1 dark eyes shot a sidelong glance to note v the effect. Down went the paper, and r up, with considerable propping from his B muscular arms, came the burly form of a the post commander. Two sweet, smiling faces beamed upon him through an c aperture in the leafy screen, and Mrs. Doll'non'o eilrorrt fAiPQ la Q ll Orl Vlim in I ? laughing salutation: a "Did wo spoil your siesta, colonel? t How can I make amends? You see, you were so hidden by the vines that no one t would dream of your being there in am- g bush." "Oh, indeed, I assure you I wasn't a asleep," answered the colonel, hastily, a "Won't you come in, ladies, and sit 1 here in the shade awhile?" e "We thought we would stroll around a until parade," said Mrs. Lawrence, liesi- t tatingly, "and then sit down and watch L it somewhere." c "No place better than this," promptly 1 answered the colonel. "You can sit be- *hind the vines on that side and see, or, what we would infinitely prefer, sit here at the entrance and be seen. Meantime, I'vo been unpacking some photograph 8 albums this afternoon, and you can * amuse yourselves with those while I put '' on my harness. Come I" The colonel's collection of photographs ' was something the ladies had already 8 heard a great deal of. One of the most a genial and popular officers of the army, f he had gathered together several large albums full of pictures of prominent men J and attractive and distinguished women ?not only those with whom he had been * associated in his long years of service, 6 but men eminent in national and state s affairs, and women leaders in society in * many a gay metropolis. J Both the ladies had hoped to see this . famous collection the evening before, but J the colonel had not then unpacked the ^ albums, and they were disappointed. ' Now, however, the prospect was indeed alluring, and neither could resist. When r I the first call sounded for parade a few ? moments after, and the commanding officer was getting himself into his full ? dress uniform, the two pretty ht..ds were * close together, and two pairs of very ' lovely eyes?one dark and deep and dangerous, the other a clear and honest gray 1 ?were dilating over page after page of J photographed beauty. There was no ' need to puzzle over the identity of the ' originals; under each picture the thoughtful colonel had carefully written the c name and address. Absorbed in this 1 treat, they could barely afford time to 1 look up and smile their thanks as the t colunel passed, clanking forth at tbo ; sounding of adjutant's call, and were too 1 completely engrossed in their delightful occupation to notice what took place at 1 pa rail a The long, slender line had formed? ' the infantry companies on the right and i left lianks, their neat and tasteful dress t of blue and white contrasting favorably with the gaudy yellow plumage of the \ four dismounted troops of the cavalry. 1 Company after company had taken the staturesque pose of "parade rest" and its 1 captain faced to the front again, the ad- > jutant was just about moving to his post ] on the prolongation of the front rank, i and the colonel settling back into the t conventional attitude of the command- t ing officer, when from outside the rect- f angular inclosure of the parade ground i ?from somewhere beyond the men's barracks?there came Budden outcry and i commotion. There were shouts, indis- i tinguishable at first, but excited and startling. Some of the men in ranks i twitched nervously and partially turned 4 their heads, as though eager to look be- ( hind them and see what was wrong; 1 whereat stern voices could be heard in 6ubdued but potent censure: "Keep your J eyes to the front, there, Sullivan I" "Stand ] fast, there, center of Third company!" i The guard, too, paraded in front of its 1 quarters some distance behind the line, was manifestly disturbed, and tno voice i i of the sergeant could bo heard giving I ? hurried orders. Every man in the bat- : 1 talion seemed at the same instant to ar- 1 rivo at one of two conclusions?prisoners c escaping, or fire over at the stables?and i all eyes were fixed on the imperturbable j form of the commanding officer, as 1 though waiting the signal from him to s break and go to the rescue. But there the colonel stood, placid, calm, and apparently utterly unconscious of the dis- t tant yet ncaring clamor. The adjutant hesitated a moment before proceeding 3 further, and glanced appealingly at his f chief; whereupon there came from the t blue and gold and yellow statue out on ] the parade, in half reproachful tones, the quiet order, "Go onl" and the adjutant, recalled to his senses and with evident expression of his sentiments to the effect that if others could Btand it lie could, brusquely turned his head towards the band and growled, "Sound off!" The boom and crash of drum and cymbal and the blare of brazen throats drowned for a moment the sound of the turmoil without. The next thing the battalion heard or saw was a riderless horse tearing full tilt out on the parade and sweeping in a big circle from the right of the line down towards the point where the colonel 6tood. Following him came a Dair of Chev enne scouts, their ponies scampering in | pursuit, but veering off the green as their riders realized that they were intruding on the ceremony of tlio day. Relieved of his pursuers, the fugitive speedily setI tied down into a lunging trot, and with streaming mane and tail, with head and ears erect, with falling bridle rein and flapping stirrups, ho circled rapidly the ' open space between the colonel and the line of battle, then came trotting back * along tho front, as though searching in 6 the stolid rank of bearded faces for the ? | friends ho knew. Officer after officer ' ! ho passed in review until he came tc Stryker's troop, posted on the right of I the cavalry, and there, with a neigh of 1 recognition, he fearlessly trotted up to f the captain's outstretched hand. Anothei 1 minute and two men fell out and made a i temporary gap in the rank; through this J a sergeant file closer extended his white 1 I glove, relieved the captain of his charge and led the panting steed away. 1 The men retook their places; tho cap- 1 I tain again resumed his position in front 1 of the center of his company, dropped t nr\Jnf r\f cnlmr tr* Mm rrrnnn/l on/1 E ! settled back into "parade rest;" the band * went on thundering down the line, t countermarched and came back to ite ^ post on tho right, making the welkin 1 ring with tho triumphant strains of J . "Northern Koute," the trumpets pealed * ; tho "retreat," tho adjutant 6talked his * I three yards to tho front, faced fiercely f i to tho left and shouted his resonant or- c j dors down tho line, three hundred mar- 1 | tial forms sprang to attention, and the 1 burnished arms camo to the "carry" * with simultaneous crash, ranks were * i opened with old timo precision, the parade "presented" to tho colonel with I all duo formality, tho manual was ex- v ecuted just as punctiliously as though v nothing unusual had happened; first sergcants reported, orders were published, parade formally dismissed; the lino of v officers marched solidly to tho front, v halted, and made its simultaneous salute ? to the colonel, who slowly raised and 1 L-.l owered his white gloved hand in reeog- . , lition; and then, and not till then, was 0 ^ iny ono allowed to speak of what was ^os. lppermost in every mind?that Sergt. ^ra' jwynne'a horse had come in without ,? , nm, and that the animal's right flank arJ vas streaming with blood. ar? Ten minutes later Lieut. Perry, in rid- ?. ng dress, came hurrying down to the ine :olonel's quarters, where two or three ifficers were now gathered at the gate. rhe ladies had put aside the albums, and T1q vith anxious faces wero scanning the lit- per le group as though striving to gauge ^ rom their gestures and expression the . ixtent of the calamity or the possible de- ^ J ;ree of danger. But Mrs. Lawrence . ooked fairly startled when her busland's voice was heard for the first time ibove the general hum of consultation: ^ "Col. Brainard, Mr. Perry is coming, I ^ iee, and I presume there is no time to be j ost. You have asked if nono of us who < vere stationed here ever visited the tjia anch, and the answer was no. May I uggest that Dr. Quin could perhaps tell omething of its inhabitants?" ar0 "Where is the doctor?" asked the col 1 UA.,1 1? 1 mtu, ouvtutcujj. VIUCUJ, ind give tnv compliments to the post .< urgeon and say I wish to see liim here ten , moment. All ready. Perry? You have ?, ade quick work of it." "All ready, sir. At least, 1 will be . he moment my horso gets here. There e? ;o the men running to the stables now." "Capt. Stryker will send a sergeant . 1 .nd four men to report to you, and you 00 je to go direct to Dunraven Ranch. 'he rest of the troop, with the Chey- j nnes, will scout the prairie to the east tjie nd south. Twill soon be too dark to . rail, but three of the Indians are going iack on the horse's track as far as they , an. The adjutant is writing a note to he proprietor of the ranch?I don't know gen lis name" j "His name is Maitland, sir." "Is it? Have you been there?" "I've been around one end of it, outide, but nowhere near the buildings. . t's all ferieed in, sir, and the gates kept , ocked." S "What an incomprehensible proceed- ^ ng for Texas! Wait a moment while I tru peak to Mr. Farnham; he's writing hero ^ it my desk. Gentlemen, come in on the >orch and sit down, will you not?" But they excused themselves and lastened away to remove their full dress. J, T ?n-f/mnn Knr? nnorl M mil ln'fi ^ ua'? i v-iiV/C uau uv *<vvw wv vm? ? ? JfLV rife. She bade her companion good wening, thanked the colonel with a miling glance for the pleasure the pho- P ographs had given her, and added a j vord of earnest hope that they might .j ind the sergeant uninjured. Then she . oined her husband, and together they ag valked quickly away. Mrs. Belknap and 1 klr. Perry were left for the moment alone. ^ ; "Can you walk home with me?" she ' isked, in her low, modulated tones, the jreat, heavily lashed, swimming dark ^ syes searching his face. "I have not crQ :een you since they broke in upon our , alk last evening, and there is something ' want to ask you." "I'm sorry, Mrs. Belknap, but I'm' on luty, you see," was the young fellow's y0 mswer as he gave a tug to the strap of lis cartridge belt. "Can't you ask me ... oi? * Wll iere? ifcj "How can I"?(and the eyes were full .. >f pathetic disappointment?"when they j ^ nay come out rky moment? You did j lot finish telliri Re about?about the ^ assel last night| Relieve you were glad ^ vlien they inteiR?ted us. Were you . iotr T & "Nonsense, Mr^Belknapl I was liavng too good a time?lots of fun." g "Yes." was tlm reproachful answer, . ' 'that is wliat it ?mere fun. \.nd now you going away again, rna ifter promising t^come in this evening. . "I have to go, ^frs. Belknap. Why, I jGa vant to go. Haven't you heard what , las happened?about Sergt. Gwynne?" ?? "Oh, yes, it is 'your duty, of course; n nit liow unluckyj" And the pretty face sta vas drooping with its weight of disap- >< jointment and sadness. She leaned at, igainst the railing near his gauntlet cov- fr0 ired hand, the dark eyes pensively down- see :ast, the dark lashes sweeping her soft, Qaj lushing cheek. "And to-morrow you C01J ire on guard," she presently continued. n0 "Yes, unless some one has to go on for ne?in case we are not back in the morn- rj ng in time." jie "Then it's good-by, I suppose," she sou laid, lifting her eyes once more to his. ^rii 'After to-morrow there will bo little ^r0 ;hance of seeing you. Mrs. Page will tj1G 30 hero by that time." son Mr. Perry looked at his fair comlanion with a glance that told of much pee lerturbation of spirit. Mrs. Page was ?je. m old and cherished friend of Mrs. ^rj] Belknap's?so the latter had always said ^11 ?and now she was coming to visit her anL 'rom a station in the Indian territory. | lust why her coming should prevent 0j?( lis seeing Mrs. Belknap or her seeing w.v lim was more than the tall subaltern *?0 :ould understand. On the brink of an [.]K inpardonable solecism, on the very rag- ^ jed edge of a blundering inquiry, he ,vas saved, in her estimation, by the beb iudden return of the orderly and the re- , j ippearanco of the colonel. I "I've been to tho hospital, sir, and to ' lie doctor's quarters; lie's not there. Tlicy say that's him, sir, riding oil -jj ronder." And the orderly pointed to a fou 'aint speck just visible in tho waning . ;wiliglit, far away southeastward be- * rond the Monee. ' CHAPTER VL nea JSStmUGm still hovered by l over the broad expanse Pro tfl lE Prai"e w^en Lieut. av 'yAw Perry and his little party, / E) after a brisk canter down wa? \ the valley, reached the larbed inclosure of Dunraven, and tho ia roung commander led unhesitatingly to lie gateway on the northern line. A a . icrgeant of his troop and two private Pra loldiers were his escort at the moment; a i.:-i n 60U IU1U 111 HI J, UV UliUV/UUII \JL V/Ul. JJIiUIUUU, lad been sent at the gallop in pursuit of ?Pe he distant speck which the orderly had )ronounced to be Dr. Quin, and the initructions which this messenger bore vere to the effect that the post surgeon t0?! iliould ride by tho most direct route and join Lieut. Perry at the nortli gate of the er anch. m? In tho few minutes which elapsed be- mic ween the announcement of the doctor's ^ leparture on his solitary and unexpected p * ido and the arrival of tho little mounted iscort, Perry had time to tell the colonel anc iomething of the situation down the aP donee and to make a rough sketch of I r* ho inclosure and tho distant buildings. I ^or The direction taken by tho doctor, up to j r ho moment when the black speck dis- ! ippeared from view in the waning light, J :?v vould be very apt to lead him, if lie rode ar enough, to some point on the wire ence which spanned the western limit .10 >f Dunraven; but that point would beat ? east five or six miles south of the valley, 'ossibly thero was no gateway north of hat?certainly no trail was visible on he prairie; but tho more Mr. Perry ! a 1 bought of the matter as ho rode away c a he moro was he satisfied that some- a?^ I'here far down that western line there 0 ^ ras an entrance where Dr. Quin, at aNV east, had tho "open sesame." ^ Perry's orders were, In case nothing ncl vas seen or hetrd of Sergt. Gwynne coc rliile on the waj' thither, to enter the in- S'1C losure and make inquiries at tho ranch ?ls< tself. Meantime, the Cheyenne scouts *r< been hastily summoned from their v ;es along the Moneo just above the s ; and sent scurrying forth upon the t; irie to trail the horse's foot prints and t: work back as far as possible before u kness interposed. Capt. Stryker, too, d a dozen of his best men, had mount- s and ridden forth in long, scattered k i across tho eastern plain; and these y ties were all five miles out from tho s t before nightfall fairly hid them f rom t t: ne thing the sergeant had to tell Mr. g ry which confirmed him in the belief d t the sooner they got to Dunraven the n cker they would bo at the scene of v ir comrade's mishap, whatever that p ;ht prove to be. He had had no time v lself to visit tho stables and examine a wounds on the horse's flank, but as j y rode away from Rossiter he turned i T he saddle and called thenon-commis- s led officer to his side. d What sort of wound is it, sergeant, r t made the horse bleed so?bullet or c fe?" It doesn t look like either, sir. Thero a several of them, jagged scratches in L shoulder and along the flank, like 1; rns or nails" * Or barbed wire?" suggested the Iho- j t ant suddenly. c Yes, sir, like as not; though we hadn't r ught of that, not knowing of any I ces hereabouts." 1: You'll see fence enough presently. g it's where we'll find Sergt. Gwynne, g . Let your horses out a little. ] r nt to get there before dark, if possi- d " f t was dark in the timber, however, as s y rode through and reined up at the r eway. It would be half an hour al very least, thought Perry, before the c itor could join them, if he came at all. ( vas by no meo,is certain that the rues- c ger had ovei .aken him, and, even ii v had, was it probable that the doctor t uld be in great haste to come? His n sterious movements of the morning, c undoubted connection with thenighi c nals from the ranch, the fact that he t 1 given his commanding officer no c ling whatever of these outside inter- j a 3 of his, all tended to make Perry dis- j J stful of their post surgeon. He would ' f ; speak of it to a soul, or hint at the r isibility of such a thing, until he had j i dence that was indisputable, but the j g mg officer was sorely perplexed by j g se indications of some secret and un- r ?ful enterprise on the part of theii v comrade, and he doubted his sym- L ;hy in the mission on which they had t in hurried forth. L )ismounting to examine the gate while t 1 pondering this matter over in hit 1 nd, Perry found it locked as securely r he had left it in the morning. The a gcant and his men dismounted, too, g i low spoken word from their officer, i 1 stood at the heads of their panting 1 ses, looking in silent surprise at the a 1 ? jii? auu iuipt'1 v iuuo uanici umi t ssed their track. 1 'The gate is locked and the fence im- s isable, sergeant," said Mr. Perry, 'e cannot get our horses through 01 1 :r unless we hack down a post or two. % u can't cut such wire as this with anj 1 1 we've got. I'll leave Nolan hera c :h you and go on to the ranch on foot; s ies about half a mile to the south. U i i doctor comes, he can follow me. II t [o not come or send back in half an lr from this you three come after me, 1 I'll need you." I Vith that, slowly and carefully, and ; without a muttered malediction oil t i stinging barbs, Mr. Perry wriggled L ough between the middle wires and v illy stood within the inclosure, read |; ting his waist belt and holster. Then r took his revolver from its leathern a e, carefully tried the hammer and s inder, saw that each ciiamber was f ded, and turned once more to the ser- s int. c 'Your pistols all right?" e 'All right, sir; fresh loaded when we s rted." p I don't know that they'll be necessary t ill, sergeant; but this is a queer place, s m what I've heard and the little I've j n. Keep your eyes and ears open, f }t. Stryker and some of the men may ae down into tho valley if they find fi trace of Gwynne up on the prairie, p itch for the doctor, too." * " 'hen, through the deepening twilight strode, following the trail that led ^ thward up the slopes. Five minutes' t 5k walk along tho springy turf [. ught him to the crest and in view of a lights at the ranch buildings, still v ie six or seven hundred yards away. through tho eastern sky the stars were ping forth, and even through the j, am of tho twilight in the west two v lliant planets shone like molten gold. c was silence and peace on every hand, v 1, but for those guiding, glimmering L its at the south, all would have told | lesolation. Behind him in the valley ited his faithful men. Far beyond the x nee, out on the northern prairie, he c jw that comrades were scouring the N e of the earth in search of their miss- , brother. (Jp tho stream, somewhere t lind them, the Cheyennos were paitly trailing the hoof tracks as long E ight should last: he knew that search ( st be at an end by this time, and that ic of their number, at least, would be 1 ing down to .join his men. Whoever i nd tho sergeant was to fire tliree shots i lir; the signal could be heard a long , i Y in that intense stillness, and that i i lal was to recall the searching par- I j . Every step brought him deeper 1 ) the darkness of tho night, yet 1 rer and nearer thosa twinkling lights j ad. t .Iready he could distinguish those in main building, the homestead, from se more distant still, in the store i ms and office. Far over among the i )les and corrals he heard the deep j ing of hounds, and he wondered if it 1 i to be his luck to encounter any enirising watch dogs. An English bull > ier would be a lively entertainer, " 1 Light he, with instinctive motion to- > ds the flap of his holster: and it t ild be a wonder if a ranch that sur- | l nded itself with fifty miles of barbed 0 fencing were not further environed ; 1 pack of watch dogs of the most ap- 1 ved and belligerent breed. Once ( ing passed the distant barrier of that a on the Monee, however, his way | i unimpeded, and, to all appearance, t irly unmarked; ho had arrived with- j ifty yards of the foremost building. i homestead, before ho was brought to | lalt. Then he stopped short, sur- i ted, half credulous, and all attention. I sning to tho "concord of sweet I nds" that came floating from the n casement somewhere along tho east t it of the big, gloomy house. 1 One part of the story verified, by el It's a piano?and well played. ] | 1 nil a minute he stood there listening. t ry was a dancer, whose nimble feet | ved blithely to any measured, rhyth- I :al strains, and a soldier whose soul * 3 stirred by martial music, but with j ( )pin and Mendelssohn, Bach and j ; benstein ho had but slight acquaint- | ( o. That any one should be playing I , iano here on tho borders of the Llano j ; acado was in itself sufficient cause j , wonderment; that tho invisible per- j t mcr was playing?and playing with j | [uisite taste and feeling?one of the | eliest of the "Lieder ohne Worte," i | "Spring Song," was a fact that con- | ed no added astonishment to his soul; , never knew it until one sweet night . g after. , lowover, matters more pressing than j sic demanded Mr. Perry's attention j t here. He had reached Dunraven. j \ !?r all. Neither dog nor man had } , l!longed. Onco within those barbed j | 1 frowning barriers, all the encircling j j ects spoke of security and rest. Far . ay towards the corrals he heard tho ; nd of voices in jolly conversation; a , Ij, melodious laugh rang out on tho j j >1 evening air; he heard some one j ; mting genial good night to somebody . 3, and then the slam of a distant door. ! ( jsenlly a light popped out from a iindow m what he believed to be a torehousc, and all was still again. Even he piano had ceased. Now was his ? ime, thought Perry; and so, boldly 6ee aounting the steps, he stood upon a kn arl: portico and strode to the black ?? hadow in the wall before him where he ? new the main doorway must be. II sei ras his intention to knock or ring. Up "T tairs dim lights were shining through wii he open windows, but on this front of ?)< he ground floor all was darkness. His it ? ;auntleted hand felt all the face of the an< loor in search of a knob or knocker, but tui lOthing of the kind was there; neither 1 ras there such a thing on either dooi the iost. Just as ho decided to hammer it rith his clinched fist the piano began am gain- int He waited for a pause, but none came. th? 'his time the music was vehement and jnt pirited, and no banging of his on oaken )ia] loorway would be audible against such gn ivalry. Uncertain what to do, he con- fra luded to reconnoiter the eastern front prj i. few steps brought him to the corner, a nd there lav the veranda before him. ?J ^ , >athed at its farther end in a flood oi an< ight that streamed from one opened an, enetian window, and through this cur- an( ained aperture poured the grand tones fro if the melody. "That fellow can rattle ey( noro music out of a piano than any mar mi] ever heard," muttered Mr. Perry tc un( dmself, as he strode down the wooden j^ul ;allery. "Wonder if it's that boss cow fuj mncher I met this morning." Anothei vaj noment and he stood at the open win- _u. low, rooted to the spot, and with his unj rank blue eyes fairly starting from theii j:^ ockets in amazement at the sight thai <] net them, all unprepared. u Across a spacious room, hung with rich j urtains, carpeted with costly rugs oi [q )riental make, furnished with many a ozy chair and couch, and tables covered |an nth dainty bric-a-brac, and shelves with empting books, lighted by several large m ,nd beautiful astral lamps, some with r0Q olored shades of crimson and gold and lelicate tint of blue, there stood close tc he opposite wall a largo piano of the tjJ0 lass known as the "grand," rare enough j(. imong the railway towns west of the ^ Mississippi states, but utterly unlooked or here, a week's long march from the ^ learest of the Texan railways. That in tself were sufficient cause for much 6ur >rise, notwithstanding the measure ol ^ reparation he had had in Mrs. Law- ? ence's remarks. . The sight that well nigh took his lo' ireath away wa3 something far more j han the interior of a luxurious and >eautifully appointed room. Nothing ^ hat had been said or hinted prepared lim in the faintest degree for the appa- . ition facing him, seated at the piano, of i performer utterly -unlike the "cow ble mncher" whom he had met in the morn- acc ng. The "fellow" now bending over the ^ cey board was a young, exquisitely fair ??{ ind graceful woman. Even as he stood here in the full glare of the parlor ights, she lifted up a pair of soft, an< haded, lustrous eyes and saw him. The music stopped with sudden shock. P" rannhauser was undone. The firm, vhite, &hapely hands fell nerveless in ^ ler lap; a pallor as of faintr.ess shot >ver the wild eyed face, only to be in- , tantly succeeded by a flush that surged ip to her very brows. Startled she night have been for an instant; scared ' -not a bit of it! One instant only of j lesitation, then 6he rose and swept gal- Jf8 antly forward to meet him. Instinctively Perry's hand went up to he visor of his forage cap and bared the aright, curling crop of hair. Speechless , vith amaze, lie could only bow before ler and wait her question; but it was a noruent before. she.could. speak. Brave p ,s she was, the sudden apparition of a tranger staring in upon her solitude 811 rom an open casement was a shock that 1111 erved to paralyze the vocal cords. He 8rs ould see that she was making gallant - * n - ii ? _ -i til] irort 10 control tne tremor mat naa eized upon her and to inquire the puriose of his coming. He could see, too. liat the sight of the uniform had reas- . ured her. and that there was neither inignation nor displeasure in her beautiul eyes. Reserve, of course, he expected. m? "Did you wish to see any one?" was ^ nally the form her question took; and 'erry had time to comment to himself, F" English, by Jove!" before he answered. ?u 1 did. but letmelirsta.sk your paron for this intrusion 1 had no idea here was a woman at Dunraven. My nocking at the front brought no answer. , ,nd hearing the piano. I followed the , eranda. Believe me, I am as surprised s you could possibly have been.'- T11 Perry's voice was something greatly Ln r? lis favor It was modulated and gentle T? vhen in conversation, and with even a ^ aressing tone about it when lie spoke to f voinen Evidently the sound was not "7 in welcome to this one. She stood erect. ler fingers interlacing as she clasped her lands in front of her and looked him veil over with her brave eyes. The color ibbed and flowed through the creamy 7? vhiteness of her face, but the roses were 11 vinning every moment?the red roses of 081 he house of Lancaster. "And?you wished to see?whom?" ihe presently asked, with courtesy in ..?.i cai ;>cijr uviw. "Why, 1 hardly know," answered ?erry, with a ernile that showed his vhito teeth gleaming through the curl- J*0 ng blonde mustache. "A sergeant of ny troop has been missing since mornng. His hor3e came back to the fort mi ust as wo were on parade at sunset, ^ deeding and without his rider. We ^ lave searching parties out all over the irairio, and I was ordered to come here ^ o the ranch to make inquiries." jjj. She hesitated a moment?thinking. "My father is at home, but 1 fear he is Sn lot well enough to see you. Mr. Ewen \vi s with him, and he might know. Will pr rou?would you step in one moment, and tu ! will go and ask?" tol "Thank you very much. 1 wish you lie vould -not trouble yourself. I presume ill" can go over to those stable building, oi vherever it is tlwe men sleep; they would je most apt to know if our sergeant has St. >een seen." "Oh, no! it is no trouble; besides, they ire all asleep over there by this time, I 0 ancy. They have to be out so very early, IU1 lon't you know." - j Hut Perry had stepped inside even ai . ie oiFered to go elsewhere?a fact that ^ lie girl had not been slow to notice, for i quizzical little shadow of a smile hov- na red for an instant at the corners of hex ex >rettv mouth. "Pray sit down," she said, til is she vanished into an adjoining room. St caving Nod Perry standing gazing after St: ler, spoil bound. St He listened to the swish of her trailing St ikirts through the dimly lighted room St jeyond, through an invisible hallway, md then to the quick pit-a-pat of her eetupsomo uncarpeted stairway. He I" leard her moving quickly, lightly, along lie corridor of the upper story until the 'ootfalls were lost at the rear of the ar' louse, then a distant tap upon a door- 111 vay, and a soft voice, barely audible, ^ . ailing, "Papa." lie heard her speak igain, as though in response to inquiry * ^ Tom within; he heard her raise her .)a .oice, as though to repeat an answer tc i previous question, and this time hei ( tit .vords were distinct. "An officer froir uS lie foit," she announced; and then fol- ar owed sensation. oil lie hcurd a door quickly opened; lit er: icard men's voices in low, eager, excited \v] alk; he heard her sweet tones onct nore, as though in expostulation, saying something about the sergeant, lost oj jju vounded, and they were merely incpiir- th ing for him; he heard a stern, harsh in- T1 junction of "Silence! that will do!" aom? K; |uiclc, hurrying footsteps, a man's spur- to red boots descending some staircase at ^t< lie back of tlio house, a colloquy aloft in fainter tones, and then?closing doors ^ nul silence. i1: lie waited- fife?ten minutes, and still ' 10 0110 came; but the murmur of voices ^ 11 subdued but earnest controversy was igain audiblo on the second lloor. and ^ it last a door was opened and ho heard m lie same stern tones that had command- ra her silence before, and this time they d: 'That Is entirely my affair! 1 will I the gentleman myself, and let him ow my opinion of this impudent and ind-?burglarious intrusion." 'Whew!" whistled Mr. Perry to himf at sound of these menacing words, his is bearding the lion in his den th a vengeance! Now trot out your DUglas in his hall,' and let's see what ill means. I've seen the girl, anyhow, d ho can't take that back, even if lie ns mo out." 3e heard a heavy step, accented by ) snarp, energetic proacung or a cane; came 6lowly along the hall, slowly 3 majestically down the stairs, slowly o the lower front room, and presently :re loomed forth from the darkness 0 the broad glare of the astrals at the aging portieres the figure of a tall, ty haired, spectacled, slimly built and gile looking Englishman, erect as de and high spirit could hold man against the ravages of 3 and rheumatism; sharp, stern 1 imperious of mood, as every glance 1 every feature plainly told; vehement J passionate, unless twitching lips and wning brows and angry, snapping ;s belied him; a man who had suffered ich, unless the deep lines and shadows ier eyes and mouth meant nothing t advancing years; a man who entered 1 of wrath and resentment at this insion of his privacy?this forcing of his lrded lines; and yet?a gentleman, less Ned Perry's instincts were all of le worth. l"he young soldier had been standing a center table, coolly scanning the tures on the walls, and determining present a rather exaggerated picture nonchalance as reward for the hostile guage of the proprietor of Dunraven. expected to hear an outburst of in:tivo when that gentleman reached the >m; but no sooner had lie passed the -tiere than he halted 6hort, and Mr. :ry, turning suddenly, was amazed at i pale, startled, yet yearning look in quivering face. 'he moment the young man confronthim there came as sudden a change, vas with evident effort that he conlied himself, and then, after brief rching study of Perry's face, accosted a, coldly and with sarcastic emphasis: To what circumstance do I owe the lor of this intrusion?" I regret you so consider It, Mr. Maitd, a3 I believe you to be"? The old ltleman bowed with stately dignity, ne of our men, a sergeant, rode down s way quite early this morning and led to 1 eturn. His horse came back eding at sunset, and we feared some :ident or trouble. Searching parties i out all over the prairies, and the onel ordered me to inquire here." 'Does your colonel take us for banfi laora nnrl ?cr?r4hn mill' <1oCArtlATlH bl ucl w| UiiU uuwiavu j VUi uvwv* vawmm 3 accidents to our machinations?" 'Far from it, sir, but rather as a hosable refuge to which the injured man 3 been conveyed," answered Perry, th a quiet smile, determined to thaw > hauteur of Dunraven's lord if coury of manner could effect it. 'He is utterly mistaken, then," anered the Englishman, "and I resent? resent, sir, this forcing of my gates er the explicit understanding we had t year. As a soldier I presume you d to obey your orders; but I beg you tell your colonel that his order was an ront to me personally, in view of what 3 passed between us." 'Nothing has passed between you, Maitland," answered Perry, a little tly now. "We have reached For ssiter only within the last fortnight, d know nothing whatever of youi derstandings with previous command* l Permit me to ask you one question d I will retire. Have you heard anying of our sergeant?" 'Nothing, sir. I would hardly be apt to ar, for my people hero are enjoined to ep strictly to our limits, anu an we ? of our neighbors is that they keep to ;irs. I presume you hare destroyed j fences, sir, in order to effect an enmce." "Upon my word, Mr. Maitland, you ike me rather regret that I did not; 11 had the decency to respect what I d happened to hear of your wishes, d so left my horse and my men outla and footed it a good half mile in the rk" "Ah! that sounds very like it!" replied :. Maitland, with writhing lips, for at is moment there came the dull thunr of rapidly advancing hoof beats, and fore either man could speak again rae troopers with a led horse?all four *Ads panting from their half mile race reined up in front of the eastern poro in the full glare of the lights, and 9 sergeant's voice was heard eagerly iling his lieutenant. 'My luck again!" groaned Perry. "I Id them to come in half an hour if they in't hear from me, and of course they ? ma. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. Example.?Mothers should take re how they chide their little ones faults that have origin in their '11 example. An only child, a little y of six years, feeling dull in the use, and naturally anxious for the mpanionship of children of his own e, one day said to iiis motner: "un imma, do let me fro out into the eet and play! There are thouikLs and thousands of boys there to ve games with?do please let me , mamma!" His mother rebuked m, saying that there could not pos)ly be thousands of boys in that mil village, and that it was very ong to use such exaggerated exessions. The urchin gravely rerned: "But mamma, 1 heard you I Aunt Alary the other day that my w boots were miles too large for a." aT* When we say "the ITiited ates," we always mean our own untry, which is the United States cause it is the oldest and greatest them all. But there are others, d because our free government is prosperous, the example may be [lowed by other nations; so there ill be yet'more United States made mi countries that are now kingins or empires. Here are the mes of the United States now in istence, and the years in which ey were born: 177(i, the United ates of America; 1824, the United ates of Mexico; 1801, the United ates of Columbia; 1804, the United ates of Venezuela; 1889, the United ates of Brazil. Immigration and Education. those States which have the largt naturalized vote, and in which is has been a potent factor, there e more churches, more libraries, ore schools, better schools, and ore general intelligence than are be found in those States where the ople are not American-born, but e the children of American-born rents. As a rule, the poor among e immigrants have more eduea>n, are more industrious, and more ed to continuous hard work than e the poor among native Amerins, and consequently they generally succeed in making a living, hile the latter frequently fail. A Big Gun*.?The making of big ins will sometime reach its limit, but ere are no signs that the time is near, le biggest gun yet made at the rupp works has just been shipped Cronstadt, Russia. It is a cast iel piece, weighs 135 tons, has a re of sixteen inches and a quarter, forty-four feet long, has a greatest ameter of six feet and a half, uses [) pounds of powder to a discharge, ill throw a 2(500 nounds projectile relve inilesj or through nineteen ches of solid iron, and will do it dee a minute, at a cost of $3,000 a inute as long as it is fired at that te. glUsfcltancous Reading. THE MUSIC HE LIKED. "J always thought I was fond of music," said Farmer Greene, "but since I visited Matilda, in Boston. I've had my doubts about it. I had not been there a day before Matilda she says to me, 'Now, father, we're going'to have a musical, and I do hope you'll enjoy it!' "Of course I shall,' says I. 'You know how fond I am oftnose famous old Scotch songs you used to sing, and how I'm always ready to jine in when anybody strikes up "Coronation." "Well, this will be the -very best music you ever listened to," says Matilda, and my mouth watered to hear it. "The night of the concert you ought to ha' seen the folks pour in, all silks and satins and flowers. Matilda wore, well, I don't rightly know what, but I think it was silk and lace. Pretty soon we all got quieted down, and then a German, with long hair and a great bushy beard, sat down to the piano and began to play. My, how he did bang them keys ! There was t-nunaer down in tne oass, and tinklin' cymbals up in the treble. "The lady that sat side of me whispered when there was a minute's stop, 'I)o you distinguish the different motives ?" "My, no!' says I. 'I don't see what anybody's motive could be for workin' so hard to make a noise.' "Then she smiled behind her fan, but I don't know what caused it, whether 'twas the music or me. "When the piece stopped, everybody hummed and whispered to each other how lovely 'twas, and a good many told the German how much obliged they were. I didn't say a word. "Then a tall woman, all fixed up with silks and furbelows, sang a piece that almost made my hair stand on end, it went so high, and had so many ups and downs in it. She was master smart; anybody could see that, but somehow I didn't fancy that kind of singin'. It made me uneasy. When she was climbin' up to her high notes, I wondered if she'd ever get there; and when she dropped down again, I wanted to say: Now you've got through it safe once, 1 don't try it again ! "Well, pretty soon Matilda came round to me and whispered, 'Father, how d'you like it?' "I don't care much for it," says I. 'Its a little too much like frosted cake when vou want plain bread.' "She laughed, and* in a minute I heard her saying to one of the performers, 'My father's a little oldfashioned, you see, and would you mind?' "What do you suppose happened then ? Why, that woman that sang the trills and warbles stood up, and, without any piano playin' at all, sang 'Ye Hanks and Braes' and 'John Anderson.' How she knew what I liked I never could tell, but she sang the songs I've liked ever since I was a small boy, and when she got through the tears were streamin' down my cheeks. "Bless you, my dear! says I, and I went up to her and shook both her hands. And it seemed to me she liked the songs herself, for when she looked at me I saw that her eyes were wet, too. "I had a beautiful time, but I suppose it's no use thinkin' I appreciate real music."?[Youth's Companion. FPUIT A PERFECT FOOD. Some p jople are afraid to eat fruit, thinking fruit and diarrhoea are always associated, when, if they understood the true cause of the diarrhoea, they would not know it was caused by eating meat. In hot. weather meat putrifies very quickly, and during this process alkaloids are formed which are very poisonous, acting as emetics and purgatives. 'Tis true that fruit eaten green or between meals will interfere with digestion and cause bowel troubles: but use perfectly ripe fruit at mealtime, and only beneficial results will follow. Acids prevent calcerous degenerations, keeping the bones elastic, as well as preventing the accumulation of earthly matters. This is because of the solvent power of acids; but manufactured acids are not harmless, as those which nature prepared for us in various kinds of fruits. Fruit is a perfect food when fully ripe, but if it were in daily use from youth to age there would be less gout, gallstones and stone in the bladder. Stewed apples, pears and plums are '* ?x_ ^1*^. ? ^ *1 S XV 4- 1M*qo lr. iavorne articles ui uicu rui uiwivfast or luncheon, in the dining room or in the nursery, there are few table dishes more wholesome and delicious than stetved fruit served up with cream or custard. There are many persons, however, who cannot eat it on account either of the acidity of the fruit or the excess of sugar necessary to make it palateable. Sugar does not, of course, counteract acidity; it only disguises it, and its use in large quantities is calculated to retard digestion, Tho housewife may, therefore, be grateful for the reminder that a pinch, a very small pinch, ofcarbonatesoda,sprinkled over the fruit previously to cook' ing, will save sugar, and will at once render the dish more wholesome.? [Medical Classics. ser A New York photographer prints a circular containing eight suggestions to sitters, and the following valuable advice to the ladies j "When a lady sitting for a pieture would compose her mouth to a bland and serene character, she should, Just before entering the room, say 'bosom,' and keep the expression into which the mouth subsides until the desired effect in the camera is evident. If, on the other hand, she wishes to assume a distinguished and somewhat noble bearing, not suggestive of sweetness, she should say 'brush,' the result of which is infallible. I f she wishes to make her mouth look small, she must say 'flip,' but if the mouth be already too small, and needs enlarging she must say 'cabbage.' If she wishes to look mournful she must say 'kerchunk,' if resigned, she must forcibly ejaculate 'scat.' Ladies when having their photographs taken may observe these rules with some advantage to their appearance.Lifting tiie Hat.?Do our boys ever think, as they raise their hats to a lady or a girl friend, why respect should be shown in this way ? Here is the explanation of the custom : The custom of lifting the hat had its origin during the age of chivalry, when it was customary for knights never to appear in public, except in full armor. It became a custom, however, for a knight, upon entering an assembly of friends, to remove his helmet, signifying, "I am safe in the presence of my friends." The age of chivalry passed away with the fifteenth century, but among the many acts of courtesy which can be traced back to its influence, none is more direct in its origin than that of lifting the hat to acknowledge the presence of a friend. Sufficient Sleep.?In this age of hurry and worry, with its consequent nervous exhaustion, of which so much is now heard, the necessity of taking sufficient sleep cannot be insisted upon too forcibly. To lay down any hard and fast rule for its regulation is not possible, for, naturally, brain workers require more than the drones of society; in feet every brain worker, if he wishes his powers to last, should take from eight to nine hours' sleep out of every twenty-four. Charles Lamb did not think eight hours enough, whereas Sarah Bernhardt finds six hours a sufficient quantum of sleep.