Fort Frayne

mlW " F0CS 'N AMBUSH f jpsJSj fi-FRQM THE RANKS " Ljj {Copyright, 1S96, by F. Tennyson Neely.J Chatter I.- Hoyle Farrar disfraces hnnself at West Point, deserts the school and leads a wandering life, sinking lower and lower, manies hiemployer's ciaiiühtur and then commina forgery II.- Colonel Farrar, father of Royle. is killed ín a ba'tlc with the Indians. III.-' Rovle Farrar's younger brother Will sraduates at 'West Pi. int and falls in loYe with Kitiv Ormsby, whose bruther Jack is in love with Wlll's sister Ellis. IV.- Will is made lieutenant. Theyall return to Fort Frayne. acconipanied by a certa Dannton. V. - It hae been reported that Royle Farrar is dead. but hc tnrne np at the fort in the guise of a common soldier under the name of Graice. KUia Farrat and Jack Ormsby quarrel over Helen Dannton. VI- Helen Daunlou bae an interview with Jack Ormsby, in whicli it transpires i hut she is Royle Farrar'a much abnsed wife. whom Ormsby bus beiore befriended. VII- Helen Farrar discovers her hllsband. VIII- Ellis Farrar witnessee another interview between Hilen Dannton and Jack Ormsby. IX- Troublo arises between the cowboys and Ine Indians. X. -The garrison is ordered out to protect the Indians. XI- Helen Dannton makes preparations to get lier hnsband away from the fort. XII- At the Chrisi mas ball they are startled by the cry of "Fire!" in the fardhouse. Royle Farrar comes to bis end amid the llames, and Captain Léale loses his eye-sight in the attempt to reseñe the nnworthy husband of the woman he loves. Helen Farrar. XIII- A misnnderstandlong thelndians canses more trouble. 'l'hey leave the reservation and are pursned bv the Seventh. XIV- Colonel Fenton ie relieved of bis command and ordered to report at head V- The battle ends in triumph for ■ entli. and Colonel Fenton returns, vindicated. XVI- Kitty's wedding day arrivés, and with it Captain l.eale. who bas recovered his eyenight and manies Helen Farrar. Jack Ormsims Bilis Farrar. oid Major Wayne carries off Lucretia Fenton. and Colonel Fenton is accepted by Airs. Farrar. Then, many other people seemed burdened with troubles of their own. Ellis had never recovered either streugth or spirits since the events of that mas weeiL, ana jaer iovely lace was rain, and the bright, brave eyes of oíd were shadowed with a pathetic sorrow ; but though tbis shadow had come into her life auother one, much harder to bear, had been swept aside. Ever since her lover 's words had revealed to Bilis that it was her own brother, to save whom Malcolm Leale had periled life and lost his sight, the girl's eyes seemed gradnally to open to the utter cruelty of her snspicions, the injustioe of her treatment of Helen Daunton, the woman whose life that very brother had woll nigh wreoked f orever. In the long hours of her convalescence she had turned to Helen in humility that was sweet to see, andnow the love and trust between them was something iaexpressible. But there was something even Helen could neither explain nor justify, and that was Jack Ormsby's conduct since her convalescence. True, Ellis had told him in their last interview that all was at an end between them ; that he had forfeited trust, f aith and even respect and placed a barrier between himself and her forever. She had refused hiin further audicnce, and her last words to Jiim had been fuJl of scorn, even of insult. But do word of anger or resentment had escaped him, and surely no man who deeply loved wonld harbor anger now. Sobbing her heart out, the girl had thrown herself on Helen's breast jnst before their return to Frayne and told a part of her story until then concealed - how, in their last interview, Ormsby had gently said that he would vex her no more with hia pleadings, but if a time should ever come when her eyes were opened and when she could believe him honest and worthy he would come at her cali, and she had humbled herself and called, bnt all in vain. To Helen she had told the whole story of that humble letter and that neither by word nor eign had he acknowledged it. But Helen saw a ray of hope. The little note had been intrusted to Wayne late Thursday night, and ho had proinised to deliver it early Friday morning, and all that day had EJlis waited eagerly, andnightfall carne -without the look - ed for visit. Wayne came on Saturday to convoy some conventional words of farevvell f rom both offlcers, "So surprised to hear of the sudden return from California; so sorry not to have seen them, but time was very short, and" - would she never hear the last of the Seventh- "Ormsby had had to attend the review at the armory Friday night, and then there was just time to rejoin Leale "Kitty's, you mean, do you not, majorT" and get him aboard, for their good ship sailed at 7 a. m. to catch the early tide at Sandy Hook. Falteringly Ellis had asked if he were sure he had given Ormsby her note - if - if Mr. Ormsby had read it. Wayne was quite positiva But Helen wonld not believe, and with unabated hope she awaitfid Wayne's return to the post. They arrived a week before him, for on leaving bis .charge at; Washakie the previous montb he Bad hurried straight to Washington in response to a sutnmons from the secretary of war, had made nis report and then gone to New York. Not until the Monday before the wedding did he reappear, and then only by determined effort did Helen corner him long enough for cross examination. "Certainly, " said Wayne. "I ber the note perfectly well. I put it with one from the clnb that I found there and handed both to hiin together. He'll be here to the wedding. He's coming right alongwith Kitty. I'llaskhim again, if you like. " "Don't dare ever mention it, major, or that I asked any questions concerning it. Hovv long has he been back?" asked Helen, with vivid interest, another question upperinost in her mïnd. "Nota week. Just back, yon know. I only saw him a minute. I was jnst starting for the train. He looked astonishingly well, and, you know, I forgot to ask was Leale better. He was ful] of his wedding preparations. " "Her svedding preparations - Kitty'a -yon mean, do you not, major?" "No, his; I give yon my word. He said so, yon kuow. He told me the lady's name - part of it, at least. Effie something. I can't recall it just now. He'll teil yon. Oh, it was all on that account, you know, Kitty couldn't start sooner. She had to wait for him. " Helen was astounded. It was news she declared she would never bèlieve, and yet she remembered having heard mention of an attractivé cousin, a Miss Effio Leale, and niight it not be possiblo that in his wanderings with the blinded invalid, with his own sore heart, Jack Ormsby had met and found consolation in this fair relative of his stricken f riend, that she in turn had qnickly learned to admire the manly feJJow who was so devoted to their particular hcro? At all events it was something not to be raentioned to Ellis, thought Helen. But what was the use? Wayne toJd it to Lucretia, Lucretia told a dozen during the day. It was all over the post before night, and despite Helen 's effort Ellis heard it among the first. One more among the many mishaps with which to usher in Will's wedding dayl At 10 that beautiful June morning there was something inore thanpathetic about poor Lucretia's sorrows. While Penton, Mrs. Parrar, Helen, silent, brave faced Ellis, and a dozen sympathetic souls from all over the post were gathered on the north piazza overhanging the bluff and the roariog waters of the Platte, signa) ing to Will and watching eageriy his vigorous movemeuts, the lady of the house remained within doors, wept unceasingly and refused to be comforted. "It is dreadful to think of the condition that chicken salad will be in," she inoaned. "It is preposterous to talk to me of patience! I've said all along it was to be an unlucky day, because you all kuow perfectly well - at least if you don't you ought to - that it is just 13 yoars ago this day that we were all gathered at Port Crook for the funeral of Captain Crocus, which was to take place the moment the ambulance got in from the front, and the band was all ready, and the escort and tho hearse and - and after all the whole thing had to be abandoned, for when the ambulance got in there were no remains at all- at least there were, bnt they weren't ready for burial because they'd revived and wore sittiiig up and saying shocking I things. Wby, I think a wedding without a bride is ten times worse thau a funeral witliout a - without a" - But here, it must be admitted, the burst of laughter in which Rorke indulged was too much forherdetermination to weep, and, blazing through her tears, the maidendernandedexplanation of his unseemly conduct. Borke was a permanent rnember of the colonel's establishment now, but he could not risk Miss Lucretia's displeasure, and was wise and knew his danger and fled to the kitchen, there to teil cook and Chinaman the lady's plaintive monologue, while Amory, eqnally conscienceless, ran out to convulse with it the party on the porch. And then in the midst of all the langhter came delirious ITO BE CONTINDÍD.]