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HEW EDITION-ISDUGEO IN PRICE, 
 
 BB9B^«Be 
 
 \ 
 
 Bryce 's Home Series Library, 
 
 No. 194. 
 
 miGUSTfl J. EVANS WILSON'S UST NOVEL, 
 
 "At The Mercy of Tiberius." 
 
 I^R^IOE: 90 Oentci. 
 
 I hftve also the following of this celebrated Author's Novels 
 in my Home Series Library. 
 
 NOk 1«V. InDelloe. 
 
 ** M*. Deulah. 
 
 ** I7S. m. Elmo. 
 
 Ifo. l§a Taahti. 
 
 ** 100 Idacaria. 
 
 •* I9a laes. 
 
 30C. £D.A.CII. 
 
 flEaUed Post Free to anjr Address on Meoelpt 
 
 or Priciei 
 
 Publisher, • TORONTO, CANADA. 
 
 .5 4 ay 
 
 i#.^ '^f 
 
M 
 

 II 
 
 '' Two solditTs. 
 
 [I'niroacn.l 
 
LIPPINCOTT'S 
 
 MONTHLY MAGAZINE, 
 
 MARCH, 1890. 
 
 P 
 
 3C!».l 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 and drays, cabs and clospd Jr^.-T .1 . . Piatforms. Wagous 
 the ordinarily b.r tht^^SrrT^^^^ ^^.^ «J '"™Wed aKng 
 
 dipped in the river UorbeiniTuVi^^f "" ^^""'l^^ '^'y ^«^^ ^een 
 JeL8,a bedraggledTt J^^'t^eS'^tlJrr^^^^ ^e street, and their 
 in their compoftion,eli 4^61^1 nT ». ^ ^t»»'"g amphibious 
 deluge that had been^oaL-ngThnitv for tw^S ^'""^ "^ ^?"'"«^ '^e 
 man, waddling aimleasly 2out «/ mI v""^' P^'*' ^^^ P^J'^ 
 
 rubber cap and over(^rL7ri,«; .""W^,^ corner, en veIo|Sl i„ 
 
 across theW, wheS't^^ ^TsT"k ' ''•''^" ^i'^^ '"'« '^^ t^^i-room 
 gloom that ov^rCrtL neiihbT, ^"""? '" ?"^"^"^ ^« 'he general 
 Be abroad hurried alonrundtft!?°^' """k T^ P«J««trians as had to 
 expected to have t^ swim SfU 2^^ ^, '»!«"gh they half 
 
 The dense cloud of so^Z„,okeThat IL "^ k'""'^ t*^'"' destination, 
 weeks past, and that S from anv H^l- ''''^"'!? ^^^ metropolis for 
 sipate, for he simnle rZnnZf ^ direction could never entirely dis- 
 the ouWirtB o^^ryTde^^o;^'i^^^^^^ ^y t^^oore shot ip i„ 
 
 and walls, the windows and the - . •' ^"uf^ "P«" ^he rlaofs 
 
 "iferous deposit, ami i:e^"^o£CtTf'll"..H'^^^ P^*^' ^^^- 
 would leave its inky r^^onse iLn hI ) "^ ^^f ^"^ ^"^^ touch 
 " Bpell of weather" Ld not Ln^" f '"^' ^ °^«^« depressing 
 
 being in sight seeLd ^turatdTwith th? '' * /T' ""^ ^^^^^ ^'>'4 
 hpinS ..^«.^* y: '^"^V™!?" !^Lth the general doom.— Ptro»4 i;,..v- 
 
 sitting atSdTngyXTnZo^tis'^ir ^'^^^"-^^ C^^ryj;;^ 
 
 onSy^moreStrltandSaHvth?^^ '"^^ recruiting rendezvous 
 contentment. *^*"*"^ ''^''^^•"S ««% ^ himselT in supreme 
 
 * 295 
 
296 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ♦« ^T ?•'''*' *'"' '■'*'''"^' ^^''^ ^'^"^ «^'«'*'y morning that had wrved 
 to make him impervious to wind or weather. One-large, formal, im- 
 pressive, and bearing the stamp of the War Department ii heavy tyi« 
 across Its upin^r corner-had borne to him the m>tification of \xL IL 
 motion to tlie rank of Captain (Tnn.p ])) P:ieventh Cavalry, ^mce 
 Curran, retire. . The other-a tiny billet-had given him even l^^r 
 
 re-read it simt, he found it on the snowy doth of his |«rticular break- 
 rftt " on H f ir^'^'"'""- c-orner of the snug refcx^-tory of - The QuiX)n 
 Utv, on the books of which most respectable if somewhat venerable 
 club his name had been lx)rne among the list of Army or Navy Mem- 
 bers ever since 1.18 "graduation-leave," fifteen years Ix-fore. 
 
 West Poin , had been spent in the city where for the mst sixteen 
 montlis he had consi.lerecf himself fortunate in Ix^ing statiined o^^ 
 cruuing-service During the second year of his term at the Academy 
 e was startled by the receipt of a sad letter from his mother, telling 
 h m briefly that his father, long one of the best-known aming thi 
 business-men of the city had bc^n compelled to make an assignment. 
 What was worse, he had utterly broken down under the strain, and would 
 -uroUbly never be himself again. Proud, sensitive, and hon'orabl^ Mr. 
 Ijane had insisted on nay.ng to the uttermost farthing of his means. 
 l.ven the old homestead went, and the broken-hearted man retired with 
 his faithful wife to a humble roof in the suburbs. There, a few mon lis 
 :^rr^'f n' ^T'^^ l'i« last, and there, during FrecVs gmduatl 
 year she followed him. When the lx,y entere<l on his «iLr in the 
 army he was practically alone in the world. Out of the wreck of his 
 father's fortune there came to him a little sum that started him in the 
 service free from debt and that served as a nest-egg to attract future 
 accumulations. This he had promptly banked until some good and 
 safe inv^tment should present itself, and, once with his re^ment on 
 the frontier, Mr. Lane had found his pay ample for all his needs. 
 It 18 unnecessary to recount the history of his fifteen yeare' service 
 
 temptations to which young of^cers were subjected, he had won a repu- 
 tation as a capital "duty-oSicer," that was accented here and there by 
 some brilliant and dashing exploits in the numerous Indian cam- 
 paigns through which the Eleventh had passed with no small credit 
 Lane was never one of the jovial souls of the regiment. His mood 
 was rather taciturn and contemplative. He read a good deal, and soent 
 many days in the saddle exploring the country in tL neighborhoXf 
 his post and in hunting and fishing. 8 uuu ui 
 
 But, from the colonel down, there was not a man in the Eleventh 
 who did not thoroughly respect and like him. Among the lauies, how- 
 ever, there were one or two who never lost an opportunity of giving the 
 lieutenant a feline and not ineffective clawing when his name^camfup 
 tor discussion m the feminine conclaves occasionally held in the regi- 
 Ciciii. oomeuraes, too, when opportunity serve*!, lie was made the victim 
 ot some sharp or sarcastic 8|)eecb that was not always easy to bear in 
 silence. Mrs. Judson, wife of the captain of B Trof.p, was reputed to 
 
TWO SOLDIKRS. 
 
 lad served 
 >rnial, ini- 
 eavv type 
 f Ins pro- 
 airy, vice 
 m greater 
 read and 
 ar br(»k- 
 he Qiioun 
 venerable 
 vy Mem- 
 
 letNhip at 
 It sixteen 
 fd on re- 
 Academy 
 T, telling 
 long the 
 ignment. 
 »d would 
 able, Mr. 
 8 means, 
 ircd with 
 V months 
 aduating 
 !r in the 
 ik of his 
 m in the 
 3t future 
 ood and 
 nient on 
 ds. 
 
 i' service 
 it of the 
 a repu- 
 here by 
 in cam- 
 1 credit, 
 is mood 
 nd spent 
 hood of 
 
 'leventh 
 es, how- 
 ving the 
 ame up 
 be rari- 
 e victim 
 bear in 
 >uted to 
 
 297 
 
 "g 
 
 be "down on I^nc," and the men had nodiffi«>nIty whatever in locati 
 the time when her changj! of lM>art t(K)k phuv. 
 
 The truth of the matter was that, thanks to simple habits and 
 to his s^'iise of economy, Une had nui^e a snug little Imlanoo in the 
 bank, and the adios of the regimnit k'liovwl it to bo bigger than it 
 r«Mlly was; and, having approve<l the fnrnJKhing an<l fitting up of his 
 quarters, the next thing, of course, that they essjiycd to «lo was to 
 provide him with a wife. There the trouble k^n. Simultaneously 
 with the arrival of his first bar as a first lieutenant there <«me 
 tr<)ni the(li.sUint f^t Mr^. Judson's younger sister " Kmmy" and 
 M«. I^>rings pretty um-c Puiisv Fletcher. F^ine wan prompt to 
 cal «)n lK)tli, to take the young ladies driving or riding, to k- attentive 
 and (X)iii-t(M)us in every way ; but, wliil(. ho di<l thus " |)orcH«ive a <livid«l 
 duty, what was Mrs. J^ning's horn»r on diwwveriiig that pretty 
 I'ansy had iai K-u rapturously in love with "Jerry" I^ttimore, iw 
 handsonie, retik less, and mi|Kviinlous a voiing ilragooii as ever lived 
 and nothing but prompt measures nreventtnl their marriage I Mis^ 
 JJleteherwas suddenly re-tnmH|M)rt(H( to the East, whither Jerry was 
 too hard up to follow ; an<l then, in bitteriuws of heart, Mrs. Tiorinir 
 bam«l ixH)r tred f,,r the wh(»le traiisaetion. "Why had he held 
 aljwt ami allowe<J that— that seamp— that ne'er-do-weel— to out in ami 
 win that innocent child's lunirt, as he (vrtainly did do?" Against 
 l^ttimore the vials of her wrath were emptied coram p»f,fico, but 
 against I^ne she mild not talk so o|)eiily. 
 
 Mrs. Judson had l>eheld the sudden departure of MIas Pansy with 
 an e<pianimity she cmld barely <iisgui.se. [ihUhhI, there were not lack- 
 ing g<KKl Christians lu the garrison who pointinl significantly to the 
 tact that she had almmt Um hospitably opened her diK)M to Miss 
 * leteher and her lover during that brief but volcanic romance. Certain 
 It 18, however, that it was in her hon.se and in a («rtain little nook off 
 the sitting-room - ,t their lon^, .lelicious meetings occurrtnl almost 
 Uaily, the lady oi liie hou.se being busy about the dining-room, the 
 kitchen, or the chamkrs overhemi, and Emmy, who was a gmxl girl, 
 but densely uninteresting, strumming on the piano or yawning over a 
 iHKik ut the front window. ^ b «' « 
 
 " What Mr. Lane needs is a gentle, UKxlest, domestic little woman 
 who will make his home a restful, i)e.aeeful refuge always," said Mrs. 
 Jud.son ; and, inferentia ly, Emmy was the gentle and m.xlest creature 
 who was dtstinetl so to bless him. The invitations to tea, the lures bv 
 which he was indiieed to become Emmy's escort to all the hoi>s and 
 dances s-edoubled themselves after Mi.ss Fletoher's departure : but it 
 was all ,n vain. Without feeling any jmrticiilar affinity for Mr. 
 Lane, Emmy stood ready to say " Ye8" whensoever he should ask ; 
 but weeks went on, he never seemed to dmw nearer the subject 
 and just as Mrs. Judson had determined to resort to heroic measured 
 and pom out that his attentions to Einn,y had excited the remark 
 
 „„,""" 5"'"—", »"•- "lui use iKjor cniiii nci'seji was looking wan 
 
 and strange, there was a stage-ro()bery not twenty miles from the 
 post, i^ne, with fifleen troopers, was sent in pursuit of the des- 
 Fradoes, and captured them, after a sharp fight, ninety miles up the 
 
29% 
 
 TWO aOLDlRRS. 
 
 »"«. thigh. Uy U,e time L wrU" rTl ^'f' ". ^""^' *'"^"k'' 
 «K»in in the field «„ I.Hliun <^^,« ^ , Tt ^- "*'''' ''!« "«''»«"' wa« 
 Fort Cimi, aKHi... W|,S heT *^ t "'"' ^7 ^'^ «""'"''« ho never Haw 
 
 -<i^l;H?::;;\^!|;.y::.iii;:-'!; «i?«i" «" ^- .no. .harp and 
 
 of hi« regiment a year afW U.nt ImL.. i^^ H-'"' ''"' q"urtern.a«tcr 
 given therc^4uir.ini-detalaV,.Tr 1 :/'"'" ^V^'''^^ «»<' finally wa« 
 tenant., and, for fi.e fi^^t tit fr/''" '"^* ^'^ ^!" ''''^ "^ ^'^^ ^i^"- 
 more among the Aiendfor I yo h i^l ff' /"'," ''''""^'^ "'^^ 
 Securing pkusjjntouuHo^ in Vi 'T ''^'" " hachelor. 
 
 erate annual duen witlu>nt hav inL s^h) 1. w ' ^^ '\">''"^' '"'^ '"^'^J- 
 years jmnt, yet never knowimr ? I ""ything of it but itu biljs for 
 
 '" thecouie of the fh"t wc!r«r ?' '"".' ."^' "'^ chum8, and 
 ali of them. Bail ;,Tho 4" next h m ^"'7' ^' ^"^' ^""'"^ «''"-* 
 »ent nod pros,H3roiH la vyeT Terrv «, " '"''":''' T."*^^^ " P'-«™i- 
 - ooeasionally in.irted orS mn, /' ""''" "^^ J'"'' '^''''"^' ''"« and 
 wa8 thrivii^ in the irori.n,:. i '" « «*"^'t"'<'nt eraok in his chair. 
 'Change," and wa^ onTof Z^^^ '''-**' nmde a fortune C 
 
 chant^^f the m<>t oZlis FT F ^'"'jP.'^ "»^ oomnns.sion-nuT- 
 
 cl<^ together, and 'u^ 1 " k to fen'"^, ^r^'^'!.'' *''^^ ''^^ 
 a nioet every day. Mr. I^ne had s rll ."•^'"*'' '"''*> ^'-''^ other 
 Hkin to enthusiasm, ckl, rand ret ^^...1 ""i" '"• ^''''' ^'''' '^ ^«^''»"g 
 wa«, he ielt a glow of de th 1/ "'"' "^^'""^^ «« ''« generally 
 
 "the old crowJ." but thnf / at the pro.,Hx;t of onee more meeting 
 distinct sense^^disa ;>on ,r"l L '^ !''« ^-»« -Tf 
 
 hands with much efTuiiin of "'"uirt 1. d^ had jumped up and shaken 
 or a minute or two, and U.e ' 'Now 1 '"y-^lear-fellow^-ed him 
 
 he round to look you un S v.l fl' 7""' "'^ 7"" «^PP'"g ? I'll ' 
 -of c«n^ we'll CeTout\ ^tse"»Tuf f '?-^' ^^ 
 
 was eager to get back U> his d«.k am ' . ^ i^l'^ ^^'"''^^ «"^ he 
 not know him at all until ! ? ' , ^" ^^^ ^"« ^<^ave. Terry did 
 
 quired what lleM t doi '' ^^^hfn ^^S^i^ ^''"^ *'« ^^"-''^^«- 
 nian who ra«|,ed him from In . . ^'^'^ u ' * '^*^ >'««'^- B"t the 
 were over, a.d the md^Tg ^ulu.T T"u"*'^ ^"«'»^« ^>o»^ 
 
 «8Uu'i,f&:^:V!.'!!,:^ *« -"y. - your he .dc«l. 
 Howl'"™ ml^ rkilUi^r "'' " ''" "'"' yo-"-" ■»" «"e«? 
 
 i 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 to d^L'i'ril^^^^^^ ""''^ ' '"^^ ''^ ^^' ^' ^- <^'d - 
 
 ;; Not a« "'Hjaual id^, I fi„d, Warden, but a very uniu«t one." 
 Uli, yes 1 know, of ooiirac, vou have uome Indian-fiuhtiuir to do 
 onoe ,n a while; but that probaf,ly a.uount. to very littfe f mean 
 wljan you're ,n peruianent ca.np or g.,rri«on. I should think . wZZ 
 your em,>eramcnt would ju«t stagnate in such a life. I wondTyou 
 Wn't res.gnu] years a^^. and oome ha-e and u.ade a nameTor yo^ 
 
 "The life haa been rather more brisk than you imagine." he au- 
 Bwered, wOh a qu.et sniile, "and I have grown Very fon! of my p,^ 
 
 would that have consisted ?" ^ A^ow,mwnat 
 
 "Oh well, of coume, if you reirilv like the army and livinir in a 
 deeert and that sort of thing, I've notfiing to say," Jd W , ui *« but 
 It always s ruck me as such a-such a-well. h\id such a wastid lif. 
 
 WvT-but'n^Tat'^Il'.r' 1^^" (7^ ^""^ Warde^was-fweHin^ vL^! 
 Dy ) but not at all the thing for a man of your ability. We all 
 
 us. We were talking of it some years ago here in this very mom • 
 there d been something about you in the pa^r.,-some gene^Tor^he; 
 had men loned you in a reiK,rt. Let's seH didn't yo5 .ret wounded 
 or something, chasing some Indiana?" La„e repl ed thaf heTliev^l 
 that "HometKing like that had haij^ned," but b^Ked his fdend to^ 
 on ; and Warden pnK=eeded to furtl/er expound hisTws : ^ 
 
 fati.'^r'^''^'^^^ '"''^ resigned years ago, taken hold of vour 
 father s old busint^, and made a Fortune. There's U^n a i^rfc^t h^m 
 
 LooTirT.r " r ' "T^ «'^^^ ''•-^ «f iron siLX ^^ ,tof 7" 
 Look at Terry : he is roiling in money,_one of our most subetantiaf 
 men; and you know he was a mer/ drone at school. Why F^ 
 f your father could have held on six months longer he'd haie S 
 the richest man ,n town to-day. It always seamed to me that he mTle 
 such a mistake ,« not getting his friends to help him tide hin^ o^r " 
 f . ,Y°" Pr^^bly are not aware," was the reply, "that he^rnt io 
 toTl' ''/[''"l^'T?" called,_and that it was ?he r Sre or .^fUl 
 to help that broke hun down. The most active man in pu8hin7hrm 
 
 chilfVeriy '" ''^^' ^ '^'"y'' '"'^«^' -'- *^«d formerly £hb 
 " Well " answered Warden, in some little confusion, for this and 
 other matters ,n connection with the failure of SamS'j^ne & Co 
 years before, were now suddenly recall«l to mind, " that's pw^bly tru; 
 
 ^on^^a^^'^^^To^"'^^^ ''"^ r^ toughTm'^rrX 
 
 W^t CnP «n^ K -'i?^ "^u"^ ^'"''' "^"^ ^^ ^*^^ ^'hen you left 
 tnl^l K J ^"''^ "P }^^ «»"«^''° again* and been a big man 
 
 to^ay,-had your own establishment herefmairied some r' ' ^ " 
 
 ^•-•t; sjiaiij^ 
 
 ou 
 
 girl — 
 
 Lane shook his head'. 
 On the other hand, then 
 
 ih. '1 ^° '^^J^ej hand, then, you've been fooling away all this time 
 the army, and what have you got to show for it?^' 
 
 in 
 
300 
 
 TWO fiOLDIERS. 
 
 "Nothing— to speak of," was 
 answer. 
 
 the half-whimsical, half-serious 
 
 ..s,-any day. k'rc always m.dy L^hL™, ,vl,odl ^f, '''T ""j 
 ym. io raeet M«. Wa„le„ an";! see m^ l,o»r Now «™7me „in ZV 
 
 J^Zd ^^i'^^^rSd^s^eii'ixH^s:;.^^^^^^^^ 
 
 enee from the scene of hostilities, and cordially sho^c hands wTS 
 
 ,™L?f^ ™ ■?. '"' g"" '»«k to his old home in the K tS the Ilea 
 tepant found his name assoc atcd only with his father'. e^i\,,Z .? i Vi ■ 
 
 joiith. Money makes the mare bo/' said Mr Wnrden Tn . ...k ! 
 
 conversation ; and money, it seemf/wrwhat h^^it ,t n te li^™' 
 he shonld have come home and " made a name for h?m Jf " ^ ^'"' 
 
 Which now It pleased him to parry rathir than aL/e" dTrSt?v H^! 
 
 "eiore. Ana then— then all of a sudden there came over thp am-r.^ ^e 
 his dream a marked and wondrous chanee Hp nn Ln™^ J T^ ^^ 
 vitations to balls, parties, or dinners whef he W '"• 
 
 were to be present. Mabel Vincent had just rSe^ ^07^?^^^^^^^ 
 abroad, and Lieutenant Fred Lane had fallen in love at first sSht 
 It was a note from her that made even thaf rl,mr„ !^i,i «: 
 this most dismal of days, fairly gbw and shine wi^f a l^''-®''' °? 
 k^n^ilV ^'^'^,f M gla'dn'ess sudfasirio'e^ lifetaZrer 
 
 Captan Fred Lane Eleventh Cavalry, was in her dainty hand w! 
 turned h.s chair to the window to read once arain the Sous wnrf 
 but there entered, dripping, a Western Union m^e^enger w fha telZ^^ 
 Teanng it open, Lane read these wnr^« . « A 11 ^„^. •!: _.^®'^™- 
 
 tionson your promotion and in wonderm"ent ai'ihi^i^lo'neirSon 
 of your successor. Noel is named." selection 
 
 Lane gave a long whistle of amazement. « Of all men in thp r^ 
 ment I" he excIaimeS. « Who would have thought of Gordon NoS' 
 
 ( 
 
 i 
 
'i 
 
 ( 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 II. 
 
 901 
 
 The colonel of the Eleventh Cavalry was a gentleman who haA 
 some peculiarities of temperament and dispo^itL^ S fa^t il n^ 
 cited as a tlnng at all unusual, for the Siassed tel^LcZ .? T 
 suUIterns and even the ti^P c;>mmander^ of eve^. ^X ^^^^ 
 
 the p^^r;'^f^i.^'C^:^^ 
 
 went smoothly in the regiment unless the captlns we,^ af on 1 ! 
 with their companies ; for, while at any time CofonelS^s would ^Z 
 prove an application for a lieutenant's leave onCn^^f^r"!*^ 
 
 ^aylT^XyTj^l %«',,tTr.''»^"-"\'<' Noel,-,„ the 
 of the fellow " ^ * ""'® ®*1"''"'6 service out 
 
 k„rt" • ^'" '"'°'''" ' '•* '■™' """^de mine; and y„„' 
 
 01. that giibject." ^^^^ ^^"' y»" '"'<"' <« ■nuch as I do 
 
 Greene somewhat ffloomily nodded asmnt »„^ I.:. ,... , . 
 
 wouna up for the day, plunged ahead witr/ds "reniar'kT:"'""'""' """^ 
 
 ^key^uVlS^lSZt'' -'it.' '<^'™e" Greene, a^l I'l, 
 .od neve, a opt... " irnKt^^hfr^^i- .XjISi! 
 
302 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 '^mZ^ilyf^lZ^^''^ !;? ?"« \?'«^ -" h»ve hi, fetter 
 a.™bTtak« KaJ I^^' ^ ' immediate recall and nominating 
 
 even thatX^^bfcmL'Ull^^LTCl"""'' ^ ™ *«' ^o" 
 ins.fnt'VuT'l ''* '™"'"' ."" '<'«»• «"»»« "onW not bet, for at that 
 
 Dont ^, Arb^; come back, old fello^afd joir4""c p Jn, ^ 
 snail It be/ Say, you all know D ck Caasidy of the SeJentl.? 
 I heard euch a good rig on him this morning. ^I got a leSr from 
 Tommy Craig, who's on dnty at the War Depaftmentf and hetldZ 
 What dt.™ *"'" "^"«, •" 8^' »"« "*■ th-^Vblasted colC detaS 
 Sa X^That?^™''^""" ""'"' '^ '-'» •■'- '^™-' for,'to 
 
 h^rn'oS^Tint 'ir'ii vsi:fi,i-K^i IXrt: 
 
 a^d"i"rerro^i.?tst'7^^^^^^^ 
 
 cu Jra^^'ali 3r 'J ^''' r'^. "Pi" ^"^'^ «"d fa^ to go in to re- 
 
 ished .heir^modSr7o';rn':ZlVro'l\"^Tr^,to;e' '^^^^ 
 ?„!.,?'".•'""'/? !»"" biUianl-room; Wharton Td Lee sS 
 in the direction of their quarters; and presently Mr. Noel waflhe onW 
 man in aie club-room without an occuAion o/some Im Z SLS 
 
 Now, whj; should this have been the case? Noel's whole m»nn»r 
 
 sZyStrLt^'f '"^ "■"' "'"""".'-' hU ey- ttrand 
 tZ bv l,t Chf^ """ °"% '?'"' *" '^' ^*^'' ••« hailed e«eh in 
 i"™ .teS'^."!"..'"""^ ?■«} '» tones of most cordial friendahin" 
 
 „ mugutu ana naa coimral anecdotes to tell the mrtv 
 
 he was a tall, stylish, fine-looking fellow, with Sprc^ve darHtm 
 
 mizjuf ^r" -r' y- r""-"" "» tErs:«tlLv'of 
 
 more than half his associates ; his figure was really eltgant in its grm 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 303 
 
 WDse of the word : andvTthlt „-*PI«^"">"» "«« with him in evei^ 
 
 politely but posUW:^\itJ^X1^Z'.?tS^^''^^'' T^'y ™ 
 "cultivated" by nonef ^ '"' '>™'her officcra and 
 
 joiner ^Mxrcfvi^^^^^^ 'HfsLr^j ^^^?.««!?- ^-i 
 
 tial family, and was welooral in tl re^Z7 f. '" °^^ ^"A '"«"««- 
 made friends rapidly, and was for twSnr .1 ^" ««l"'s.tion. He 
 youngster as therl was in the s^rvt Th.n tV ^"^"^ "l P^P"'«^ * 
 attaclied was ordered to the Pla^n? , J T ^ ^''^^ ^^ ^'^^^^^ ^^ was 
 journey by boat, and by the t me H ^^^"^^1,. It was a long 
 oixlersand-^telegams were aLi^^^^^^ reached the old frontier city 
 
 Mr. Noel's great surprise deS^h^T' "^"t-^^ ^^'^^' ai,parently U> 
 him to report for teSarv dutv i ?K ^ ^'?,«>'»Pan7 aJd directed 
 of Washington. He wr Lrf p.VI . ' ^'' pepartment in the city 
 his regimeft had so^ Jl ""baS wUhT^^^^^ '"""^ "^^'^ *'-^ 
 m Kansas and the Indian TerXv 'I^.p^. ^^'^ l""'' ""^ ^'^^^^ 
 gave ear to the oft-repeated annpl^7V .7 ^ V Secretary of War 
 haye Mr. Noel andTet^^ trSer /^ K t"'^ f *^>^ ^'^^^'^th to 
 duty with their respecUyrcomoan I o <? •^'? gentlemen returned to 
 
 the Pacific coast thrat ntee7repo?t«TL' dntt' '^7 ""''' T^^^^ ^ 
 Vaucouyer and Walla W-i I h lSL.fi J "*^ ^"^ ^^ut along. At 
 
 and good-fellowshirwh^t l^d o'Tn thl' "^" ^^ his io^yiahV 
 absence, though there were ou^-am] nnf u ^''?'" ""*^ ^ ^«^^ o^ his 
 said that the man wL would t'^vr" /''''? 'V'' ^'«^«»th who 
 
 little skirmishes between the vnrlnna A f u ^* ^^'^''® ^'^re several 
 dians, with no great Z on .T •?''*'*u'""'"^ ^°^ the agile In- 
 retired to the nafura f^ess of t ^lat'L l"' "'^'^ " ^"P^^" ^^^" 
 here Mr. Noel was fo^nrtot too m f^?'^''"^"'.^^''^ ^^«"' ^"d 
 and was sent in to San Franoi^n^ t ^ ^^^ P^'"' "» ^^e campkign. 
 
 war was brought to a dose w tlmn^ recuperate. The short but bloo^dy 
 actions, but h% rejoined aftrraliJh^^^^^ ^^» P^rt in any of i^ 
 cjsco where it wis understc^d thaf } f 1 Tu^^r'^f '" S^n Fran- 
 riding night and dav »r!^.ul '^® ^"^^ ^^«^en down only after 
 
 the wildfrnesstitrorderftorbZr^ ™iles Lngh 
 
 urgentlyneededatthe W) andwaJJ^^^^^ ''«''"^"' '^^' ^«« 
 
 haS occurred down. in thrKlamaTh T «l *^^^ "^"'^ ^^^^y ^^ ^hat 
 promotion to a first-lieutenancy 3 i^1^\°^""*,TV ^hen came his 
 stationed at the Presidio For ' thre^ Ztt 7"'^ ^T ''> ^ ^ '"^^P 
 f y, the life of part e. of every S ZTt ^' ""^ ^H S«^^* «^ «^e 
 He was in fiviiK^J^^* . ._ur ^X *'?*^ ^oth m town and in <«,rrJo«^ . 
 
 .»d was th7mir "Tlar ZhTT'' ^' i^""*^ -■gbt'it&r night, 
 'Ha. the div.io„ «>.^if Sdtlt ^.°5'"hif Sdt it^^ 
 
304 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ik 
 
 reinforce the one regiment that was trying to cover p. wh?)le Territory. 
 There was pathetic parting, with no end of lamentation, when Mr. Noel 
 was spirited away with his Iynx-eye<l captain ; but they need not have 
 worried, — those fair dames and damsels ; not a hair of his handsome 
 ijijl head was in danger, for the — th had grappled with and throttled their 
 
 ' foes before the detachment from the Eleventh were fairly in the Terri- 
 
 tory, and the latter were soon ordered to return and to bring with them, 
 as prisoners to be confined at Alcatraz, the leaders of the outbreak, 
 who would be turned over to them by the — th. To hear Noel tell 
 of these fierce captives afterwards was somewhat confusing, as, from 
 his accountj it would appear that they had l)eon taken in hand-to-hand 
 conflict by himself and a small detachment of his own troop ; but these 
 were stories told only to over-credulous friends. 
 ^ The Eleventh came eastward across the llockies in time to par- 
 ticipate in the great campaign against the Sioux in '76, and was on the 
 Yellowstone when Cus 3r and his favorite companies were being wiped 
 out of existence on the Little Horn. The news of that tragedy made 
 many a heart sick, and Mr. Noel was so much affected that when his 
 comrades started to mpke a night ride to the front to join what was 
 left of the Seventh, he was left behind, ostensibly to sleep off a violent 
 headache. He promised to ride after and catch them the next day, but, 
 througls some error, got aboard General Terry's steamer, the Far West, 
 and made himself so useful looking after the wounded that the surgeon 
 in charge was grateful, and, knowing nothing of his antecedents, gave 
 him a certificate on which he based an application for leave on account 
 of sickness, and went to Bismarck with the wounded, and thence to 
 the distant East, where he thrillal clubs and dinner-tables with graphic 
 accounts of the Custer battle and of how we got up just in time to 
 save the remnant of the Seventh. The Eleventh fought all through 
 the campaign of '76 and the chase after Chief Joseph in '77 ; but Noel 
 was again on temporary duty at the War Department, and there he 
 stayed until '78, by which time various officials had become acquainted 
 with some of the facts in the case. The Eleventh "cold-shouldered" 
 him for a while after he got back ; but they happened to be now in a 
 region where there were no " hostiles," and where hops, g^rmans, theat- 
 ricals, tableaux, and entertainments of all kinds were the rage. No 
 other man could be half so useful to the ladies as Gordon Noel. He had 
 just come from Washington, and knew everything; and when tlieytook 
 him up and made much of him 'twas no use for the men to stand aloof; 
 they had to take him up too. Lane was adjutant of the regiment at 
 this time ; and he, having seen every report and letter with reference to 
 Mr. Noel that had been filed in the office, would hardly speak to him 
 at all except when on duty, and this feeling was intensified when, a year 
 or so later, they were suddenly hurried to Arizona on account of a wild 
 dash of the Chiricahuas, and as the different companies took the field 
 fl li and hastened in the pursuit Mr. Noel was afflicted with a rheumatic 
 
 fever of such alarming character that the youthful "contract" surgeon 
 who had accompanied his troop held him back at the railway and 
 II || , speedily sent him East on a three months' sick-leave, which family influ- 
 
 ''" ' ' ence soon made six. And this was about the record and reputation that 
 
 I 
 
le Territory, 
 en Mr. Noel 
 ^ not have 
 i» handsome 
 rottled their 
 n the Terri- 
 ; with them, 
 le outbreak, 
 ar Noel tell 
 ng, as, from 
 land-to-hand 
 p ; but these 
 
 ime to par- 
 I was on the 
 being wiped 
 •agedy made 
 at when his 
 in what was 
 off a violent 
 ^xt day, but, 
 e Far West, 
 the surgeon 
 edents, gave 
 i on account 
 d thence to 
 I'ith graphic 
 
 in time to 
 all through 
 f ; but Noel 
 id there he 
 ? acquainted 
 f3houldered" 
 be now in a 
 mans, theat- 
 
 rage. No 
 il He had 
 en they took 
 stand aloof; 
 regiment at 
 reference to 
 )eak to him 
 I'hen, a year 
 tit of a wild 
 ok the field 
 I rheumatic 
 ct" surgeon 
 ailway and 
 amily influ- 
 utation that 
 
 i 
 
 Tiro SOLDIERS. 
 
 305 
 
 Mr. Noel had succeeded in makmg when Captain Rawlins was ready to 
 bet Captain Greene that, despite it all, the regimental Adonis wo^ geJ 
 the recru.t.ng-deta.l mc« Lane, for everybody knew Fred Lar^wd 
 as toprophesy tluit he wou d apply to b^ relieved and onleml to reToin 
 h 8 regiment, and everybody was eager to see him take hold of Xr 
 old^Curran's troop, for if anybody' could "straighten it out" ^e 
 
 The news that Noel was named by the colonel caused a sensation 
 
 tS'-Sd^R- "^-rf."''^'^ theileventh will TrSfy notto'u 
 lorget. Old Riggs" had become the commander of the resiment after 
 It seemed that the fndian wars were over and done with, ZTtlZksZ 
 our peculiar system of promotion, was now at the head 'of an orSnL^ 
 tmn with which he had never served as subaltern, captein orTntr 
 field-officer. D.sc.plme forbade saying anything to 1 is face,-lfi,r whioh 
 the coloue was devoutly than kful,-but every Ixidy said to everylx^v 
 
 So did Noel, though he rushed into the club-room apparentlv over- 
 whelmed with amazement and delight : apparently over- 
 
 "I supposed o£ course it would be Follansbee. I never dreamed 
 he would give it to me. Come up, crowd ! come up every bc^y'it^ 
 champagne to-day." he jovially shouted ; and there we^ men who 
 could not bear to snub him openly. Nothing had rX e"er b^^ 
 proved against him: why should they judge Eira? But tliire w?rS 
 ^veral who declined, alleging one exeus^ of anoUier, and eveTtC 
 
 '' WpII nVT t^.'" ^^'^ applauding Wharto'n's toasl: 
 butlSvlle'^Tofi^""^ ''''''''' ^ '^'^ •-" ^«"-^^ 
 
 III. 
 
 t.n^,T' ^^r ^^^. ^'^ ^^"^ ^°°^» *''e sensation of being reluc 
 tent to rejoin his regiment. When the colonel wrote a perVoiml Tetter 
 to him some eight or ten weeks previous, telling hL that C.™ 
 would ahnost surely get the next va^cancy on the r^imT 1 st and Z 
 
 rlore Pffi^^'^'^'^^'i^'^^"',^'^* *" «^'"^ ^^^^ toll em at ont a^d 
 restore efficiency and discipline to Troop D Mr Lai.P rpnl!^3.k 
 
 the utmost readiness; but tliis was befoi/Mabefvii^^t Z ttol^ 
 ife and changed its whole current. How much and how devotSl v he 
 
 Z^^Z' ^'"1 ^''r'}^ "^^^^ ^«^"^«<1 »«til the day his pSion 
 mched Inm, and with it the news that his successor wL a reldyT^r. 
 nated He knew that within the week he might exiiect ordeJ^ fmm /£ 
 
 tm'n'U rr^^^^^^^^ *^-P '' ^"^ ^niSrilrasriad 
 
 turned over his funds and property to the officer designated to relieve 
 him ; he knew Noel so welf as to feel assured that hfwould noTwa^t 
 
 for the arrival of formal Mni««, k..* :rxi i , "« wouia not wait 
 
 o*„-* iU ■ 1 " ', — ''v-icr. i/ui, IS. itii; cuionei wouui uermifc wnniri 
 
306 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 m 
 
 ask^ tTatX J?T. T^y ^u"' ."'^'^*> «"^' ^""y « ^««k before, he had 
 T? J^. -i ^r *'"''® *^^ ''^"«'' 0^ being Miss Vincent's escort 
 
 It was with great disappointment that he reclived her answer S 
 was spoken Imwevcr, in a tone of such sorrow thrp^rS„efeu 
 that the barbs at least, of the arrow had been removal.^ '^' 
 
 M. T " i;n«w how to tell you how I regret having to sav ' No' 
 
 •rrangcraente already „.d/ B„t how could I y aSS Mr' 
 
 said Miss Vincent; and, if not asking too much would M^ZLL 
 
 cms mr. Kossiter, of wnom he had never before heard mentinn hi 
 was ^ger to meet and entertain him. The gentlema^was T arrit7o„ 
 Monday, and Lane spent a delightful evening at the vfnc^nt? won 
 dering why he hadn't come. Tuesday would surelvhrin^KT ' 
 explana^on said Miss Mabel; and Z Tueiy S,eT^ p^i^^/t to 
 ^11, and glad to spend another long evening at the hosSe oW 
 homestead, and stoutly did he hold his ground thrZh C suUl 
 s,ve relays of visitors, encouraged to do%o by a Shi loS inTs" 
 lady's bright eyes that spoke volumes to his throbbhig heart Id th«f 
 
 breakfast-table, flow early she must have risen to write it lland to 
 have seen the announcement of his promotion in the WkslnWfnn ^ 
 spatches^ True, he remembered that^it w2 J^ue^ hf Z^^^^^^ 
 be up betimes to give her father his coffee ; Ir ViLnt «^«T,c. ^ 
 business-man of the old school, who liked ti bJgin e^rk fn^he dlv 
 Of course he had seen the name in the Washirfgton news „"'! h«H 
 read the paragraph to her: that was the way to aWuntfor it But 
 
 InJ^t' ""^ ^ J^^, ^ '""^ '" '"^ «^««*' half-shHa fS^nfidenfia 
 wording She merely wrote to .say that Mr. Rossftir had^S t « 
 
 tjT/r^. -'^'"^ V^ ?^"^ York until the end of the wik- and 
 
 Z^^'dSf^'L^4-'!;'-e^"^^^ -.engagement, she'^ouldt 
 
 ^- - oa.vT.t lu leueu uic invitariou which with annh rar^^^t^ 
 
 ttT^^Tl^i * T^ ^^ ^ "'"^- Lane to Jly folt L b^^^^^^ 
 fast n his haste to rush to the writing-room and ^nA kJ„ "!,„'' 
 
 All Thro. '"??/?, the writing-room and send her°a reply, 
 All The Queen City" had been quick to see or hear of his « su 
 
 sudden 
 
before, he had 
 inoent's escort, 
 answer, which 
 )oor Lane felt 
 
 r to say * No/ 
 ioe and a h'ttle 
 most felt con- 
 bold thing to 
 t meeting, and 
 Jre were other 
 Jthing? Mr. 
 ?8 to pay us a 
 And he is 
 goes with me. 
 id." 
 
 10 uneasiness, 
 g. Mr. Ros- 
 eau and pay 
 1 means ao, 
 Mr. Lane get 
 she wouldn't 
 Anything she 
 intold eager- 
 coming man, 
 mention, — he 
 ' to arrive on 
 ncents', won- 
 g him, or an 
 IS prompt to 
 Jspitable old 
 three succes- 
 look in his 
 art, and that 
 ssive on his 
 it I — and to 
 ihington de- 
 • pleasure to 
 ph-e was a 
 in the day. 
 vs and had 
 for it. But 
 <Jonfidential 
 wired that 
 week; and 
 e would be 
 such regret 
 t his break- 
 reply, 
 tis" sudden 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 307 
 
 :p";.r ::nr;rot:sf rU^.^^'-^ ^'--^^> -^ ^- ™ the 
 
 that sS:L"prigr mS ,'r' ^^"* -° «»^« - - 
 
 had shown a ma^rked InS in C? "^ f'^ ^"."7 ""'^on, who 
 in society and had dan^d wUh him „nT ''"T^.*^'^ ^""^ «'* '^^'''^^ 
 one of 4forlornest,'st"pidest^en^I^^^^^^^ tt.:r "• .•: ^l '« 
 
 I supposed a cavalry officer to be " l«new,— utterly unlike what 
 
 i^^^^^^ii'^l^^^ t^A^n up with him 
 
 and intimate friend. ' ^ '^^ "^^^y "^^^r most devoted 
 
 " What an outrageous fib I I wasn'f • ur^A ,v t 
 
 friend had no' rte„Tdv»4 „t' " ^'^ "^"''' "'"'"^ '"°"8''' ''" 
 
 though I'm awfully fond ofT„ T^ .'PTf *''=" y" have, and, 
 the world,^„d Z "i'lt^'/'"'' ™"'<'" t have this repeated fo^ 
 inowher so well Uiai I^„r"u°T'' *? ^I^' '' '» «nybody,-I 
 and would chlnlTt „ C S "''1'''^'' !.''".''7 ^' »™ °'m/now 
 fickle in love aa in herfn^dslZ, L?"""" '^ '^ '"''• She is as 
 inseparable you and she wn '?^' "** -™? <^" ' have forgotten how 
 
 andVn hrsre'fLlTo^KatKe wl'' ti^^^^^ 
 
 of my finger whom Mr Lan«> ^hnTlllTr ii • " , ^ "^" * ^^^ « snap 
 
 Mabel Vincent hT'd ^tter in^rr « ?^i'° ^^^' ^'^^^ ^"^ if it>8 
 
 as he entered K dark offiLth^^ S '*v^ »" profound ignorance 
 with her precious note in T * . drenching Wednesday raorniuff 
 -red whanrVincent'^t^Xrth^^^^^^^^ He neither^newTo? 
 
 sweet self, for he lovS ITv Z\^\:ft^ T*^ ^^ ^^^^'^ o^" 
 the strenAh a J ^1%^"^ ^'}V ^,'8 whole heart and soul, with «I1 
 
 bardly control" his Toii8o\s^n? T^ ?u^ ^°^*^ "^t"^' He'oouTd 
 to the sergeant ncCi 1 th.T.^ '" *'!' «^»r^^'onal oflBcial tone 
 
 and madeX custo3reDort r^?^^^^^^ '' "^"^ ^^"i "* *^^ ^^^^ 
 I^ne stepped in.> his SlellS^it^mCdTuicf^^^^^^ 
 
308 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 
 !i i 
 
 llii:^ 
 
 '1? I 
 
 neat fatigue uniform. There wasn't a ghost of a chance of would-be 
 recruits wandering in that day ; but he was a stickler for discipline. He 
 required his men to be always in their appropriate uniform, and never 
 neglected wearing his own while in the office; yet in all the Queen 
 City no one but his little party, the applicants for enlistment, and the 
 lew citizens who came in on business had ever seen him except in civil- 
 ian dress. 
 
 "These reports and retunis all go in to-morrow, I believe?" said 
 Ijane to his sergeant. 
 
 " They do, sir." 
 
 " Well, will you take them in to the clerk again," said Lane, blush- 
 ing vividly, "and tell him to alter that ' First Lieutenant' to 'Captain' 
 wherever it occurs? The— official notification is just here," he added 
 almost apologetically. ' 
 
 " Sure I'm glad to hear it, sir. All the -^en will be glad, sir ; and 
 1 m proud to think that I was the first man to salute the captain to- 
 day was tV9, sergeant's delighted answer. " I'll call Taintor in at once." 
 
 But Lane was blissfully thinking of the little note, now transferred 
 to the breast-pocket of his uniform blouse, and of how not his honest 
 old sergeant but sweet ,Mabel Vincent was the first to hail him by his 
 new title ; and in thinking of the note and of her he failed t» notice 
 that, 80 far from coming at once, it was fully ten or fifteen minutes 
 betore laintor, the clerk, put in an appearance, and when he did that 
 his face was ashen-gray and his hand shook as though with palsy. 
 
 'The sergeant will tell you what is to be done with the papers, 
 laintor, said Lane, conscious that he was blushing again, and conse- 
 quently striving to appear engrossed in the morning paper. The man 
 picked them ud one after another and without a word ; he dropped one 
 to the floor m his nervousness, but made a quick dive for it, and then 
 for the door, as though fearful of detention. He hurried through the 
 room in which the sergeant and one or two men were seated, and, reach- 
 ing his big desk at a rear window, where he was out of sight, dropped 
 the papers on the floor and buried his face in his shaking hands. 
 
 A few minutes later the sergeant, coming into the little cubby-hole 
 of a room in which Taintor had preferred to do his work, found him 
 with his arms on the desk and his face hidden in them, and the soldier 
 clerk was quivering and twitching from head to foot. 
 ,, J' ^'^^t's the matter with you, Taintor ?" growled the old soldier. 
 Didn t you promise me you'd quit drinking ?" 
 
 The face that looked up into his was ghastly. 
 
 "It isn't drink, sergeant," moaned the man. « At least, I haven't 
 exceeded for a month. I've got a chill,— an ague of some kind. 
 Just let me run down to the drug-store and get some quinine,— with 
 perhaps a little brandv. Then I can do this work. Bo, sergeant. I 
 won't abuse your kindness." 
 
 " Well, go, then," was the reluctant answer : " but get back quick. 
 And only one drink, mind you." 
 
 Taintor seized his cap and fairly tottered through the adjoining room 
 to the stairway, down which he plunged madly, and, heedless of the 
 pelting rain, darted across the street to the gas-lighted bar-room. 
 
of would-be 
 jipline. He 
 1, and never 
 the Queen 
 mt, and the 
 ept in civil- 
 
 ieve?" said 
 
 iane, blush- 
 
 * Captain' 
 " he added, 
 
 id, sir ; and 
 
 1 captain to- 
 in at once." 
 transferred 
 his honest 
 him by his 
 
 id to notice 
 en minutes 
 he did that 
 palsy, 
 the papers, 
 and conse- 
 The man 
 Iropped one 
 k, and then 
 hrough the 
 and, reach- 
 it, dropped 
 mds. 
 
 cubby-hole 
 founa him 
 the soldier 
 
 >ld soldier. 
 
 , I haven't 
 ome kind, 
 ine, — with 
 rgeant. I 
 
 •ack quick. 
 
 ining room 
 less of the 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 worse 
 to it." 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 come upon the follo>vi„g announlSnt 5 '""""''' ^^'' *" 
 
 " Distinguished Arrival. 
 
 ■e hearfest welcome from the Qu«„ City. ForSSeTZm he 
 Z 7^^ r" • *"' «''"°!" -^Siment, and' ha, been prom" St in every 
 fran^fj hJT^ TV^ 'Satot the hostile Indians of our wXn 
 irontier. JHe has /ought a most everv aavno-P tv\l^ «., *i "«»iern 
 was disabled in the aLoc ca,npa^r^„^73^'"^"5j\<i «>","■•»'; 
 guarf of his regiment that reaffl tl e ^m o^h^l^ . ' °^™™" 
 
 f^t^ri f" 'r '° '^' ''■^-»a„fofThr4il;?Cm a^S" 
 
 tetri:^ S9 Sr3'-' S»"-™ 
 
 jeward for gallant and distinguished' .S^dr^n X' fiefd1,e°reive„* 
 
 fiXkin'gra: "' ""''''■ '^•'^'' "■' p-auo"!: ~m;; 
 
 theti;ehasnot;ete^i,^..T'"™ *" ""^ ■^"»»"' "' onoe, al.hougf 
 
 £^4tt^^?.;rar„ie:?t^^^rrj"»ee^^ 
 
 IZ. h;trrr^' thetn^'fTh V -^f'"™ - "-■^ aTv^e 
 
 looki„„l WL I u!l'.-,: _-ra«y<»i,ola .W? Ho«r well vou're 
 «eld h=u„ting-i^ oW'G^nWnraTl^V&^nr tt 
 
 ' ^i xlv'^' ^°" '° "^ "°"''' "'• ^"*^." «id Noel- 
 
I 
 
 I ill 
 
 ill! 
 
 mil 
 
 410 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 much cordiality and extended his hand Known, oowed with 
 
 TM 1! *^''^"'' ''"°'^'" *»'^ ^«» "*hat you were a friend of NopI'. «, 
 
 ^ ^ ir T,' '° T. y^'l *^^"'^' «"^ '"vited you to my hoL " ' 
 
 " Friend r exclaimed Noel. "i^Wend/ Whv »r5L T _. 
 and chums! Why we've xJZuW ^ZH^ .• ^' ^® ^® ^^" partners 
 Vr^ Ar!„ ^' T . . *" **^®^ *"'8 continent together With«ni f 
 
 youaJa™"?"""" "■*' ^°" '•"' ^ »» "" Sioux «,a.p.ip,. w,« 
 
 .•..t'^^'r,"!Srf:j;:1'/dt'vo'";r„ XTlIrr™™? '"re- 
 time, „cept„„thi,'deW, whl^htd bZ'.h'Th'L'l.t ol5 &.'' "' 
 Oh, yes ; I remerabor having heard that Uiis was voi r h^m!" T 
 
 now that ^Ik is here." "" """ **'^'"^>' «^P«^ yo"» 
 
 ;; I am very sorry indeed, Mr. Withei^, but I am already en«»ired " 
 You must make ear y bids if vou wHnf ir^ Jlf *u- ^ engaged. 
 
 It was just so m the regiment. He was always LdemLw.n' 
 when m„ you con.e, F.^? What evening shalfwe s^y?!^^^ "-*'"' 
 
 -ponse. " I fancied Vou J^htbe'^^LtrSn.oT'w^"'' P""""" 
 Yes, yon bet 1 didn't let the grass grow under ' mv r^ tu 
 moment we got the tel»raphic notifiSition t^t ft" Slonel'st^n.^' 
 
 course, are all in the bank." '^' *' """"^ ""'''' "^ 
 
 "Suit yourself about that. Freddr iM hn^ t>_ • j 
 
 street with Amos now. HoWll to-'Z^w mo™L do" ^""^ '"™ 
 « 1^1,:,!^' "■^!!?-- J»».-]' ""d ™«..he" «./time yon come in." 
 
 d.w„-iiwni;7th .^""C^Tr^^b'riSTereTtrt ~""^"?K 
 going over to see the worHJlSr" ^S.'e^r«^^nd^e^"y^ ^^ 
 
 going 
 Come. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 >en at the club, 
 wa, bowed with 
 
 d of Noel's, or 
 ' houBc." 
 e been oartners 
 ether, Withers I 
 X campaign ? — 
 the trail to the 
 n,if I recollect 
 
 t withoQt that 
 J manner, and 
 ling to Captain 
 
 ipaign. Were 
 
 ment through 
 any length of 
 
 old home, 
 our home. I 
 known to me 
 'ery busy man 
 
 dine with us 
 y expect you, 
 
 »dy engaged." 
 I young man, 
 the shoulder, 
 nand.— Well, 
 
 r 
 
 e property to 
 
 ine's prompt 
 
 7 feet. The 
 el's nomina- 
 )el, laughing 
 
 ty? There's 
 as, they, of 
 
 going down 
 
 m come in." 
 come along 
 
 oor. We're 
 yoa know. 
 
 311 
 
 "Yes, come with us. I think I have heanl it was vour father 
 who-ah-who was m the same line of business at one' time, Mr. 
 liane, ' said Mr. Withers. ' 
 
 " (hptain Lane, Amos l—Oiptain Jjane ! Great Scott I you mu.^n't 
 mister' a man who has been through the yearn of service he has." 
 
 1 Ijep pardon. I did not ho underHtand you, (Jordon, when we 
 were ta king l«.st night with the-whon we were having our smoke 
 and chat after dinner.— You will como with us, won't you, captain ?" 
 
 I wish I could. Mr. Withers, but my office-hours have to be 
 observed, and I cannot leave in the morning. Thank you heartily 
 none the 1(H«.-Then you will Ikj here to-morrow, Noel ?" ^ 
 
 lo-morrow be it, Fred: so au rcvoir, if you can't join us I 
 raustnt k(^n Withers waiting,— business-man, you know. God bless 
 ^ou'l" So I.m'^''" " ^'^'" *" '^'"''''^ ''"'^ delighted I am to see 
 
 " But about dining with us, Captain " 
 
 "Oh Lord, yesl" burst in Noel. " What evening, now? I'd 
 almost forgotten Getting in among bricks and morUir addles my 
 head. Tisn t like being out in the .saddle with the mountain breer.^ 
 all around you : hey, Fre<l? Gad I I <lon't know whether I ci^ 
 stand this sort of thing, after our years of campaigning." And the 
 
 and windows "^^^ "'^""'^ "''"" *''" ^'"'^ «'»» dingy walls 
 
 VJh\^y^T rrnfT '^^'"V^")^ ^won'm^, oiiptain," suggested Mr. 
 
 Semen.''" "''' •^"'' " ^^'^ ^"^'"^^^ ''' "'^^ >'^" '^« ^'^V 
 
 "^»*»a" be very happy, Mr. Withers." 
 
 . Good! That's the talk, Fred!" heartily shouted the lieutenant 
 
 bringing his hand down with a resound ing^vhack between Wh 
 
 shoulder-blades. "Now we are off! Come along, Am^' And 
 
 ^rriTe.'"' ^^^^P^^"^ ^«^» ^^^ ^"^k stairway undipped into^he 
 
 "Not a very demonstrative man, your friend the cantain hn^ 
 seems^to be solid," was Mr. Withers's remark. ^ ' "^ 
 
 airilv « Cp h^«'llj ^^* u "ir"'^ "' *^^'^ '"^^^ *^*"°^ " ^^^^^^""^ Noel, 
 airily. Lane has his faults, like most men. It is only those who really 
 
 know ..m, who have been associated with him for years, and S 
 
 he tru . and likes, that are his friends. Now, //go h rough fire 
 
 Tf AVi r ^"« F^^««% conventional society manner this mornine 
 
 tJnl i'^ ^^" "^^^^ ""V^^ ^"^^ «^ th^ «taii^ and had stoirup on 
 tiptoe and gone over and put my arras round his neck, you would 
 
 L'm ^i^'^' ^"r^"' .*^"P."e ^^^ "^'^'^ «»d dancing SuHhat 
 room like a coup e of grizzly bea« when you came up, fnd the mt 
 
 h^hLllZt' ''^^•"* ^"" ^1 ^^"'^ ^«^« »''»«h«J ^"'"^on «nd^t 
 
 oeniua nis iry> qniHMkn m o on^^r^^A Tr_— •._ , i . . . . . rr"" 
 
 nio.|.* ^^'\^Z "i" X " °^ Y""^" i"" jusc ougnt to nave seen him the 
 nf«nn K ' ^^ ''^u"' "T'^^ °"'* detachments down near Guadalupe 
 Canon when we were hunting Geronimo. Some d-d fool of a ranX 
 man had met him and said I was killed in the little affa^^ ha"wHh 
 the Apache rear-guard. Why, I waa perfecdy amazed atThe motion 
 
TWO SOLDIEXS. 
 
 he showed. 
 
 ;M 
 
 ^. Ever sinoe tli. n I've sworn by Fred Lane • iUouah nf 
 oou«e .. has tmit« that I wmh he could jret nd of" ' ^ ' 
 "Goodufficer, iV.'t he?" » * , 
 
 " Ye— €8, Une k '» hnlf a bad soldier. Of course it remains to \^ 
 
 ""M;rtTmlT"''''r''' "'f^- HehasonIyrst^,."rs'rrc!:, » 
 Hut I m«an he— well—is a brave man,— has shown un well i.i 
 
 these Indian fights you were telling „8 al^ut ?" ^ '" 
 
 H m I ' answcrtxi Noel, with a quiet little chuckle : " if he waPi,> 
 
 when old J,m Blazer was our colonel during tho«e y..ar« of tl .^S 
 ami Cheyenne and Nez I»erc6 wars he ran two men out ol the reg^ 
 ment sm.piy bo«iuse thoy manapl to got out of fiehl duty two Tuc- 
 oessiye years. Oh, no 1 Lane's afl right as a soldier, or he woddn't Tk.. 
 wearing the crossed sabres of the P:ieventh " 
 
 Mr. Withers li:itened to these tales of the doings and saving of the 
 regiment with great interest. " I^„e might ha-,f In^cn he e ^ dozen 
 
 ITJ ""'^.r' '" '^'"!f '[' "«"^^ "« «"« "'«"'• c-on-nmnity wouhl have 
 known anything at al about the dangei^ and haixlshij/his comrades 
 and he had encounteml in their frontier service. It's only wh^^^me 
 
 i^™p its^ln?'" " " '•"' ''' ^^^^" ^"^^'"'"^ whaU;rr 
 
 ♦h« ^V^\ *"« ^""•'"'n *o the great moulding-works of which he was 
 the sole head and proprietor, and presented his foremen and his cleTks 
 to the captain and told them of his career in the Indian ware on fhe 
 frontier, and then up on 'Change and proudly introduce " my coul 
 Captain Noel" to the magnates of the Queen City; and, thou^iVotoTe 
 outof a dozen was in the least degree interest^ in "the clptain" or 
 ^red,a gniin of wheat what the army had done or was doh^ron the 
 frontier, a most every man had time to stop and shake hands^^ia . 
 
 whl r ^Tf"^""' ""^r'-t ^^''' Witters was said to bTrman 
 whose check for a round million would be v .Id nl sl-ht. and .nvbodv 
 who was first-cousin to tb.t amount of "spot tai." .v4 worth /S 
 to chat with even in the midst of the livol: .! t,.;j.Je 'twixt t>ull ^aS 
 U>ar on the floor of the Chamber of Commerce. A tall gray laii^ 
 gentleman with a slight stoop to his shoulders and rather t r^^anxS 
 
 Slv th 'rHr'M''''"^'^ ''^^' '^r'' ^^^"^ "*^« pit" and sTun^ 
 eagerly the little telegraphic slips thrust into his hand by scurryinir 
 
 T^^\ r ^^'r^^^^ Mr. Vincent, and ]/r. V S 
 V /«* ^ Noelknew L.eutenant-or rather Captiin-Lane. 
 
 / ^<*^ Fred Lane? He is the best friend I have in the world " 
 
 uv. tr^thus-, ^^i^ answer, "and one of the best men that ever lived!" 
 _An I 1 m glad to know you,— glad to know what you sav The 
 ^ptein 18 a constant visitor at our house, a great friend of ours', in fart! 
 Ah I excuse me a moment." And Mr. ViScent seized a certain weH 
 knownbroker by the arm and murmurecl some eager inquiries 1^^ 
 -=.,^ w«,cn ine ocner listened with iii-disguised impatien'ce. 
 
 Withers and of course, "the captain" were the centre of a cordial 
 "a^r J^A T «*^«l»>ou8-group so long as they remained upon the 
 floor, and the secretary presentfy came to them with the compliments 
 
 * 
 
■.'Wh^ 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 318 
 
 9 ; though, of 
 
 remains to \)c 
 fot \m troop." 
 rn up well in 
 
 'if he wnpii'f, 
 Eleventii. A 
 Why. Amofi, 
 of Hi 'ioux 
 t ol ihe regi- 
 luty two 8UC- 
 i wouldn't Ihj 
 
 ayings of the 
 here a dozen 
 ' would have 
 Ilia eomradea 
 y when some 
 itever of our 
 
 hich he was 
 id his clerks 
 wars on the 
 " my cousin 
 3ugh not one 
 
 captain" or 
 loing on the 
 ids cordially 
 9 be a man 
 nd anybody 
 ^h .'rir ping 
 Kt bull and 
 gray-haired 
 red, anxious 
 »nd scanned 
 y scurrying 
 fr. Vincent 
 ne. 
 
 the world," 
 ever lived." 
 
 say. The 
 urs, in fact, 
 ertain well- 
 liries in his 
 
 of the preHulent ami u card adraifting Captain Gordon Noel to the 
 flwrof the Chamber at any time during Uh.o« houn., which that 
 officer most graci'fully ackn„u ..nlgd and then went ou .-plying to the 
 questions of hw new friends alxHit the strange regions thn>..gh which he 
 had scouted and fought, and the chara(terisfi«>H of the Indian tribes 
 with whom ho had been brought in contact. And by he time Cousin 
 Amos det;laml they must go up to the club for lu.x^heon, everybody 
 was much impresmHl by the hearty, jovial manner of the dashir.g 
 <avalryman, and there were rcpeatetl hand-shaken, promises to call, ami 
 prophecies of a delightful sojourn in their midst as he took his leave 
 
 Has Captain Lane oome in yol to lunch?" inquired Mr. Wither- 
 of the livened attendant at "The Queen City," as his cousin inscribed 
 his name and regiment in the visitors' Ijook, as intrr nlumi by "A W " 
 in ponderous strokes of the pen. ' *' 
 
 "No, sir. It's cjHwiderably past the time the g ntleman generally 
 comes. I don't think he'll be in to-day, sir." 
 
 1 " '^'!? 'J,? '^*'"'' '^"'^' Gordon. We'll order for wo. What wine 
 do you like? 
 
 *♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦ 
 
 Over at the dingy rcK^ruiting-oflRce Captain Lan. had forgotten 
 n»K)Ut luncheon There were evidences of carelessness on the part of 
 he clerk who had made out his great batch of |>apors, and the further 
 he lookttl the more he found. The orderly had Inicn sei-t for Taintor 
 and had returnal with the information that he was nor at his desk' 
 Sergeant Burns, vyhen calleil i4)on to explain Imw it hap, cnal that he 
 allowed him to slip away, promptly replied that it was haf-past eleven 
 when he came out of the captain's office and said that the. captain 
 would want him all the afternoon, so he had best go and g. his dinner 
 now. Half-past twelve came, and he did not return, 'i he sergeant 
 weut after him, and came back in fifteen minutes with a h orried look 
 about Ins face to say that Taintor had not been to dinner tt all, and 
 that tlio door of the little room he occupied was locked. J - had not 
 been lu the bouse since eight that morning. 
 
 »l 'l^"t -f?'"^' ^''"' ^«'«,^'"nkin' again," said Burns; "but he's so 
 sly about It I never can tell until he is far gone." 
 
 " You go out yourself, and send two of the men, and make in- 
 quiries at all his customary haunts," ordered Lane. " I will stay here 
 and go throngh all these papers. None are right, so far. I e never 
 laiiwi me before ; and I do not understand it at all " 
 
 But when night came Taintor was still missing,— had n t been 
 seen nor heard of,-and Captain Lane had written a hurried note to 
 the lady of his love to say that a strange and most untoward case of 
 
 iTuTnf? r^. Tv''"^ ^^"'^ necessitated his spending some time 
 with the Chief of Police at once. He begged her to make\is excuses 
 to her good mother for his inability to come to dinner. Later in the 
 evening he hoped to see her. 
 
 hea2f"rN«nJ^ Mi. Vincent, pensively. « Wl.e™ have I 
 
814 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 V. 
 
 
 feshioned prig tha/he has h^S o apr^ 'b^" A^ f ^° ^^^- 
 Vmcents' late on the previous dav Utlf 1 ^^^^ ^®«^'^g the 
 there for fully two hoSrs n the endl^v T"^^ ^ ^'' '^^'^^^ «"d sat 
 letter address^ to Ccent Jre tZ" *^.^°^P^« « brief, manly 
 the old style of addrS a gentleman of 'f^^^ T" '^^^ ^^« th«° 
 mission to pay his addreX^ i't "daXr ^ T'^''^^^^' 
 
 task was the composition of this UiZfrZ ^ • ^ ^^"^ difficult 
 was desperately in earnlt LwLr J /'*'"*'"' '«'^^^^- »« 
 
 attempts^he iissivrwTs 'cot^^^^^^^ ffisTitIC' '"'.f ^^ "^^'^^ 
 was to send that letter bv an nS,, f Ir ^r?"^^ '" ^^^ morning 
 he turned to his sero-eant nnrl .S^/^ ^''- ^'^^^nt's office. Then 
 a word had ^^^: S^^^r::! .tfJZ^' ^' *^^ ^^^- ^^t 
 
 "and^ot^th'^rn^vltTnl^^^^^^ 
 
 and this morning making inourieshnfJll ."""^'^ ^*""^« ^^^ °'ght 
 
 tives came and burst into h"s trunk nr ^ i*'' "^ P^'PT' ^he detec- 
 
 having He had been taking fway h'lfc'eTo^f "^.> '' "°^^*^ 
 m small packages and secretinrf hpm w. ^u '^•' ^'''''" *'"« to time 
 heard, sir, that I never Tnew£fi! , ^u""^ ''^'^'''' ^"^ thing I 
 gooe to b^d atnight^wo^dd ttSnJly s ed orof\'-' ^'^" '^/^^ 
 away and never reappear until bTaS tZ i n H ^" '^.°"' ^"*^ ^^ 
 now will the lieutenant-the canta^n ttl i *''? morning. And 
 
 Are the check-books alJTightrs^r ?" ^ "' ^^' ^'^'"^ ^^'^ ^"^t'«"> 
 
 « W^if ^"' *^''' '^^"^ mto'your head?" asked Lane 
 
 his delrironrsraLfsaTd ?hat"h:Ud^^^^^ T "^^'^'^ ^'"^^^ «* 
 that he hadn't completelv SrovP^l.^.^ t''^."^.* '"^P ^^ V^V^t 
 look like Taintor'sCall . he saTd it morp^ handwriting on it did^t 
 tain ; and it made me BusDicious T n T'"^^^!-*^^^ «^ *he cap- 
 night." suspicious. I never heard this until late ij^t 
 
 he ^rS^cS . Taking out his check-book, ' 
 
 the number^of stubs Ind Wd ZT^^ '"^ co'npared'them with 
 -y,^at at least fi^'si^Thtk^t^^^^^^^ --h to his dis- 
 
 stay ht^tnlVheTl^urntioStmS ^ ''' ^^^V Y^ 
 and ask him to sit down and ^^ait^L]^^' f^^ 5"? ""^ compliments, 
 I'll be back in a veryXrt time' ' ^^^^^ «^^ ^^^ the morning paper! 
 
 hadSyTklp^lhTr^^^^^^^ 
 
 way into the ofli«, and asked to ^ the ^^^fj^'"^' '^ «'«<'« ^'^ 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 315 
 
 • far to convince 
 lore of an old- 
 fter leaving the 
 I rooms, and sat 
 a brief, manly 
 •e nor less than 
 requesting per- 
 A. very difficult 
 r soldier. He 
 jd after several 
 n the morning 
 s office. Then 
 d^erter. Not 
 
 ^ the sergeant, 
 unts last night 
 J- The detec- 
 ug in it worth 
 n time to time 
 One thing I 
 after he had 
 > room and go 
 srning. And 
 : the question. 
 
 ys writing at 
 irap of paper 
 J on it didn't 
 '■> of the cap- 
 util late last 
 
 check-book, 
 I'them with 
 I to his dis- 
 
 bank. You 
 onipliments, 
 ning paper. 
 
 iptain Lane 
 Bank. His 
 Jrent estab- 
 
 icated, and, 
 B made his 
 
 " Will you kindly tell me if any checks on the recruitiqg-fund have 
 lately been presented for payment?" he eagerly asked. 
 
 The captain was referred to the book-keeper, and that official called 
 him within the railing. 
 
 " No less than four checks were brought here yesterday for pay- 
 ment, and they came between half-past two and three o'clock in the 
 afternoon," was the book-keeper's report. " There seemed to us some- 
 thing wrong in the simultaneous presentation of the four, and I was 
 on the point of addressing a note to you this morning to ask you to 
 come down to the bank. Everything about it appears in proper 
 shape and form, except that three of the checks have been endorsed 
 payable to your clerk, William Taintor, who came in person and drew 
 the money." 
 
 " Let me see the checks, if you please," said the captain. 
 
 They were speedily produced. Lane took them to the window and 
 closely examined them. 
 
 " I could not tell them," he said, " from my own handwriting ; 
 and yet those three checks are forgeries. I believe that the endorse- 
 • ments on the back are equally forgeries. Now, can I take these with 
 me to the office of the Chief of Police? or do you desire that the 
 detectives should be sent here? Taintor deserted last night, and all 
 traces have been lost. What is the amount that he has drawn ?" 
 
 " One check, payable to the order of William Hayden for board 
 furnished to the recruiting-party, is to the amount of forty-five dollars 
 and fifty cents. The second, payable to James Freeman, and endorsed 
 by him to William Taintor, as was the first, is for rent of the building 
 occupied by the recruiting rendezvous, precisely similar in form and 
 amount to the previous checks, for the sum of sixty dollars. The 
 third check is payable to William Taintor himself, marked ' for extra- 
 duty pay as clerk at the recruiting office for the past six months.' The 
 fourth is made payable to the order of Sergeant James Burns, ' extra- 
 duty pay as non-commissioned officer in charge of the party for the six 
 months beginning January 1 and ending June 30.' " 
 
 This check, too, had been endorsed payable to the order of William 
 Taintor. All four checks, amounting in all to the sum of about one 
 hundred and sixty dollars, had been paid to the deserting clerk during 
 the afternoon of the previous day. 
 
 " Had you no suspicion of anything wrong?" said Lane. 
 
 " I knew nothing about it," said the book-keeper. " They were 
 presented to the paying teller at the desk, and it was not until after 
 bank was closed, when we came to balance up cash, that the matter 
 excited comment and then suspicion. Taintor has frequently come here 
 before with drafts and checks ; and if you remember, sir, on one or two 
 occasions he has been sent for new check-books when the old ones had 
 run out" 
 
 X. !.-.,•. tj r^ij Liuc, saiu ijuuu. - iiu nas oeen empioyea nei'e lu 
 this rendezvous for the last ten years, and has borne, up to within my 
 knowledge of him, an unimpeachable character. If any mor« checks 
 come in, stop payment on them until you see me, and, if possible, 
 detain the person who presents them." 
 
m\ 
 
 fiiH 
 
 316 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 l=«t night and' ifas tu™rf ^° /' t''^ ""''« <»"• % clerk deserted 
 stolen half a dozen checks frl L b^k t» f '^''' ^'"^'- «« <»« 
 of vanous parties, fomed the en" 0^,™,^^ "'^? "'" ^ *« «"Jer 
 
 recru,ti„g.f„„d in the KrstSnrBank ^Tlf .'? "" "■^" "^ the 
 funds to^ou there will be no C We h av^tl T '"'''"''« "'«' "•« 
 the clothing account; but as quiSly as DoS^l. T ■,'i\*"' ri*™ ''»' 
 for your signature and mine '" Possible I will have them ready 
 
 "i;7itS frorthe'^Srtl &Lr7"«^ N-'. ''"-ly. 
 to have a nest-egg in ,he bank^rbih, ,S^h T?,"!""""/^,'?'''^ ^ ™»' 
 a fat cousin, sn't it? He h„= ™l„ " u ■"*» good thing to have 
 me nn^ 1,. '•.:!.. x " . ^« .""s always been verv lih,«l .,.j*i..- 'j . 
 
 a fat cousin isS't " H "hi aZ'" f"' ^''^ " K""" """g «« h«ve 
 i, luckily, iv; bnV/dt ;„"tiL'T:ir^-^'?!;i\:'<' kind ™ 
 ^".'""H»ft- Noel left, a diWi^t re^et/'L'S '''-K-" 
 
 me, and, 
 
 '^. ' -"V"'v> -i ve oniy drawn on him twirv q^ tmi k , "* 
 
 Five minutes after Noel left a A\Z\T ^^' ii«rry along." 
 
 note for Captain Lane, irwas a.Wr.^1^ * messenger entered witf a 
 of Mr. Vincent. He opencdTt tlfhff *lr "" /" *''^ handwriting 
 merely these words : ^ '"'*' ^ trembling hand. It contained 
 
 eJi^^/o'Stli^cl^^^ ^^'"-. Can you 
 
 tion ; and I much desire to sTe you. *^'" *^^^ ^''^^"* '^^'^^V- 
 
 delay into the private roomTf Le flf ^^^^^^^^ T «^?^« ^^thoS^ 
 mg even older and graver in thp w!n r I'f ^'^'^* ^^' Vincent, look- 
 btn-lding, was seated aThidtl and t^f '^'' -T ""^'^^ ^^-^ 
 memoranda and figures. He nu.h^ h" i^ ^^T"^ ^'*^ ^ book of 
 ward at once at sight of Lane anTm^' !^ . ^1 '¥'" ^°^ ««"»« for- 
 
 «-»n"„'h:";,aftirLXTr^JgTt ^'^4o' ""• ^'"i *» <■"- • 
 
 seem to rush into matrimonv ZhU^^tL f ^. 5 Pf'P'' "owadays 
 parents, and your lo.er w^a snrpris o mf'°1'' ■^f^'"-* *» tl>eir 
 the act that you should have so "X Itr/Z^A^fP^' *^* ". « 
 
 the Wthat/oT-shouId ha-^emtrC.^. .. ., 
 ■ -laKe tins chair, rm^^n.-r, » k^" ^x;"''. x-j —•--"" «t mi. 
 
 continued, as h« returned to his desk 
 
 at 
 
 iich to 
 
 say to you," he added, with 
 
 ou-Hatfrom w^^tL^Svai^CvK »4t,:it — ' 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 317 
 
 of my aoauaintan^ to whom I could intrust my daughter's future with 
 more .mplicit confidence. It is true that both h^er mother and Had at 
 one time other hopes and views for her, and that we wish your prof^ 
 sion was not that of arms. And now I beg you to be patient wi?hmT 
 and to pardon my al uding to matters which you yourseKroach n this 
 
 ;;;ir"paTa one't ^t^^V ^^" ^^" "^ i^-lyol^e not dependent on 
 your pay alone, but that from investments n real estate in ^rowinc^ 
 cities in the West and in mines in New Mexico your pres^.t^iTomf 
 IS some five thousand dollars. As I understand ^you, fhe p opertvis 
 steadily increasing in value?" ^ ' P™perty is 
 
 to Hnln^r ^^^"^'^ '"'"''^"^ *^"' ^^"' ^''^ «°d I think it will continue 
 least/' '' ^'"'^ *^ '""^''-^^ '^'^ ''^^ ^'^'^ investrTente at 
 
 "I am glad of this, on your account as well as here, for Mabpl hfl« 
 been reared in comparative luxury. She has never Swn what it was 
 to want anything very much or very long. She has beeTiSu JS 
 ^1. oVsSrtnV ;?" whole life'woulS be one equalT/frt^^ 
 i^ggan" "" ^'^ to-morrow, sir, she would be a 
 
 And here, in great agitation, the old gentleman rose from his chair 
 white frPrr^'r"'^ P^'^^P "^^ ^""° ^^e little n"m, wlghi^^^^^^^^ 
 r>fe ItTu""^ 'T^^^ ^"^ ^"••"'"g '"*« f««e away fr ,m the sfl^t 
 so dier, that he might not see the tears that hung to the \L\^ ovfZ 
 
 umc we are ruined,— and the money I hope to get in New York to f WIp 
 
 Tn whinh'^M^tr'"' T^>^ ^" ^^^^- Next month at this tie the houl 
 in which Mabel was born and reared may be sold over her h^^d M. 
 
 *\U ii^^ ' ^^^ ' ^^ you understand that f you win her -iffpr. 
 ta and she become your wife I have not a penny w^wTich to bT^' 
 
 ^ny'r^n^TlhTSm^j"^ ^T' " ^^""^^ ^'^^ "^y^^^ ^i«h«r than 
 «uy man in tnis world if I could know that your daughter cared for ma 
 
 and would be my wife Do not think that I faif tf sTmie and 
 
 of anv Ln T^' ^'^^ ^^'' ^^^ ™y own I could ask nothing 
 
 You^ri 1 'l'j;tIT..'l'!^^' ''. - ^-^ then, at one if needtf 
 within ten d'ays/' '^"^""^ """ ""'^' "''^ ''"^ '""'' '^J^^^ "^^ ''^g'"»ent 
 .rrul^^ fS" consent, and my best wishes, captain," said Mr VinoenL 
 
11, ! 
 
 318 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 i:.'!nl 
 
 "Not a word Mr. Vincent; and I can form no idea what her 
 answer will be. Pardon me, sir, but has «he or has Mrs. Vincent any 
 knowledge of your business troubles?" ^ 
 
 "My wife knows, of course, that everything is going wrong and 
 that I am desperately harassed ; Mabel, too, knows that I have lost 
 much money—very much— in the last two years; but neither of them 
 knows the real truth,— that even ray life-insurance is gone. A year 
 ago 1 strove to obtain additional amounts in the three companies in 
 which I had taken out policies years ago. Of course a rigid examina- 
 tion had to be made by the medical advisers, and the r^ult was the 
 total rejection of ray applications, and in two cases an offer to return 
 with interest all the premiuras hitherto paid. The physicians had all 
 discovered serious trouble with my heart. Last winter our business 
 was at Its lowest ebb. I had been fortunate in some speculations on 
 Change in the past, and I strove to restore our failing fortunes in that 
 way. My margins were swept away like chaff, and I have been vainly 
 striving to regain thena for the last three months, until now the last 
 cent that I could raise is waiting the result of this week's deal. Every 
 man in all the great markets East and West knew three weeks ago that 
 a powerful and wealthy syndicate had 'cornered,' as we say. all the 
 wheat to be had, and was forcing the price up day by day • and I 
 had started in on the wrong side. Even if the corner were ti break 
 to-morrow I could not recover half my losses. The offer the insurance 
 companies made was eagerly accepted, sir: I took their money, and it 
 dribbled away through my broker's fingers. If wheat goes up one 
 cent, we cannot meet our obligations,— we are gone. We have been 
 compelled to borrow at ruinous rates in order to meet our calls • I say 
 we, for poor Clark is with me in the deal, and it means ruin for him 
 too, though he, luckily, has neither wife nor child. Are you ready 
 sir, to ally your name with that of a ruined and broken man —to 
 wed a beggar's daughter?" And here poor old Vincent fairly broke 
 down and sobbed aloud. Long watching, sleepless nights, suspense 
 wretched anxiety, the averted looks and whispered comments of the 
 men he daily met on 'Change, the increasing brusqueness and insolence 
 of his broker. Warden,— all had combined to humiliate and crush him 
 He threw himself upon the sofa, his worn old frame shaking and 
 quivering with grief. The sight was too much for Lane. This was 
 her tather: it was her home that was threatened, her name that was 
 m jeopardy. 
 
 "Mr. Vincent," he cried, almost imploringly, "I cannot tell you 
 how utterly my sympathy Is with you in your anxiety and distress. I 
 beg you not to give way,— not to abandon hope. I— I think it may 
 be m my power t» help a little ; only— it must be a secret between us. 
 ohe — Mabel must never know." 
 
 VL 
 
 Is the three days that followed, the transfer of funds and property 
 at the recruiting rendezvous took place, and Mr. Noel stepped in wi 
 Lane, relieved and ordered to join his regiment. The former was 
 having a delightful time. A guest of the wealthy Withei-ses could not 
 
 I 
 
 .1 
 
 I 
 
lo idea what her 
 irs. Vincent any 
 
 foing wrong and 
 that I have lost 
 
 neither of them 
 8 gone. A year 
 •ee companies in 
 a rigid examina- 
 le result was the 
 1 offer to return 
 liysicians had all 
 ter our business 
 
 speculations on 
 
 fortunes in that 
 lave been vainly 
 til now the last 
 :'s deal. Every 
 3 weeks ago that 
 
 we say, all the 
 by day; and I 
 
 • were to break 
 er the insurance 
 
 • money, and it 
 at goes up one 
 
 We have been 
 >ur calls : I say 
 ns ruin for him 
 ^re you ready, 
 oken man, — to 
 snt fairly broke 
 ights, suspense, 
 •mments of the 
 >s and insolence 
 and crush him. 
 e shaking and 
 ine. This was 
 name that was 
 
 annot tell you 
 nd distress. I 
 [ think it may 
 ret between us. 
 
 s and property 
 itepjped in, viae 
 le former was 
 erses could not 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 319 
 
 long be a stranger within their gates to the Queen citizens and evi^rr 
 
 SSXLtr "ITtL'Zb h'^S Tri ^italiti^'onh'e mlrr^ 
 
 oiaj onaracter. At the club he had already become hail-fellow with all 
 
 he younger element and had made himsdf decidedly Zuraramoni 
 
 ^geft^'^;.'^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^S' "^^ -et that jolly ^KnX;? 
 
 eager to oe presented to lum. He was ready for pool billiarrla hnwl 
 
 i^V'^Tn ""t'.^'.T^r^^^^^^*^"" *^e staKor!^a^1nd" 
 l^L^hf ''^'"^^'^' ^'"^^'^' '^^^^< «°^ ^r^^^ked innumeSe jokes 
 during the various games, was a capital mimic, and could peiSnate PaT 
 Hans, or Crapaud with telling effect, his presence was pSm^ bv 
 eve^ one as better than a solid week of sunshine^metLg the 
 Queen City rarely, if ever, experienced. "reining ine 
 
 IT K T ^^"^' **1 *'i^ contrary, was nearly worrying his heart onf 
 
 out bemg told, he felt sure must be the case; but, beyond rSftW 
 she Iked and trusted him, the captain had not tlStest id^ jf to 
 the nature of her feelings towards him. He was a modest felb^ «^ 
 has been said. His glass told him that, despite a pah^^of c lear^'rav 
 eyes and a decidedly soldierly cut to his features C w«« IT ^[^^ 
 women called a handle man^ and^what wTmoW^thr werl HttL 
 strands of gray just beginning to show about his b^^ad teh^d and 
 in the heavy moustache that shaded his mouth. Lane si JheTl Jp 
 remembered that he was in his thirty-sixth year How Sle cai^ 
 for him,-fifteen years her senior ? Lane mng the do^^.i^^^H^^^t „S 
 and felt once more that his heart was beating even as it did «??! 
 o'clcK..k when he was ushered into the awful prSenc^ of her father 
 to .1 ^'^J V"'««"* h^ ^ot left her room to-day, and is ^7x411 en^u^h 
 ^and Mrs' V- '"""l^t' ^'f '''f '^' servant who came tr LXr 
 nSlf he J"'"""* ^^^'^ '^ ^ ^^^"'^ ^^"^ of Miss Maffi 
 
 tuJ^'l '*'" ^^"iT' 7,f7. ^'^''''y" stammered the captain. " Please sav 
 «l5 • *^f, ^^?^''^^ not yet refer to himself by his ne "tX^ 
 
 *h^ ^°?- *^^"' ^^i^<it^ and miserable, and yet with something akin M 
 
 nlX"«n '~^f ^^"^ simple-hearted fellow would haveTramS Til 
 ft^rite™',! west-bound cp, and was soon &r down town «t hia 
 
'!i! 
 
 320 
 
 iH 
 
 m 
 
 ililjl 
 
 Hini^j . 
 
 Iliiiii 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 he say anTwr;^^''^^'"^^^^*^'-*^^ handsomest you have" 
 
 a <^! tore itio tH Jr-' '^'"^ ^^^^^"^ ^« ^^^^ « dinLjn 
 toWmeuteld^^ another, and similarly reduced that 
 
 of hif ro&'ft^^^^^^^^ -'^/-^^ l-'ted the expn^ion 
 
 ^JDo get well by Saturday at latest. I cannot go without seeing 
 
 F L" 
 
 forwirSt"bo7,rh?s td- ^''" "'-^ '"^ O"™'- - '- «"- 
 IK>p;^7;jhTm,4'^^?!'; ■•' ""^'^'f'" "- ">« -w", as the captain 
 the w^riT. the'^'e^rd ^^lT.^^l 'igl't wa, ,till burning in 
 
 counting over pronerfv 3 o^^*^""""^ ^^ 'P^?' "* *^« rendezvous, 
 
 thought-<]id thit mo,r nSr "I *''^- ^""*"' "■« <"". but she 
 
 peH,fp,the^wa,amS-,™?i S T";^ ^»"an, Maty Ann-thai 
 
 stepp^'into hebri^rnST' •'"."■"'■r'i''' '""^'f '" 'i"«^. ""d 
 hoa« listening to her rftri.,\r'' . "'' «1«"' """""y dclieions 
 
 " How good you are to me !" she wmf^ « T'„« fl^ 
 are sti I— e5-nui4e T ^.luL a .' -.'^^ ^o\ver& were— and 
 
 M. L. V." 
 
 He had to go to 
 
 *Ka ^it'^'^^T^^P'^ "°*" *'"^«y afternoon came. He had 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 S21 
 
 >rist, as he came 
 T, as the captain 
 
 m«n " ™^"k ^}^l^ ^]^P^]^^^ an<i begged you to bear me out, old 
 
 Cousin Mattie simply ordered me to appear in my war-paint, and I had 
 to do It. You are to go in to dinner with her, by the way : ind I wish 
 you were en grande ^ue instead of civilian spike-tail. Here's Amos » 
 And Amos marched him around to one guest after another.— " self- 
 made men^s.r,"-heavy manuflicturers and moneymaker., with their 
 overdressed wives. Lane strove hard to be entertaining to his hosted 
 but that lady's mind was totally engro^ssed in the progress of the 
 feast and dread of possible catastrophe to style or servicf Her eyes 
 glanced nervously from her husband to the butler and his asslsta^ 
 and her hps perpetually framed inaudible instructions or waS; 
 and so 't happened that the captain wos enabled to chat a goo<l dea 
 with a slight, dark-eyed, and decidedly intelligent girl whofarto his 
 right and who was total y ignored by the youui cub who t^^her h^ 
 -the eldest son of the house of Withers, a callow youth of twenty/ ^ 
 
 M- M^"'" u I . "''^ ^^' ^y "^™®' ^ ^°°W'" she had said to him. " I am 
 M.S8 Marshall, a very distant connection of Mrs. Withers's, the teacher 
 
 tTfi^r the'gap'" """" <^etailed-.isn't that your soldier expression ?-!: 
 
 aaid^lnt I'mnglj:! '"" ^''" "" ""^ '"P''"^^^'"' "^^ ^ ««'^^" 
 "I had a cousin in the artillery some years ago, and visited his 
 wife when they were stationed at the old Lrmcks 'across tierve 
 There 8 no one there now, I believe. Listen to Captain Noel • hli's 
 telling about Indian campaigns." ^ * 
 
 {^"deed, pretty much everybody was listening already, for Noel with 
 much animation was recounting the experienc^ of the chase a^tl'r the 
 Chiricahua chieftain Qeronimo. He was an excellent tiilC anT ! 
 diplomatic and skilful in the avoidant" ^;^S^S^'r'^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 idd '.id' ''r;,«^tl>^««"? of dramatic incidents which he so gmpfeUy 
 told and yet the impression conveyed-and intended to be LvevS- 
 was tha no man had seen more, endured more, or ridden haX^T 
 and farther^ than the narrator. Flattered by the evident inSsh^wn 
 
 eW"h: t^beT' ?'r'''^ that convention was brisTTt Ws 
 end ot the table the lieutenant soon lost himself in the enthusiasm of 
 h s own d^cnptions, and was only suddenly recalled to earth by^Sin^ 
 ^SibTe'exlTiof^ had ceased its diiJiier-chat, and thaVS'hf 
 
 possiDie exception of the hostess, who was telegraphing signals to the 
 
 nervoTs laugh.^ ' '"^ ''' *"'"^ *"^^^^^ ^^"« "^'^ ^ 
 
 "I'd no idea I was monopolizine the talk." Hp ««;rl <iv^ „ij 
 
 command to ours when we neared the Guadalupe? Amos 3 Mr 
 Hawk, had been asking me about the chase after&ntmo" ^'• 
 
 « You'klrtL n'P;~^?P*"^" ^rr"^'«'" ^"^^^••^i Lane- 
 lou know that Captain Lane and I are of the same regiment, 
 
Jlii, 
 
 322 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 iiiliii 
 
 illli 
 
 iilii 
 
 and, though not actually together in the chase, we were in the «im« 
 
 him'r "'^*''''' «^Ptein,-my brother Henry's son. Did you know 
 
 *},o "^T"^ ^""^ ^ ^^^' ^® '« °"« of *he warmest friends I have in 
 InH f T^'--«"t« de of "7 own regiment, that is. We were ^n 
 stantly together one winter when I was on stiff duty in WashTnZn" 
 
 "Do you know, Captain Lane, that I have found your comrade 
 ^es lU''^ interesting man?" observed Miss Marslmll and her 
 eyes turned upon her next-door neighbor in calm but keen scrutiny 
 look^ If fl-' "P r^^rtaining," was the reply ; and the dai^™^^^^^ 
 looked unflmchmgly into the challenge of the dark-brown. ^^ ^ 
 les, 1 have listened to his tales of the frontier at breakfpQf 
 
 .-.. «:ej:q « °/e„«';s^^ rs sr- -p'» 
 
 Ana must needs have a good memory to be able to tell of it all 
 K'S^ T^'n" T ''''"""*^ *he .same incident more than onc4" An7 
 Miss Marshall's 1ms were twitching at the cornere in a manner sua- 
 gestive of mischief and merriment Combined ^' 
 
 youJ^ womr"^ ^" " ''P'^*" "^'^^ ^^ ^^'^^""^ ^ ™ost observant 
 
 ro^r ^^T-^ ^ ^'"^ """^ "^" *o tax your loyalty to a redmental com- 
 rade «ipta.n: so you need not answer. Captain Noel iXrS sTd 
 entertams me principally because of his inteL indl^vidualit^ld hfs 
 en ire conviction that he carries his listenei^ with hi^ ' Age Lnnot 
 wither nor custom stale his infinite variety;' but there shouW Tt be 
 quite so much variety in his descriptions of 'a single ever TMs t 
 
 ).,•= r^T have the advantage of me, Miss Marshall," answered Lane 
 h^ eyes twinkling with appreciation of her demure but droll ex pos^e 
 of Noel s weak point. "It is the first time I ever heardts vSn 
 
 " It is the last time he will mention it in your presence if he saw 
 the exnression in your face, Captain Lane." P'-esence, it he saw 
 
 n„f .fVh^^iTi •"*'*ospective eyes of yours look clear through and see 
 out of the back of your head. Miss Marshall ? Your free was turnS 
 towards him. You stopped short in telling me of your ^usTn in ?h. 
 artillery and your visit to the bflrr«nl.= Ja hJl 1° i:^??^" '" ^^^ 
 thing I did not care half as much toTiear-^s yS^r^o;; i^p^s^JoZf 
 
 ^Pir^r^l'-. ^Zf "'["^ *h^ quadruplex account of tTe^nSride 
 
 « w n^** 5^*^" thought of the army.^ ^ ^^' 
 
 ^ Well, of ooui«e the first thing a girl wants to know is what the 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 323 
 
 most observant 
 
 ■I 
 } 
 
 shoulder-straps mean ; and I learned the very firet day that the blank 
 strap meant a second lieutenant, a single silver bar a first lieutenant 
 and two bars a captain -that is, in the artillery. Now, why this pro^ 
 voking distinction in the cavalry? Here's a captain with only one tar 
 a captain whose letters from the War Department come addressed t!> 
 Lieutenant Gordon Noel I" 
 
 ;| Noel never speaks of himself as captain, I'm sure," said Lane. 
 Neither do you ; and for a vear past, ever since I have known 
 you by sight, —and here a quick blush mounted to her temples.—" vou 
 occasionally came to our church, you know," she hastened to explain — 
 you have been referred to as Lieutenant Lane or Mr. Lane -but we 
 know you are a captain now, for we saw the promotion record^ in the 
 Washington despatches a fortnight ago. What was the date of Captain 
 Noel 8 elevation to that grade? I confess I took him for your junior 
 in the service and in years too." ^ J J 
 
 « I^J ^^^ ^''}^^ "^^^ ""^ *° ^'^ youth," answered Lane, smilingly. 
 And about the captaincy ?" ' s / • 
 
 "Well, he is so very near it, and it is so apt to come any day, that 
 perhaps he thinks it just as well to let people get accustomed to ^llinff 
 him ifuU. rher he won't have to break them all in when the com- 
 mission does come." 
 
 "Then he is your junior, of course?" 
 
 " Only by a file or so. He entered service very soon after me " 
 iJut was not m your class at West Point?" 
 
 " No : he was not in my class." 
 
 " In the next one, then, I presume?" 
 
 " Miss Marshall, is your first name Portia ? I should hate to be a 
 witness whom you had the privilege of cross-examining. There are 
 l^ies learned in the law and I expect to read of you ^ called to the 
 bar withm a year or two." 
 ^^ J Never mind. Captain Lane. I will ask you nothing more about 
 
 _ " No, Miss Marshall, I presume that ray clumsiness has rendereil 
 It totally unnecessary." 
 
 of fhpm Pnf?!'*! ^ ^vfFl'*" ""'"^ 'dispersing. Lane did what most 
 M^il goSJnV^^^^^ '^ "^°* ^^" *^ '''^ P'^"« «-^ ^^« M- 
 ^ '; Captain Lane," she said, « I beg your pardon if I have been too 
 nquisitive and too critical, as I know I have been; but yoVhave 
 
 wnrM "w-u ^""^ ^r'"''- ^'^'^ *^ ^^ard a comrade's failings from the 
 « ^1, y'^^ """^ ^°'"S>ve a woman's weakness ?" 
 
 There is nothing to forgive, Miss Marshall. I hope sincerely 
 that we may meet again before I go back to the regiment."^ ^ 
 
 HJm r Kr-^""' ^^ ^".^ ^^? T*^^^"S homewani from a final peep at the 
 dim light in a certain window, he hnd fJm« f« +k;„i, k..™'?!!"i:1u, 
 
 V^'ZIT T -""i K" "ot been for ihe ;;cid wh Sh 
 placed that dark-eyed governess by his side. 
 
3r- 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 I ill I 
 
 ;!•!>• I 
 
 VII. 
 
 bright fortune? Does it mean victorv? /r;, T .1 ?"* " ""«'"• 
 
 ter itz'?"weretl,equ«.io„Xt . owX^thr^gh't bra'b'VV""- 
 to-day she was to " be down fnr „ iw;! "',.,"&» "'s brain. To-day— 
 
 then L " ,,„h".o t artola\^l':''''^o:id''r^^"'r'';r'' 
 
 yet „,„n that loVf"S„l'':„XJe"T,;.as Ltrf i'T 
 
 dre^ and ,,™,rT;^r4'lLtttrr':^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 he .?rei:<t :;ia!"irlhaf li'^ "'vthr '' I'H"^- '- ™he„ 
 
 :tTt a?d£l«-H^^^^^^ " 
 
 What coldly, a^d 8„tffJtLn;at Z^^ ^^'^e- 
 
 Clark was pale and nervous ; eve^ eHck oflhp " ? u » *^°- 5''- 
 make him start. A clerk sinnd ,» .Z ;„ ? . *'.".'"'■ ^""l '» 
 
 dotted qnotations. "'' '"»"■"■»«»'. ™tehing the rapidly- 
 
 " Have you heard from Mr. Vincent '" was the fir=t „„„.• 
 without a word, a telegram was handed him rtl- ' ^^l"" ' ""?• 
 sawato„ee.andClarls^plia ttlt;r";tiou "" '" "'P''"' ""•' 
 touch^Ta^ BXi^h^l;^' ''"-'^- ^ WaMen instant 
 
 "Sl'-hralraTa^r.-jJ^to^od-VT^^^^^^ 
 quarters of a cent between us and begLyT I couM l^r J K f "^I 
 Vincent : 'twould kill hJm F,r^« ^^ u^ • " "^^ '*> ""* »ot 
 
 *!". "™* -*^ven his home is mortraa-ed " 
 
 wasTtenT " ''"'°'' '"-"P '"P ^' *' «'»-' -loorfr-clerk's h«.d 
 'f Three-eighths, sir." 
 
 the flit^litave nol^iket^'LTT ^"L " ^- ^"'■'" '"''"<"' r^ «> 
 
 m Treasure notes,-„„e hundred eaoh,-had you not V '^"".'""'« " 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 326 
 
 ig, and lay for a 
 arrows alx)ut his 
 ifts of li^ht that 
 "Does It augur 
 the 'sun of Aus- 
 
 ^rain. To-day 
 
 ! afternoon," and 
 le?" Tenthou- 
 but whisoer one 
 It lacked hours 
 not five o'clock ; 
 e in bed intoler- 
 ad had his bath, 
 to rouse hira. 
 s after ten when 
 from well, and 
 I the doctor had 
 planation some- 
 ork with their 
 igh noon when 
 hastened to the 
 ^hat it had only 
 ead it and care- 
 moment he v»'as 
 )seted with the 
 k & Co. Mr. 
 ker" seemed to 
 ng the rapidly- 
 
 queetiou ; and, 
 » cipher, as he 
 
 harden instant 
 
 ied his face in 
 
 Hse 1" 
 
 ^oice. 
 
 fit I Three- 
 
 «r it, but not 
 
 id." 
 
 e clerk's head 
 
 follow you to 
 ir call at the 
 Better have it 
 
 « I'll see Warden at onoe. D-,, him I he would sell m out with 
 I no more compunctions than he would shoot a Imwk " 
 
 New York ?" asked Lane, as they hurried from the office. 
 
 J4ot an at«ml He made old ll(«siter what he is,— hauled him 
 out of the depths, set him on his feet, took hira m here with him for 
 ten y^rs, sent h.m East with a fortune that he has trebled since in 
 Wall Street, and now, by heaven ! the cold-blooded hrute will not lend 
 nim a pitiful twenty thousand." 
 
 At the bank Lane found an unusual numl)er of men, and there 
 was an air of suppressed excitement. Telegraph-hoys woild rush in 
 every now and then with despatches for various 'parties, and thes^ we^ 
 
 hirif h^T'L""^-,'"'^''- ^J^P' "^ ^«^' ^"-"^^^ conversation reachS 
 hira as he stood, a silent watcher. " They cannot stand it another day." 
 Ihey ve been raining wheat on them from every corner of the North 
 and West. No gang can stand up under it." <' It's bound to break," 
 etc. To an official of the bank who knew him well he show«l the 
 telegram he had received at the club, and the gentleman looked up in 
 
 u S^ ^?" ^""' *^'^ "^' captain ? Surely you are not " 
 
 lau^h "V^r'' T^ empfiatically," replied Lane, with a qu:et 
 iaugb. Yet I may have sudden use for that sum. I teleeranhecl to 
 
 oTceStSV'ilT""^ '"-^''^y- ^-' P-^-P^' oug^tTSal 
 
 of cZr:: know-^" "'"' '"' ' ^"""-"^ '' "■" ^ ^^"« ' ^^-^^ 
 
 living the man of busing to attend to the necessary formality. Lane 
 
 miw.? •J'"^'^"';^ i""!^^ ^"^» *'^^ crowded street towa^ls the 
 
 was at Its height. The day was hot; men rushed by, mopping their 
 
 tt 2 to rOh^'^J^^ TP^^ ^'^ ^^'^''"^ "-^ the^'brold en- 
 trant to the Chamber, and all its windows were lowered to secure free 
 
 the^lr?"^ '.^ "^ ^^"^ ^^"^'^^^ »'« •^^"l^ ^'^^ theXuts^ 
 wwT .? '" *''' P'^ ^^'" ^'^^^ *h« ««^«Jc«« roar and rattle of 
 
 sTSX"h ' ?°^ PT"^.1?*- ^'''^' ^y ^'*^^« '^' minute-hand w^ 
 f hal?ve^?'' h?h ''w' ^"^ '"" "" '^'S? ^'•^"^ ^'^••^- " H^ «he touched 
 
 reaZl^^init^ ^"* o^ ^ve minut. and 
 
 ThefeJ^\ r^rn/'"*^ f' r""^ ^"'-" ^•"g'^' ^^J^'"" stroke, 
 emt Cnf nf T J T-.t" *^' '*'^*' " general scurry towards the 
 TuTL^ZjfiU ^^ ^v!.''^'"^' ^ rapidly-increasing crowd along the 
 cust:!:rjJ!:? =^„".„-."^^P--g out,ai/brokers.and'their 
 nPiVhhnrJ;^^""^ """-^ <-y,Taiu3 iimiiDeness iiitie offices ail over the 
 Son sora?^fl„«?T'' '^ *>lPa««ed along under his post of obser! 
 
 ^r^' and T «n r^%'"!f f'^^^^y P"^'' «"^ fi°«"y Clark himself ap- 
 P^^fJ' and Lane hastened forth to meet him. ^ 
 
 ^ved by a mere squeak so far," was the almost 
 Vol. XLV 22 
 
326 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 "run ♦h^ o? J- . " ♦^ *"'^'"' ^^8 a "»ore respite " 
 
 y th at^, ti.e. I CrZ^i;Xjx7o^J!^, fc^''^ 
 but 1 m no expert in these matters." ' ' '' *""*' ^'•'^'^ ^ 
 
 1 .1 ^?" ^^®^®' ^^^^''^ '^ wise to keen out (s£ if Wk 
 whether they will break or nn^9 "' «?ep out ot it. Who can say 
 
 ♦Kn "P""/"" ?*> back to the office from here? Q,^\ \ I'll • • 
 there in ten m nutes " said T-nn« " r .. t in ' ^ " J^'n you 
 
 change of a few wor U nn, I IT . P""^'' "'"«''• "fte' 'he ex- 
 
 tl.e ways of the worW, hoZever LlM^ ™V.""i!^ ']"'« ^'^'^'d '■> 
 profession. ' """"o^™ "ell he might be informed in his 
 
 "pite his best eiforls to conZ himself . ^ '^P'?'"' '"-eraWing de- 
 hall, and there, hurtyinTdown Z ILf^P^ P°" J'/"' '"'" "'» troad 
 dently to m«t I ira.^Sntly she heldtrth^i; "^T M™- Vincent, evi- 
 the parlor, and then he Sw that h.l f ''"' '"""' "'"^ '«' •>'"' 'nto 
 that her e;e, we« .!rf wiTh wtping ""* """ ""^ ™'' "'"l He and 
 
 I felt'.lm"l"mtt'':S yr" MrVilnT:^";'"/'" ""■™"^«'' "•>»' 
 
 I-sa^-ilPS tdl;;"-''"' "' "'"■ •■'' «'"«-'--' -'^'^ lady; and 
 
 BidtteH y-'-aEfe; "^' ^T ('»'' "^ '■™™ ^ew York? 
 what Mr. Vi„ee„t.:t;3*l;;dtSn :e^^ 
 
 KossiSrbuT^e-mllyTas n^^^ "^T "F^'-'e-^ in Mr. 
 at one o'dock." ^ ' °^^'*^ "P *« *^e closing of the board 
 
 him"X"\''^rC^t,/,,f^ ^hat the Ro.ssiters refused 
 
 eon. I would rather RTand live in « h"'' Hi <>haracter8,-father and 
 to either of them." ^Ind now h! ^^ *^'" ^ '?"^^'' obligations 
 cheeks. "* """^ *''^ ^^a'-s were raining down her 
 
 the Z^rt rg^ir Y^avlE^ fii^^^ • "^fT' ^«eve 
 
rorehofld. " But wv 
 e respite." 
 think you? pnc«, 
 only olimb a hair's- 
 that it miifti break ; 
 
 it. Who can say 
 rybody confi(Iontly 
 lys ago; and look 
 
 (xl ! I'll join you 
 me down town this 
 
 of Vincent, Clark 
 :iich, after the ex- 
 r, Mr. Clark care- 
 >ig safe. Then he 
 id good-by. 
 he Vincents' door, 
 bigail whom he so 
 before, yet lacked 
 ed little versed in 
 ! informed in his 
 
 lease to walk that 
 in, trembling de- 
 er into the broad 
 frs. Vincent, evi- 
 and led him into 
 id and pale and 
 
 murmured, "but 
 i on the train as 
 
 , dear lady; and 
 
 ►m New York? 
 iw perfectly well 
 ng.» 
 
 ^pointed in Mr. 
 ing of the board 
 
 -ossiters refused 
 srs, — father and 
 ider obligations 
 ling down her 
 
 cannot believe 
 )f the strongest 
 )rner was pr^ 
 
 TWO SOLDIKRS. 
 
 327 
 
 I o!;!!^J" ^"^ ^u'} ** '''^'" ^^'^ ™'^™'"»' «"^ ^^^ i" the universal 
 I opmion aiuong the best men now." 
 
 foJd^n,e'il!f 1^^ 1^ ^7' *^Y ^"*' ?'"^ ^'' Vincent has con- 
 fessed to me that us whole iortnne hangs by a single hair.— that this 
 wretched speculat.(,n has swallowcl everythi„g,_tgat a r li of a sinSle 
 , P;j;ny means begga.y to us, for ho can L logger answer ^i^'brlS 
 
 have had'aTtMiTn^^r "I T^'',\^'' T'^H-' ^^"' ^'' ^'^'^ ^^^ to 
 , nave had a little better luck locally. T Infer from what he told me 
 
 i tloi^h^'Jr, • f ' ?'"^ ^^f ^'^^ '°^ *'^7 ''«^« sustained, there 
 1 W^I;i.^ ^ ^ ^^ •""'" '•'"' «° overwhelmed Mr. Vincit on 
 
 " You give me hop(5 and courage " cried the ooor flnn'mia ho^r^cA 
 , woma„,as she seized/and presse<l 1^^ Imnd. ' Kl^ nTyo'ul^^ 
 
 .~d';Su'of hjpt^rfir^^^ ^'^" ^^' ^^' -- ^-"« -^ 
 
 »m 1^^"^ ^ have your go«Hi wishes, too, Mrs. Vincent ?-even though I 
 
 am only a soldier and have so little to offer her l»eyond-beyond_" 
 
 But he coulc not finish. He had looked into her fac^^w^ such 
 
 h?tri^T stlk'%- "^^".'r "^T'J^' "- ^'-- heJ^lIly win 
 He tried to speak of his great love for her sweet daughter. 
 
 mdysvmmThr "fZr"^'^ T" t' ""^^^'•^' -^^'' ^^-^ ^^^ 
 reaay sympatiiy. 1 have seen how dear ray child has been to vmi 
 
 mZ\ It ^on^T"' V^^ you that-we once Ll othT v^is fo; 
 Mabeh It 18 only fair and right that you should know." 
 
 ilow could it have been otherwise, Mrs. Vincent? T^ fh^rr. on« 
 
 oriiJ^trTlr' 'f /.^ ''^'i ^''y ^^^^onTrne So'h^h fo^ 
 To f.«!l • tT^ ^^""V^ ^'""^ th^t your consent could have been 
 
 so freely given. I do not dare hope that she can possibly care L me 
 
 tearl'^ -f rh^l^!t^'" '''T'' 'h^"/.' ^^^^ she, smiling through her 
 
 glan^'^aroTnf " T?/Jf ^'"^^r^i '^'''''' ^^-^ «°^*^>^ '''^''^ ^"^ quickly 
 hr^nT! ' T y ^^''^,'^" ^"^ ^n^^ portidres, the pictires bronzes 
 
 n:Jwi'!^u!™ul"^. ^ «7^^ welcome to him, while the rosv color 
 
 white wr^W^'T'''^ ne eaiue quickly forward and took her sofl 
 
 S^n. Tm,. u' T *'''",''^'"S • ««^ his kind gray eyes were 
 glowing I She could not meet them : she had to look awav Sha ToJ 
 
1 I 
 
 m 
 
 mM 
 
 328 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ll'ii,:i; ! i 
 
 th?;!f^^^^^^^ her b.o., contesting with 
 
 flowers began to rise and faH f« Th.!, u T"^ *^^'? treasured, envied 
 clear lakeltirr^ by sudden wtl^hT^'^ on the billows of some 
 she hanlly heard/tlough her^;s lit ^'^ ««'<^' ^e did not know: 
 realized that both his hands were ti^hflv I '° ^T^ ^''''^' ^^e only 
 ing to seek a chair and dravvT^T ^ -^i^P'"^ J"'^' «°^ that, scorn- 
 could not bear trreL^e^n for «n-'tT^l''^"'^ ^^' ^>^"«« he 
 -perhaps still more b^usrof thp Z ^'*""* /^at slender little hand, 
 
 hafprorapted hirtoTs^narenHl i ?' ''^u^.^^'^ ^" ^'« "«t»r« t^a 
 deep and tender bve -Cantri^L r^'"!? '^^T *'"'"g ^er of his 
 beside, and, bending over her wa^nL' t^Pf'^ ?" ^"^ ^»^« ^^^^e 
 words'the old, old Lry of a bvern ^^ ^^^^'° ^'«^""' incoherent 
 the sweet old sonff tha7d«vJZ^ ^^^^ '^."^ ^'^^ «"d longings,- 
 since God's crSltAh'e^Ci^^^^^^^^^^^^ ay thoufhSng 
 
 be heard or sung exceot in nnfnr^ ^ 1 . "' ^^^^^> "®ver can 
 
 as stone, no true^S eve^listeiedtThet^^^^^ ^>^^^ *^ ^^«^ 
 without a thrill at heart On.i !! i • *^ , "^^ ^ "»« « ^^"6 love 
 
 Lane-yes, and of men n^Talf h^"'^' '" '^^ ^'^l''"^' '^ ^'^ ^^^^ 
 intensity of feelina-there Jnm!! « ^''^'! ,'?! ^'1**^ ''^ character, in 
 be in the glow afd fervor Td^nf »"""•''"* ^^'- '^''' «"^' ^hethe^ it 
 and strength of mlreTTear^^ the intensity 
 
 date from which all other «n' i ! ^'^'i"^'' °^ « ^'^«t'™e; it is the 
 
 apportionmenTit itt miv :r^^ ^T^^^ ^^'^^ *^^''' <3"« 
 
 last, when all, ill but this a.JlbYn^.LjV'*''''!^"* '"g«^« to the very 
 in her pride of plao^ made the ^11^ T^ ^^V^y^S brain. Rome, 
 niundaiehistor/:everythiLinh^^^^^^^ ^'^^ *^^ «hmax of 
 
 or the reverse. The dd Sd mpf.? T^"' ""f ^^^^^^ 
 
 —not one ?" he pleaded ''»"'«> J^ioel '—not one word of hope ? 
 
 . n-STf t^"""^ '"''•' '"''^'^ '■'-' '"''-g -to hia deep e,es through 
 
 wf btSirn.;;':tt"yrd"fr;e"'Tir '"^""^ ^™ f' c-p*"-" 
 
 whom I so r^rd and mtmJ-h„t Z F^"* " ""x™'- ^ieve me, 
 of myself."^^ " ' ''"'"^ <'° ""' know_I am not certain 
 
 indin w^'7ht:tt'd":;e^ThS . ^^'^^ "^j"'' «•'•« "g"*' 
 
 yo. tr^ and .tee™. "^^^ ^^^^^t^ - 
 
 mc 
 
 ha 
 
 o i:ffi„ 1 • •'^ "^"'^'^ ^" "^® ana et me s 
 
 a little love m your true heart. Then by and by 
 
 to arouse at least 
 
 -six months, 
 
 perhaps, 
 
 lov 
 
 wil 
 self 
 
 I and 
 I tra> 
 
 8t0\ 
 
 hea: 
 rapl 
 
 did 
 
 Mr. 
 
 befo 
 
 reco 
 selec 
 
 Wit: 
 
 that 
 trav! 
 beti 
 And 
 wast 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 OJ, contrasting with 
 e treasured, envied 
 he billows of some 
 
 he did not know : 
 y word. She only 
 rs, and that, scorn- 
 ])s, too, because he 
 slender h'ttle hand, 
 ' in his nature that 
 
 telh'ng her of his 
 on one knee close 
 broken, incoherent 
 s and longings, — 
 !*, ay, though sung 
 «, never, never can 
 she be cold to him 
 a man's true love 
 etime of men like 
 h of character, in 
 s, and, whether it 
 I or the intensity 
 lifetime ; it is the 
 IS, take their due 
 ingers to the very 
 Jg brain. Rome, 
 ol the climax of 
 'urbemconditam" 
 d ; the new world 
 
 died upon the 
 ly and devotedly 
 the avowal, 
 leword of hope? 
 
 3ep eyes through 
 
 you so, Captain 
 one, believe me, 
 
 1 am not certain 
 
 just that right, 
 could win even 
 you admit even 
 
 Jve given me," 
 M in the clasp 
 
 days at most I 
 nise. Only let 
 ► arouse at least 
 lonths, perhaps, 
 
 329 
 
 i — ril come again and try my fate. I know that an old dragoon like 
 : me, with gray hairs sprouting in his moustache " 
 
 But here she laid her fingers on his lips, and then, seizing both her 
 hands, he bowed his head over them and kissed them passionately. 
 
 The day of parting came, all too soon. Duty— the mistress to 
 whom he had never hitiierto given undivided allegiance— called him to 
 the distant West, and the last night of his stay found him bending 
 over her in the same old window. He was to take a late train for 
 St. Louis, and had said farewell to all but her. And now the mo- 
 ment had arrived. A glance at his watch had told him that he had 
 but twenty minutes in which to reach the station. 
 
 She had risen, and was standing, a lovely picture of graceful woman- 
 hood, her eyes brimming with tears. Both her hands were now clasped 
 m his; she could not deny him iliat at such a time; butr— but was 
 there not something throbbing in her heart that she longed to tell ? 
 
 "It is good-by now," he murmured, his whole soul in his glowing 
 eyes, his infinite love betrayed in those lips quivering under the heavy 
 moustache. "^ 
 
 She glanced up into his face. 
 
 " Fred,"— and then, as though abashed at her own boldness, the 
 lovely head was bowed again almost on his breast. 
 
 "What is it, darling? Tell me," he whispered, eagerly, a wild, 
 wild hope thrilling through his heart. 
 
 " Would it make you happier if— if I— told you that I knew my- 
 self a httle better?" ^ 
 
 " Mabel I Do you mean — do you care for me?" 
 
 And then she was suddenly clasijed in his strong, yearning arms 
 and strained to his breast. Long, long afterwards he used to lift that 
 traveiling-coat of gray tweeds from the trunk in which it was carefully 
 stowed away, and wonder if— if it were indeed true that her throbbing 
 heart had thrilled through that senseless fabric, stirring wild ioy and 
 rapture to the very depths of his own. 
 
 " Would I be sobbing my heart out," at last she murmured, " if I 
 did not love you and could not bear to have you go ?" 
 
 VIII. 
 
 AT "a^^** ^" ^"^^""^^ P'"®*^^ g"'l t^iat Miss Vincent is, Amos!" said 
 Mr. J^oel one morning, as the cousIko were quietly breakfasting together 
 before going down town. ^ ^ & 6 
 
 "Pretty ? yes," said Amos, doubtfully. " But look here, my boy • 
 recollect that you want to think of something more than 'pretty' in 
 selecting a wife while you are in here on this detail. Now, Mrs. 
 Withers and I have been keeping our eyes open, and our ears too, for 
 that matter: the fact is, I always have both eyes and ears opei,— 
 
 be the man I am in the business world, Noel, if that weren't the case. 
 And, pretty though Miss Vincent may be, she's not the girl for you to 
 waste your tirae ou." e> j *" 
 
 "But why not?" asked Noel. "They have a magnificent home, 
 

 » 
 
 •I'l 
 
 330 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ^^^^'u^i^^^^i::^ -«--t and culture. 
 
 was vlJUdr/bS7n iMaT ■;;^^^^ ''' ^^^ " ^^^ ^er father 
 he has been losing heavn^for the W T""' ^^<^ °^«nth, and in fact 
 his broker on 'Change Jet it ^.!t f •*'^° ^^'^^ harden, who is 
 that wi,e of WardeANsVreSr'lnir"' "^^^ ''r --T««" 
 talking, and everything she ma?«Zfr.:^^^^ can't help 
 
 information goes broaS ZrTe entfl'' • ^'"'?.^™ ^'" *^^« ^^7 «? 
 oorner broke, as it did old vILnf ^ H'*^' ^^ eo"i^, when the 
 
 absolute loss'of his homestead "nd, ^'"T^ u'^ I^"" «»t «f ^t S.out 
 !^me only io the nickTtbfe I am toTw, ^rtr^l -^"* ^he rdly 
 
 out of time; he never could have con .T^ ^^^^^n^eked Vincent 
 have another plan for you. Wait m^l ^ a^T' ,^^'^«" ^^h we 
 from the East; between her S her tS l^r^^ '^''f^ g^^ back 
 much money invested in the best-navIL K? • ^^^ have just about as 
 
 with cfp«rLat':^d'tJe''"^f°'''' ^--P-'r- SI. „as there 
 P«vioasfy met." ' """" <""'"■ ^o^S P<»ple whom I had „ot 
 
 twi<: '?h«'y<;„r" friend 'tea, vl^r ',^ "^-^ ''"- ''-^ »- or 
 Now, you'd much better let S Sv off M™"^r '" """ l"'''^'- 
 
 W„t haa uo more^luo. iu tfe^^ilrhfL"^ St ^ U^ 
 
 »eirtttTJ"alZlnt,S "■""^"'^-^ "--J I - 
 many questions about thrS.tZ w 'Hu ™^' «»'' »«k«d a great 
 noticed that Lane, who sat on Z" ^"T "i^' ^o" ^Pe^k of it I 
 «em to be partie„lariy°„S L^'t XTJP 't »'' "'**''''«. d dn't 
 although of couree he liadTbTc vil i-l^^ T '"? *" "^ •^""'"g 
 
 diately a4r the Ihorntl" ai&n'nd E f""^ '^^ "'"O'' ■••»™. 
 the court-martial, where I ^Tluml^^ to go on to New Yorlt on 
 b^ m tim. for' the party StnT.hrTi""/ '""'^' '^«" only got 
 with her, and bv thia timf t!!:."K*- ^^^ ™ ™y second mLfn. 
 I didn't even have a diannTir '"'" 80"« "ut to join the reeimenf 
 «ally ti t he was L^S tthlt^L^^^ '» ■"■"• »" ^o/S; 
 
 «ally jiat he wa's'Litten Tthat^L??:??^^ "" 
 That's what I ..rtainly hearl,"11d Vith, 
 
 ««; "and aa soon aa 
 
TiVO SOLDIERS. 
 
 oement and culture • 
 =t attractive girls in 
 aom I have admired 
 
 y; "but her father 
 
 t month, and in fact 
 i' Warden, who is 
 ays than one; and 
 er,— -she can't help 
 ' lum in the way of 
 )f coui-se, when the 
 il out of it without 
 ?ss. But the rally 
 irden has said that 
 e knocked Vincent 
 ^Gordon Noel, we 
 ''f sister gets back 
 
 hayejust about as 
 this town as any 
 
 i'sjust as pretty as 
 IS a woman worth 
 u meet her, by the 
 
 331 
 
 you get to know 
 
 people 
 
 ^ Sh? 
 whom 
 
 ' was there 
 I had not 
 
 ave heard once or 
 ' in that quarter, 
 ncent, if he can. 
 ut I don't believe 
 ^rtainly won't if 
 had in the last 
 
 u%, "and I re- 
 nd asked a great 
 speak of it, I 
 ;he table, didn't 
 e was escorting, 
 > up a conversa- 
 ' at us, and par- 
 t wonder at it." 
 
 ' almost imme- 
 ' -New York on 
 , then only got 
 second meetino- 
 the regiment! 
 Do you think, 
 
 nd as soon as 
 
 « young people m society, i venture 
 
 can readdy find out all about it. These girls all know one another's 
 secrets, and are generally pretty ready to tell them. That's the result 
 01 my experience. 
 
 It was evident that Amos Withers's cousin was not to be neglected 
 in the Queen City. Two parties at private houses, a reception at the 
 club, and three dinners were the invitations which he found awaiting 
 him at his office. Half an hour was occupied in acknowleddng and 
 accepting or dechning, as happened to be the case, these eviden&s of 
 hospitality; then, having no esiiecial interest in the morning paper, his 
 thoughts again reverted to what Mr. Withers had been tellini hiiTabout 
 Miss Vincent, and the possible relation between her and his regimental 
 comrade. He had been very much impressed with her the ififrht be- 
 fore. Her beauty was of such a mre and radiant character, she was 
 so genial and unaffected m her manner, so bright and winning, with 
 such an evident liking for his society, that Mr. Noel had com! away 
 flattering himself that he had made in this quarter a most favorable 
 impression. He had thought of her very much as he went home from 
 the party,-of her inter^ted face, as he talked or danced with her; 
 and she danced delightfully, and was so good as to say that his step 
 perfectly suited hers. He remembered now, too, her remark that it 
 was so delightful to dance with army officers, and graduates of the 
 Point, they all seemed to feel so thoroughly at home on the floor. 
 
 Noel was not a graduate of the Point by any means; but he saw 
 no reason for disenchanting her on that score. He was quite as good 
 as any of the W^t-Pointers, in his own opinion, and in society^^ 
 very much more at home than many of their number. As a dancer he 
 was looked upon in his regiment and throughout the cavalry as one of 
 the most aoipmplished in the whole service. And all this interest and 
 all this cordiality he had accepted without hesitation as a tribute to his 
 own superior quahfications and attractiveness. It was therefore with a 
 feehng akm to pique that he heard of this possible engagement exist^ 
 ing between her and Captain Lane. g"gem«ut exisc- 
 
 In all the Eleventh Cavalry there was no man whom Gordon Noel 
 feared and possibly hated more than he did Captain Lane. S ar^ 
 from the fact that Lane as adjutant of the regiment had seeHllX 
 ^mmun.cations that passed from time to time relative to NoeFs abinc^ 
 from his command when his services were most needed and when an^ 
 
 r"HlFnf r"^^-^r%''^^°. '^''^ P°^^^^« precaution tot wkh 
 L, ?• 7 ^""^ '''^^^ ^^°^ *^^^^ ^^^^^^s been, and how thorough a 
 custodian of regimental secrets he was considered. But all the ^me 
 tlic mere fact that Lane knew all these circumstances so much tX 
 d sadvantage, and had seen all his lame and impotent excuses, had made 
 
 s^'^awerhim.^^^'^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ -P^^ ^- ^ 
 ' "' •'•""" ^-"Y^^ i" auciety or m the presence of his brother 
 
 nt1^r!'K''''"r^'"^P^.' [^' " "^^'"^"^ ^^^* he looked upon Une S 
 other than feelings of the warmest regard and comradeship It w^ 
 
 S Z v" ^f^^f^tboughts, which he admitted to no soul on^earth thS 
 Koel realized what his real feelings were towards a man who had never 
 
iiilil! 
 
 Ill t 
 
 i 
 
 II' w. 
 
 •Pf 
 
 m 
 
 332 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 &^^^ on an .«..,, ,.,,,,„, 
 
 He was a man who rarel/rearanninf anT/''\^'^'^."""""g«"'^'- 
 was a bore. To be sure, he had T/ IS v ? *? '^^'^ letter-writing 
 regiment had expressed a desire fn hi % '^*? *^^> ^o*" «« ™an in thf 
 day ; the 8tyh-sh^wl?t7flanrersu?t t wSX h^"".' , ^* ^"« ^ ^«*' ""'^^y 
 some self was wasting its eWan^ on thS f ^"^/••?>'^1 his hand- 
 room, instead of beifg se^nTthe bom^t 5 ^ °^ ^^^^"^ «™Pty 
 rooms at the club. Businei w ,s ^ul ^ ^^^^ ''^ ^^e billiard- 
 and Mr. Noel could stand i^?o lo^ J A r^n 'T'^l^T ««'"''^g i"> 
 the sergeant to the room. ^ ' ^ ''"^ ^''''"^ ^is bell summoned 
 
 -^ , X n return at once." And with f hof i,..T ii • *"" "P ^"^re tor 
 cane and strolled leisurely up thT treet H L'l '"' f '^ ''?' *"^ "g^t 
 man-and more women-would tnrnf^' i i 7""' ^ ^S"'"^ *hat many a 
 ?lim, elegant in build, always drS'in^"!^ ".'"r *^^" ^'^^^ Tall, 
 in any community Wuld hT4 bSlro Jfn'I f"* *^«^^G|ordo„ Noel 
 able man. His face, as has iLTZJT^^\^ remarkably present- 
 handsome, shaded by de^ ttck ^1^? ht'V" 'J^^^f ^^'^^ " «°d 
 his moustache, dark and drormnt l! i' f ^•''''' ^^^^ and waving, 
 of the even white teefh tha ZTfd mdl:" J ^ ' "'!^."^? *^^ ^""-->^' 
 and joyous laughter. One wodd s^v JnT i • '" 'xf ^"^"^"^ ^^iles 
 a man of singularly sunnrdiWi^^'i^V"^^* ^«^^' ^hat he was 
 him at the club ; and so th^eSers ?1 er^ h^ '?? ^^ *^7 «^"«d 
 
 as he entered ; for, though onra^f^tn!^^^ f'> J\^^«' «hout« 
 
 and four days of that timp hi ho J , ^ . ^^*P^^^ ^'n^e his arrival 
 before the Jurt-mSllrNt l^ork W^^^h^' fT^ ^\ ^-^'-ooy' 
 his way into the hearts of all the vounrf^"' ^^"^ nevertheless woi 
 no more popular man than GordT lif )?!? ^'^""^ *^>« olub, and 
 doora of " The Queen City " ^"^^ ^'"^ ^^«^ ^ome withii the 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^ the first question 
 
 was^far too hot for anythb^ stron^r '^^^^^'^^"er, saying the day 
 
 ».^s r=-&f^'|nxs ii"r£, V,.. 
 
 -Ph«,v 1 "„: . . ^ ^'^^ a quiet-lookine man ««of«^ ;„ _ ,. 
 
 a very 
 
 arm-chair, lowering f* a lit reW-oking „«„ ^.^l ;„ . b, 
 reading. ^ " """"en' tke newspaper wliicli he had been 
 
 Well, throucrK hJo fatU^^^ .'n 1.. I . 
 
 course, that Vincent was"nSriVbusT^ Z^^'^Tl ^"" «" ^^°ow, of 
 last wPfifc- » "* "^"X ousted before that corner went under 
 
 he did stand for a 
 
 I know this," was the calm reply, « that while 
 
:>ccasion8, public and 
 
 tless aud dissatisfied 
 :;idedly uncongenial, 
 v^hom letter-writing 
 for no man in the 
 It was a hot, sultry 
 arrayed his hand- 
 f a bare and empty 
 ity or the bilh'ard- 
 ts were coming in, 
 his bell summoned 
 
 its coming in such 
 up to the club for 
 } men up there for 
 itraw hat and light 
 igure that many a 
 than once. Tall, 
 iste, Gordon Noel 
 aaarkably present- 
 his eyes dark and 
 ark and waving; 
 :ncG the brilliancy 
 is frequent smiles 
 S^oel, that he was 
 ind so they found 
 nth jovial shouts 
 since his arrival, 
 Jg his testimony 
 aevertheless won 
 id the club, and 
 come within the 
 
 le first question 
 saying the day 
 
 1 ?" he asked. 
 
 m yet?" 
 
 ' the Miss Vin- 
 
 fellow, too, and 
 
 xt€." 
 
 leated in a big 
 h he had been 
 
 u all know, of 
 ler went under 
 
 id stand for a 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 333 
 
 s 
 
 wav ^n A f fy^'^'^J'^n g^"'g *« have everything their own 
 
 ir;<^r ^' a'id't" f^'^ ^r^'"^ ^ rumo^and X^L gi s ty 
 hinTtht;7r -^ " k»ow they generally know pretty much eve^- 
 
 dtXtVbeSTrfnrvo^rT^^ "^T ''k ' ^^ -" 
 officer. Lieutenan' - .nP S 7 ^^"^^^^^ here, the recruiting 
 "Nn nn^T ^ r .u . '? ^^ ^y anything about it to you ?" 
 
 k.oJh^r "^ ^- ^°™' ""■"'« ■"«• ■«^»"'<' you like to 
 
 and i?ri'™ 4 m^m" '^ ^° "'" """ *" P'^^- » ?™« of billiards, 
 p™sfn"^toEe^S°^„i!;'^ "'J" r^ "orning, Gorion Noel was 
 
334 
 
 TWO aOLDIERS. 
 
 I:; 
 
 ilii 
 
 ! havra^Sl £er 'andlThe'o t ^''\ ^ ^^' ^ ^^V o^ two, and 
 ' VinflPnf « V 'Al ^^^ " ^^^ friends to meet him ?» asked mJ^ 
 
 i Is' ive'^rdo^tet":' TV''"' ? >« ««"-i^t^£ 
 
 attention to any friend of CaoW,^ I '".'" "l" '"^''''''g to show 
 Mabel r "•""" ^"« * What do you think, 
 
 "I have^lt MrtCl S'""" ^"""^ "»"""'' -"• "-ol" .>«ority. 
 
 "He^'l^f- ^T'" '^'^ ^er: " Captain Noel." 
 kindly left T"' A nir 'fPyup-staits, that Captain Lane yerv 
 
 «^„the .ie,eihat;ralIKL':;:.S•'&t^-^^^^^ 
 
 friend of %nr Lid ca'in til^ v'°''' "P-^ * "'k'"/ «<>«1 
 mother, I'll brine him aro^^H t^S-' "'"'.''^ y^" """^ ■"> »''J«="on, 
 >va might go Hhe U,ea ™ aft.™f T" !?"'"«'"' '»'' "■» P*^'h»f^ 
 Noel will eniov^it Fl»f if ,*"''™^s- I ■? vary sure that Captam 
 
 olub i^^Sfy delists wih h?r' r"'^"""£- ^'"^"^y i" 'te 
 Irish so^g or t^II a &!ty ri'lllTaXe^-"'' ?'? rS."" 
 he comes here. He's a wond.rh, J ■ ^ A ^" """ ^'^"^ "hen 
 tion about their serviiTfhf f "'"' S"" ''I* *° "f"" "f "forma- 
 
 of anything of the S ; bnt Nodtm ta^T' V"'" ^ ^"''"' T'^' 
 the wonderful country hrou^hwtll ,1. / '""'™ " " ''™ "'»'" 
 and all that they have &hJ! h ""tl: **™ "*"'«' '"«' '""ght, 
 but that fellowLs ILaL n?!*'^'" "'?"' <«^P«g°«- By Jove 
 some hair-brSdth i4^^ p'"' °* ''""^ *™'*' *'«' >"' ^•' through 
 
 ''S,rfZ^ivV:irl= :.C«PWn Lane or Mr. Noel r 
 great deal of ^^' wili " «P«»king of. Lane, no doubt, saw a 
 
 ^jutanfi l^hTthetime aSf oTl' ^1 ^f ^^1 """ »« "-^ 
 ™s almost ino^sTLlfsiSrhnnH^ /''*^'^?'^' ^''"'' ''^ (N**') 
 
 ■■"'^^r'^^erS?^'™""^^^^^^^^ 
 
 there^kj uZ^lf:^T.^^^":C --' -"«■ -!<« 
 
 eayingfjr a m°"luriat'N!i'lT'°''' '■''''; ^'''' "'"^««tond me as 
 ttaiy, he iicverTt^lcs „f ? disparage Lane's services; on the con- 
 
 Neifto dSleCt at a rnf^"?*" "'"' '^'-""^ enthusiastic reg^l 
 
 -eing, inThe mX offli tV^wSti s^tefT''^^" 
 paignme, what a deal of l,„»i.i,:„ Zj j™™ ,"* .=!*»'« of his cam- 
 
 the^simpie .^ason that Le ™ S tle^^ml^d '■ "- ' ■™'""*'^ «" 
 
 <( 
 
 Your father tells me," said Mrs. Vincent, " that 
 
 ) go through 
 he met him one 
 
a day or two, and 
 t him r asked Mre. 
 be consulted in the 
 something to show 
 'hat do you think, 
 
 vith much alacrity. 
 
 3el." 
 
 ^to know from the 
 captain Lane very 
 ' tlie fair cheeks of 
 the oflScers of the 
 e was here. Mr. 
 ?iment. As Cap- 
 at perhaps he ao- 
 a\y a trifle prema- 
 
 y difference," said 
 id a mighty good 
 lave no objection, 
 ind then perhaps 
 lure that Captain 
 Everybody in the 
 hear him sing an 
 liim started when 
 > full of informa- 
 ! so seldom spoke 
 s at a time about 
 ited and fought, 
 igns. By Jove ! 
 as been through 
 
 or Mr. Noel ?" 
 no doubt, saw a 
 ays that he was 
 while he (Noel) 
 Indian parties, 
 it." ' 
 
 h actual service 
 
 derstand me as 
 es ; on the con- 
 lusiastio regard, 
 you can't help 
 lis of his cam- 
 sflcountered for 
 d to go through 
 
 Ttf^O SOLDIERS. 
 
 335 
 
 day on Change when Mr. Withers brought him in; that was before 
 the crash, and when he had no time to pay him any attenTbn Of 
 cou^ the cousin of Mr. Amos Withers was received with a Z*t dZ 
 of bowing and scrapmg by Mr. Withers's friends in that Lnorable 
 body. But all the same I know your father will be glad to meet Mr 
 Noel now ; nd by all means bring him, if you feel disposed, to-niZ' 
 What manner of looking man is he?" ^,w-uigui. 
 
 « Jl^/.r^u^^^i^^ handsome man, mother," said Mabel, at once.— 
 one of the handsomest I ever saw ; and he certainly made himself 
 
 thfTlt^nsV? ""'' ^'"^ '''' "'^'^' ^' ^' "^'^'^ ^' ^-»- «^ 
 
 Jn P J^^'^a M ^J"?^ *^1*'^'^ physically between him and Lane," put 
 
 n Regy. "Noel is such an elegantly built fellow,-so tall and fiSe- 
 
 looking. Lane would be almost undersized when standing beside 
 
 sZ'ld^udy"'^ "' " disadvantage when they appear tofether, I 
 
 hke table of the Vmcents that evening, and, as Regy had predicted 
 Noel proved very entertaining and a most 'agreeable gu^t^wtle 
 showmg much deference to Mr. Vincent and%ttentio„ to his good 
 wife, he nevertheless managed to have a great deal to say aW 
 ^e regiment and its daring and perilous service on the frontfer^ and 
 
 ^n^«nH \l -^T '"^ .^^''^ """^ * P^^^«"^ ^««J about Captab 
 Lane and their long and intimate acquaintance, and before dinner was 
 over had won a warm place in MaSl Vincent's heart by the way^ 
 
 And that very evening, as Frederick Lane,--far out under the 
 star-ht sky of Ari«)na,-with his heart full of onging and love for 
 
 ^Z'vt t^"V?^i.'°^^^'^^.^^^ ^ ^« '^' o^«r the diofatrplain whh 
 the lights of old Fort Graham already in view, Mabel VincenrsJtS 
 by Gordon Noel's side, was looking up into his handsom? fe aud 
 listening to his animated voice betw^n the acte of « Twelfth N?^t'" 
 
 IX. 
 
 of th."'Lnf]'''p distance from the Arizona border, with the blue range 
 IJ. A^ ^^u".'"^ shutting out the sunset skies, with sand afd 
 ^tus and Spanish bayonet on every side, the old post of Fort Graham 
 stood m the desert like a mud-colored oasis. All the quarter anZ 
 s^houses, stables, c^rmls, and barn^cks, were buil? of the 1 ve 
 a«fo66; and though whitewash had been liberally applied esn^klTv 
 about the hom^ of the officer, and the long Venetian bHndslTth^^ 
 front windows had been paint^ the co<,lest^f de^Hreens a„1 c£ 
 T^1?1^:Z'F^.^.}^^^^^^ the a-^^ thatL'X:rre"na^/ 
 ^i^'TT" '^ 7"''^^ ^""^^ ^^ "^ ^t (iraham was an arid and forbid- 
 d ng station so far as one could judge by appearances. TreL, vSre 
 bu 'iTX r f^""* ?«k°own within a Jay's march of thTC3 
 ^»,h . ^A t"«es when the Navajoes were ^he terror of t^e S 
 Southwest and even tiie Comanches soietimes ca, ied S raids acT^ 
 
1 
 
 !|l 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ( 
 
 M ! 
 
 Hill ! 
 
 336 
 
 yfFO SOLDIERS. 
 
 and to the piou^^ of hTtlt 1)^/'^ to the " FortAine«' 
 ite very gat^, and many a^tTme aid 0^^"'"'""''"'"*^/ '"^'^ '«^ P««t 
 thanked Go<l and the g^neraT^^verleL hut^Iir l","^ ^ ^"'^^^ 
 just where it was, ibr Imlian pursicTr ro^^ ""? ^^'^ ''^ P'^' 
 
 of ita dingy walls • and «o frni, ! '^ ''''" ^''®" "n^e in sight 
 
 deo^de the^agta^^ralleS^^rnr^^^'t re ]Z Z T" ^'^" ^-^"^^ 
 and now, with the Southern Padfic iierci.rf 1.1 ''T g«7'«o«ed ; 
 tauoe below, and landing stori and £ 1 ^. ^""^^ ^"'^ * 8^>"rt dis- 
 M^ithin four' miles of ^ t^rlls ft fe"'/^-" ^';'''''^^'^'?^^'«^'« d6p6t 
 of cavalry at Graham ; anyone of L^ 00 > th^ jr.'""'';'"'" ^ ^^^ 
 new .mmand, the relict of the l^l^Z^^::::::^!;^^::^ 
 
 to suit himself and tim" U^cJ^l.^ ''^ '"'^''?"* ''"» ^^'^ troop" 
 to interfere. A mor inde >ez2nr devT,n ^"'"^'"^^ 5^^ «"^«J'«rns 
 drunken lot of troopei^ we^rarel^^^^^^^^^ '"^ occasionally 
 
 and, while steady and ren^ble men fn ^1? '\?''^ '."?'' organization, 
 end of their tern^ of eSent" ou d Ssefe^^'f ^^^ «'. *!-' 
 ■Troop, but wou d go over to C-int-^h nl , ^" ^S^'" in D 
 
 at another station, all the sSm^f^. ^"^^f^f .«' Pf'-haps to a company 
 ment would drif?ot4r nto "^'a' i Hp ''^"^ ff '''''' ^" ^^^^ regN 
 
 therein assembled. InTthislrthegLglh"; Cat{ -'V*^""" ^P^"*« 
 
 expected to bring up with a round f^?r„^ 1 F^^^.'" ^^"« ^«» now 
 
 soldiers. Ol^ient to tl^e colonel's hehJ l. 'Tt'"" ^^'^ dvtiM 
 
 wupleof daysathead-QuartSX/h 1 ^ ^^ ^^^ '^^PP^ over a 
 
 eveiy officer at the post,^hafcSl^^^^ a most cordial gating from 
 
 fair defamers,~an(l then had TSnp^ he ]adies,-not omitting his 
 
 trying duties! Ever/daras he was rh.Vl ^'?^'!,"^ ""^ ^'^ »^^ ^^^d 
 
 home of her whom lie so de^^fp^iri 1 u '^ ^^^^^'^' «^«y ^om the 
 
 filled with-oni; wlTktw^^^^^^^^ ^Tf ^^^ ^1^r« to her 
 
 joy that topmost in the S packet iV li ' ^'?'* ^""P^ ^^^^ ^ 
 
 adjutant's oLe when he V^chJhiL^f 2 a ^''"'*^?^ *^'«^ «t the 
 
 to him in her beloved hand Untfl VoZu ^ ^1"^^^ ^'^^'^ ^^^'^^'^ 
 
 table condition the new "oo.-comm^^^^^^^^^ - ^abi- 
 
 ♦okl J- . "'^'"^^^ "ana. until lie c 
 
 or the close of that amiable 
 
 Mrq K«rr. A ^ •'TOop-commander w! 
 
 of that most pm=ioua miSe She had w^r„ ""If"™"'' '^^'^ *«"! 
 
 day after he 4, apd a swe^Cwomanl? leZft i;;^'"^ ""^ '-""/^'^ 
 
 timid yet so full of faith and pride Lhi^ m3,_so shy and half 
 
 remarked on the wonderful clmn^ for ,he betterTh^T/ '^"''»"' 
 
 Lane amoe he went East. Nevfr ted hey ^n tt ."^ ■°°"""''" 
 
 blithe m manner. He seemed to walk on aiff hi. «',J»y<>»'. «> 
 
 everyone; his face seemed "«Imrt til,. u ,' ""* ^^ beamed on 
 
 Nash, and'neither shTnn7„n„ ""!.'„'° tllt^''". "-."H IV'said Mrs. 
 
 as to the explanation of irall" "ir.,!".* j"'"°"^'"''«*'>'"'<»tdonbt 
 
 being loved idlntei^M Id toTon^ T"^^' "" '""^g^. "d 
 
 won^an m garrison was his friend, Lt^A^,, i^7 Z^Si;;;'^?, 
 
jlay--the post had 
 he " Forty-Ninere" 
 lentfll trail Jed past 
 ' aud the emigrant 
 >ld fort was placed 
 vhen once in sight 
 nore than thrice a 
 ilways garrisoned ; 
 ge but a short dis- 
 artermaster's d6i)6t 
 maintain a force 
 itioned was line's 
 ran, « the Devil's 
 
 I- years l)efore his 
 It " ran tlie troop" 
 etl his subalterns 
 and occasionally 
 iuch organization, 
 discharges at the 
 e on" again in D 
 ps to a com2)any 
 cters in the regi- 
 the choice spirits 
 tin Lane was now 
 'orm intodi'tiful 
 stopped over a 
 al greeting from 
 ■not omitting his 
 and his new and 
 away from the 
 ig letters to her, 
 5art leaped with 
 iing him at the 
 billet addressed 
 uarters in habi- 
 of Captain and 
 >f that amiable 
 our every word 
 her I — the very 
 
 shy and half 
 )ne at Graham 
 had come over 
 
 so joyous, so 
 7es beamed on 
 
 1 it," said Mrs. 
 siaintest doubt 
 Je change, and 
 Y man — every 
 
 would, gladly 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 337 
 
 
 But there were reasons, Mrs. Vincent had said, why it was most 
 desirable that there should be no announcement of the LgagTmeri 
 yet. What the^ were she did not explain to Mabel herselffbS? assur^ 
 her that ,t was her father's wish as well. Lane had rushed to tie gr^t 
 jewelry-house of Van Loo & Laing, and the diamond sohta re tha 
 flashed among the leaves of the exquisite rose-bud he smilingly handed 
 her that night was one to make any woman gasp with delightf Could 
 anything on earth be rich enough, pure enough fair enoufh, to lavbh 
 on her, his peerless queen? 6 > "^ mvisu 
 
 She had held forth her soft white hand and let him slip it on the 
 engagement finger and then bend the knee like knight of old and kis^ 
 It ?erven ly. She revelled in it, rejoiced in it, but, heeding her mother^ 
 advice, stowal It away where none could see'it, in the secret drawer of 
 her desk, and Lane was perfectly satisfied. " I will tell von the rLon 
 some day » Mrs. Vincent had said to him, "but not jus now for ? 
 might be doing wrong;" and he had protested that she-^ne^l neve tell 
 h.m. What cared he, so long as Mabel's love was his, and theru. der 
 stood each other as they did ? • ^ 
 
 , And so, while people at Graham plied him with questions and 
 insinuations and side-remarks about the « girl he left behbd him" n 
 he East, he kept faithfully to the agreement, and though all the gar- 
 rison knew he wrote to her every day and took long rides a one that 
 he might think of her, doubtless, and though every oTe knew a 
 ho.se dainty missives that came so often for Captain Lane were wri en 
 by M,S8 Mabel Vincent, never once did he admit the exirtencTof an 
 eiigagement,-never once until long afterwards ^""''^^^^ ot an 
 
 The first real tidings that the Graham people had of her came in a 
 
 Itt fZ ufTJT; ^.^''\^^^ '^^^''^ ^"^^^ ^ long,rhrm?ng 
 f «1I ITiU 1 1^* '^^ "^"'^ '° '«^«^1 of her cro.n-S and real 
 
 ^ all to them ; and that very evening one of the number unabirto 
 bear the burden of so much information, shifted it S her mentis 
 shoulders by writing it all to Mr^. Nash. Perhaps the Lt plaTwm 
 be ^to, read the extract which referred to Lane Exactly as Sr.Nc;: J 
 
 " By this time I presume Fred Lane is busily engaged with his new 
 troop. I served with them in the Sioux campaign, andX^never TvT 
 me any trouble at all So, tx>o, in the GerLi^i cha e a S To 
 7.2^T" ^^r.P'^ked me out to go ahead by night from CarriS 
 
 c ate It. 1 knew they would follow wherever I would lead and wnnM 
 A^t\ "' t.l;r«"gh thick and thin. If Lane starts ir^hriVe^o 
 ^^:i^...*te.^.^!^ ,^^ .J"«t as well for him ; but I expect he IZZ 
 
 fully welcomed anywhere; the people ai. chaTming.^y^t Laneta^ 
 
338 
 
 ! 
 
 f 
 
 :iliN|ii!!j 
 
 i|i!|l 
 
 ^iii 
 
 » ! 
 
 i!il' 
 
 I iH 
 
 m>uy, 
 
 ■liiiMllm 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 frfn'jrr-^^^^^ sa^he didn't 
 
 hard Juck in seveml w^ys. it told thaJZ^'t ^ *''"^' ^' ^'^^ ^«d 
 31i>eculation, and everybody sayT he til l W u™T'^ '" « ^'^ wheat 
 
 e.ba..i.sed whe^/iet^e "ngterT^^^^^^^^ ^ -^^ 
 
 a heavy shortage, which he had to mike un «? 1%- ^^^''J ^^^M^ite 
 probably nioet inconvenient Lin ?hT n^ f " ^^^ ^''^n it was 
 dered at. She ,s a beau [fnJ «rJ . . ''*^'^' ^"^' '^ '««'' to b- won- 
 I fancy, has laid^ris hea'a h rC luw^^r^' "'^ many am", 
 Io«8 8 the heavier in th a ca^e l^' ^/Lln' V;'^^'^"'"' *^«^ ^«°e'8 
 nothing. A young Jadv told L^. V^l^' "^ ^^^'^ '^ ^'^^ ^ome to 
 back o? it allf-fi she Mss vLr"*"^*^ 'J^*' .'^'^ ^^ something 
 Rossiter, of New York a^haVZ'/"' ^''P^>^ '" ^«^« '^'th a Mr^ 
 to have been married th'iscomif. ^1 ^".' ""T * •^^••' ««d they were 
 learned that her Ser ad bee? ^^T^'' ^^'^^^' the gentler^an 
 had not a penny to give her Mv^'nfn^ '^!"'*''^ '" speculation and 
 Vinoent, and knowf her intim^felv ^71™' ^''^^^^^ 
 s.raply threw her over a s? ort t^S' Zl t^ 7\ ^'^^ ^'' ^'''^^^' 
 exasperation and to hide her h^rrbrS ? ?u' '' ^^ ^^^ «°d 
 Vincent began to showsuch plealJ; in T. '^'5 ^^^.^orld that Mabel 
 on, sober ifdy friends sa^ ; a^Zcw mJ^R^^!^^^^^ SJ.e led him 
 old Vincent was sharper and shrewder' fuf ^ ^^"""^ **"* that 
 made instead of losing a pile and n^wL- ?"^ °"^. «"PP««ed and 
 and they say that shI is so n ..K • ^ '^ 'V\"g t« be taLn back, 
 chances are all i„ it favor Thi ",' T l'^^ '}"' ^^'^^^ *''«' die 
 anxie^for Lane. -^^'^ " ^*^^ ^ ^^^ 8»eh sorrow and 
 
 nighl Mii VlnS^t^^Sere 'iS^^ ^' ^^l^Ji-^^eir^-ts' last 
 danced together a ffreatTJ w ?^ ^'^^ ? peach-blossom, and we 
 half the ^ople in ?he ooms came to 1"Z!'"' t '^^^'^ "^ ^ ^'-v: 
 me they had never s^n so d^b^h. A { ^^""'8^' t« me and to tell 
 depends on the leader.' I have S^n^^'''"'"'!:' ^^^^^^ 'o 
 
 every night for the next foriS J^d ° , T ' ^T '»» °g or other for 
 r^ment and the true friends f had to Cl '7t Z^'"^ ^'' '^' '^^ 
 good last night to meet old Colonel Vr?J ^ S "^'"^ .™^ * wo'^'d of 
 home is hereout he commanded tl^ ^J?^!.? J^ '^''l"^ ^'«*' ^^^^se 
 pign, and when he saw me hfthre^Tht ^^"^ '" 5^" S'«"* ^^m- 
 Lg^ed me before the who"e throngTf peop'r GiT' 7 ""'' «"^ 
 chie? always, and believe me, dear,MSd of mTne^ ^'^' '' '"^ 
 
 " Yours most affectionately, 
 
 " GoBDON Noel." 
 
 of the one received bv M,^ Kal t !_ .® . which formed the basis 
 
club say he didn't 
 •e true, he had had 
 loney in a big wheat 
 ^ beart. I tell you 
 
 1 friend of his,— as 
 -but he was much 
 '. There was quite 
 
 time when it was 
 it isn't to be won- 
 1, and many a man, 
 >weyer, that Lane's 
 ar it will come to 
 ere was something 
 in love with a Mr. 
 ear, and they were 
 t the gentleman (?) 
 n speculation and 
 5 school with Miss 
 that Mr. Rossiter 
 it was pique and 
 world that Mpbel 
 »ns. She led him 
 « found out that 
 •ne supposed and 
 3 be taken back, 
 
 2 fe'Iow that the 
 3uch sorrow and 
 
 Prendergasts' last 
 ■blossom, and we 
 reak up I believe 
 rae and to tell 
 ;' everything so 
 ing or other for 
 long for the old 
 me a world of 
 tired list, whose 
 the Sioux cam- 
 d my neck and 
 my Jove to our 
 ) 
 ately, 
 
 DON Noel." 
 
 here and there 
 rmed the basis 
 ! was cosily en- 
 e improvement 
 s, to drill- and 
 dajs knew no 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 339 
 
 relaxa on from labor from reveille tnitil "retreat" at sunset, and then 
 I came the del.c.ojw evemngs in which he could writ« to her a^ read^a 
 j chapter or two of some favorite work before going earlv lo bed Mtor 
 ^ the first week he seldom left his house after e\ht^^c&TanT\he ^^ 
 I r.son had hereft)re ample opport.mity to di^uss his aki^. sS^ 
 
 I ^ «[«"/'•„ "^e'ved from Cheyenne written to the new majVr of the 
 I '^lu '2\ ^'^ '"^ '^"'^^ J'^'"^' by promotion &^ pC? 
 
 I ?r^"/,"'<^'* **;** **^"^'"^ *°^°' '^^^ writer ^id that Une of the 
 f Eleventh Cavalry hud sold his property there for fifteeiT thousand 
 I dollars about the end of June, and L L} bought it fi^"w^yX2 
 I hundred only mne years before. He could have Lt eighth thousand 
 I just as well bv wa.tmg a ew days ; but he wanti the^motj; atTc^^^ 
 No one, of course, could ask the captain any direct questions ab^ut 
 his affairs of either heart or pocket, but Lane was puzzled to ac^oun 
 for some of the remarks that were made to him,Lthe interiZtl 
 nes about the methods of speculation, the tentativ s i to ch3S^ 
 "making a good thing" in that way, and the sharp and scruti^inL 
 glarces tliat accompanied the queries, "xhe sweet, symmthetic semi T/ 
 Hdential manner, the inviting way in which the'la^diersS^^^ 
 his present loneliness and their hopes that soon he woul/bHng toThem 
 a charming wife to share their exile and bless his army home^all thT 
 too seemeH odd to him ; but, as he had never been in love nir engagS 
 
 And then he was very happy in her letters. They were neither ar fr^ 
 quent nor as long as his, but then she had such a roLT^f sS al d^ti^ 
 Bhe was in such constant demand; there were visitors or pT Ues eveTv' 
 mgnt, and endless calls and shopping-tours with mother every day an5 
 she was really getting a little run down. The weather w JoDnSiveW 
 warm, and they ong«i to get away from the city and TtoX mout 
 tains. It was only a day's ride to the lovely resorts in fhe A ledS 
 but papa was looking a little thin and wor/again, and the dS hS 
 said us heart was affeeted,-not alarminglylr sirioush buTmamma 
 could not bear to leave him, and he declafiit utterly '^CsbTeSb^ 
 hS.fr" ^'' ^"''""^ " single day. He and Mr^Cla^were verv 
 
 n^TtioThiruTd:r 5! ''-' '^^ '"^^' ^'^ "^*- «^ -'-^^^ ^^^ 
 
 But let us take a peep at some of those earlv letters — nnf nf th^ 
 answers to^ his eager questions, not at tlie shyZro? maiden love 
 that crept in here and there, but at those pages any one might rid 
 
 « a 1 1 1. , » , " TuMday night. 
 
 A ':, ; ^ a delightful german as we had last night at the Pren 
 
 sam about hira. How I wished for a certain other cavalry cantain 
 now so many cruel miles away I Mr. Noel took me ZX^^^i. 
 
340 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 1' 
 
 :||!ii|| 
 
 
 i ! 
 
 spot I wisT. A..gu8t were I.ere 7 w?s h vn, 1""'^'"^ '^ *''« ^^^oml 
 
 ,1"""^'^"^' Your letteraJe such LdeUrr ''"'^^ I ^'^'^'-^^ 
 other girls have anythinir like thom V ^ ' .*'' ™®- ^ wonder if 
 
 on my birthday; bu^t Jn^XZ JZ' IZlf^ ^""'^ ^^'« P'«*"re 
 or the original will feel neglected/" '^^ "'"^^^^ «»re of it^ 
 
 ^^ ^^^T^z^t:::^^ an 
 
 walls being raised, we hadrdellZfiU t"? \''*"'P^' ^"^' '^^ 
 place IS one of the finest on the hShte TL """• u*^' ""' '• Their 
 «^n It. Cantain Noel took rae n and J.f ''k'"S ^'^^ ^'^"^d have 
 fiill of aneotfote. Everyb(x]yTkes iZ "i 't p^'^^* «"^J Jo"/ and 
 cause he is such a loyal fZd of youTs He /'.^ '^'^ ^«'"^ »>«■ 
 and of all the dangdrs you have sharS Jn^ *'^' '^ ""'«^ «f ^o" 
 
 how intereiJting all this must Tto rae sllT'"''?' '"^ ^^^ ^^^w 
 had so little to say about him Ih^ i ^^^t'^cs I wonder that vou 
 
 the regiment and ^never wSlTaik^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ --h afi 
 
 evening we had a Jittle thele imTv ll ^?"-''''^^- Wednesday 
 filled two adjoining lotrcs r«L? ^^ , ^^ ^""^ '* "P> and we lust 
 but he tal J most^ofl • tinietuh If T^f •^^"?^ Hilton's I^c;!; 
 
 or doi/of interell^/^S^o, t7b^;i7w?uf t"frd\"^^^r^>^ ''^^"-y 
 I fear, to the late supper Re|v Jave nfif^ ^ ^ ^.'^ ^ headache, due, 
 Fanny Holton came to taKe^for a driver '^I'^; i^!' '^' ^^^atre 
 going, and begged off. Then X told mP f? ^r.^ "^ ^ "^^* ^^^ J'"ke 
 the .arriage waiting, and tha he wouldX sn^H-^'^^ " ?'^^' ^^ '» 
 came ,n and said the air would do mp^T f ^'^PP^'oted. Mother 
 carvie back feeling so much br^ter Mr^^i/"^ ^" ^'^ ^'^^^ «"<i I 
 ^ept us laughing all the timo^ Comifj'h^rP T ""''^ "'""^'"^' «"^ 
 house, as she had to dress for .linne? h?,f Sf'J^""^ ¥''^' °"t «t her 
 "le home and Mr. Noel to the Xb Hp K *''^*^'???h'"an to drive 
 mordent she disappeared, and said he so holl^*" ^/"''"^' °^ 3^«" the 
 
 ■■ Tit -s>.s TJi^^ :fti«:-s « 
 
 and 
 
lie had to lead with 
 with me. 
 
 Rust for the eatire 
 tatlier ought to go. 
 tiess be the favore<J 
 »»ere; I wish— oh, 
 ' rae. I wonder if 
 11 have the picture 
 ! utmost care of it, 
 
 " Friday nJght. 
 
 You see what an 
 1 out. We had a 
 ig. Tlie day had 
 1 ainopy, and, the 
 the riv. p. Their 
 3h you could have 
 rht and jolly and 
 5 him mainly be- 
 » 80 much of you 
 ; and you know 
 wonder that you 
 talk much about 
 elf. Wednesday 
 «JP, and we just 
 ' Holton's ftscoi t, 
 It my escort, Mr. 
 K and Mr. NoeJ 
 
 unday evening. 
 
 t caller has just 
 all, and you are 
 II, there, now, let 
 hing that I say 
 a headache, due, 
 fter the theatre, 
 id not feel like 
 in Noel was in 
 inted. Mother 
 M'e went, and I 
 ■y amusing, and 
 got out at her 
 ihmau to drive 
 ingof you the 
 going to write 
 
 'Ou- ; out X do 
 
 [r. Noel joined 
 in to luneheon, 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 341 
 
 ^lli' Ihfy'thut J:i soTifr^ ' "/"^ ''^^^ ^- ^"- *« -y beloved 
 
 •% 
 
 ^haS gone, papa Hiwke of 1 m .1 p"/~7 1^'" i^i-ed Une. After he 
 
 «« V J 1 " Wednoiday. 
 
 I orist cart, AaS V Si„ ' 7^ •"• . ^^ °"'"' '"'^'= !?''«> ^""' 
 
 I had some bvely presonti. Mr Nr.ll . •' . , ""' .'."?"ly. a"<I I 
 I nm-a, and it ploasid ^ v/tv . l i ""' *"' " l^a""""! basket of 
 I and vet I knmvTi !l.™ ''^ "*' ^ "'°"' J"'"'' ""nraJos to like me 
 
 ^now^it; «:fr t^lrs;s:;:rr;™"'' ' '^' "««''« 
 
 read my te' ?' ' ""'"" "•' ''"*""'"' "•""' '''"■' ^"^- DW"'' yu 
 of gladnea^ : ' " """ ''""'^ •»" " g"e Ca,,taiu Lane a thrill 
 
 -'■■".f^lo:' ardtel"'%''°^ t"'1.™'^^? ™'t^:;lp„sit .o yonr 
 
 X. 
 
 "" the plethoric pitro The"' "f m:."^ ■Ch."'" ''7-'"^ '"^'^ 
 '•r every conceivable kind Ri;„^^ i i Change and m businrss 
 
 m the e eeant villas th^t ,.. j li ^ °* *"® ^'^ ^'ty and even 
 
 glare at mldlywTstte^"^^^ ^'^' ^^- 
 
 without a hugrrunsrXnf = I'- "?*" "^^ '"^^ '» venturing forth 
 
 pr^cinctsofthHlub where E "^'*'"" ^^^^^^''-^ 
 
 palm-loaf fans y/ere in ZuJLif- ^^"u"^ ^""^ «» ^^^^y side and 
 in shirts of IthTI! fl/I"f ^'l^^.^^'^"' t!^? men strolled in to luncheon 
 
 tesimal neckt&V Everrone whtoJlTi """"'"^ "^^'""'^ «"^ "^fi'"" 
 gone; and yet the VbUriin^r^^^^ '^"1 ^«"» «'"^ 
 
 the anxiety in the mAthT, f "^^eretl. ii^ch day seemed to add to 
 
 hopeful a„d^,^„,3,,t, and had g^^ "t:^ Z ^^^^^ 
 
342 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 self grievous wron0---fh«fil;oi,i:u-°^ *"^* he was doing him- 
 
 will,-.in a w^k"r so T ofnnT ' ^v^ ''"^^ answered, "I will,-I 
 
 taki'ng his vaTtL" V'n ^r Ir I W' TnV^^n P" /J 
 accompany them Mm Vin«.„* «,<■ j / l ^?' '*'"' ""'"' he <»ul<l 
 
 on« and joining the W^™':; ItpZ^^""^?'^ ^Z iT^ at 
 Woodrow were alwara eiml. fi-i^JJl.^u rtxis. ; OJariasa and Eleanor 
 *c might stay unuK mm »^^ ^'"'- ^"f ^abel begged that 
 not be^contenVthere withrufthem orTf T'^,iK<"»o.- * could 
 Mrs. Vincent could noTS he woldTinJl,-''! T"]'"'" T*«'i »<* 
 her greatest apprehen^on " "'""'' ^ *^"" ">e cause of 
 
 steaw color, tL3aoKrwourd"i,^r™'l^ .?*","« »f "•■"« »■• 
 looking privokinSv 00^1 my^^cT?^"' '"'j *''' "='"'' »* ■"»■>«*, 
 "withfu^.v^ngflrfah^r" '^''''' °'"'' "^ ""^ '"P"^^ i'- 
 
 .:S7n^at^-n^ S^T^ ^^ i- - ^"^^^ 
 boiled eggs froKie to OctoZr" f ^^^Y^'^.^ <>"' hens laid hard- 
 
 be«. fe^^^^^^ He had 
 
 and New England'Cds^riaSb^.t'' """ "» ""-^ '" '""■. 
 
 WnV- I moan fViof >4- !-1-»^ • 
 
 em vemon 'oFtiie' oW' Whv rn^?"^"'' '"',^ 5^'* '^ ^« *»«d « '"od- 
 He's with her in^ntl^" ^ °* ^'" '"^^ ^"^ ^^^^^^^^ John?' 
 
 thou;?'L^^hTJCu'^^^^^^^^ ^'- ^^^ --'« ^«H I 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 343 
 
 home long after the 
 ache,' he said, but the 
 artache. The family 
 t he was doing him- 
 y demanded rest and 
 1 doctor's face with a 
 iswered, "I will,— I 
 just now. Clark is 
 And until he could 
 and yet she began to 
 prevent her going at 
 Illarissa and Eleanor 
 Mabel begged that 
 j go too ; she could 
 ithout mother; and 
 ' frame the cause of 
 
 subdue was Gordon 
 ostumes of white or 
 le club at noontide, 
 w he expressed it, 
 
 7, bless your hearts, 
 jadi I've come in 
 nd rushed for cold 
 1 be all melted, of 
 just like so much 
 ir hens laid hard- 
 syes would twinkle 
 the cracked ice of 
 
 ry junior, one Ian- 
 , " don't you envy 
 
 ?er. "One would 
 
 lose beastly works 
 
 know." 
 
 I love-making by 
 
 »urtship business. 
 
 aguely. He had | 
 er, and, from the 
 ed to share in the 
 o college for him, 
 
 if we had a mod- 
 yourself, John?' 
 
 "Come and have a 
 
 ^ "Never mind, Jimmy," said Morris, risinj;. 
 cigarette." ° 
 
 And it was not only in the club, over their cigars that mpn 
 spoke sigmficantly of Noel's attentions 'to the lovely dau^'hW^ 
 
 LTn? *v7'.°ir'- t/*.7^ "^' '^' "^^-^^ ^»d^> who d^ the greater 
 part of the talk. If they noticed and spoke of it, what must not the 
 
 ZTh^rt ^" ""^'"^ '. ^""^Z quittinlthe hospitable roof of Cousb 
 tl^ VJnlnf^ ?T ^T\^° *°^"' midway between the club and 
 the V noent homestead, and those two points became the limite of 
 h.s field of action. The Withers houseLd had gone to the Mair- 
 rlnTSeff f "^ the massive master of the ^establishment wTs 
 treatmg himself to a month's vacation. Almost all the pretty rirls 
 were gone. What more natural than that Mr. Noel should so ^e! 
 quently seek the society of the prettiest of all, even if she were 
 
 Z^ Twt""' "^^"^^ ".rP^^ ^^'^ «he ;ri:fore he Zl 
 rifV ^,^«^\^^« no monitorial Amos to call him off, no one to 
 bid him turn his devotions elsewhere; and she herself iould s°e no 
 harm, for was not almost all his talk o£ Captain Lane ^^^he not 
 his loyal and devoted friend ? The captain's^lettei^^me eTery day 
 and he seemed nleased to know that No^l had such pZantTh ^ To 
 say of him, and was so attentive,-or rather kind, because i t w Wt 
 really on her account that he came so frequently. ' iTbe sure Can 
 am Lane did not say much about the matter one way or the otS 
 
 quiet^rftljanhf co^rThSk! XXs'Sle'^SK^td"^^ 
 manner to Noel had been gaining in dSnt':„r<Ldnls^4ht"i: 
 
 fyini X'~bT^'^ -^"^ P'^^' was Mabel's attempt at a selS^ 
 ^ ng plea ; but conscience again warned her that she knew better,-far 
 
 "Do^ Captain Lane know of this and approve it?" was the *rravp 
 
 question her mother had at last propounded. ^^ ^^^^ 
 
 1 have written to him with the utmost frankness mother" wa« 
 
 r^S7'" r"t.! '?^y' ^'^•^^ ^ w«^« of color swept ovrCte'anZ 
 rebellious light gleamed in her eyes, "and he h^ never hintS at such 
 
 If hela" iTt^^^'- ^^ ^^ «^-« -"fi^-- - rthanl'ou^lt 
 But the rest was left unsaid. 
 
 mJt7.^lJ'""^"' ' ?^^ "•"'«• "^y- "«" k°o«°g that a™,- 
 th,? "..?/?„'' °" ;,^'°°'> «"»«.«» was mistaken policy.^ The wZ. 
 
 painted, there can be no more joy over the sinner that repenteth than 
 
344 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 . And meantime how went the wnr W »^fk t ^^ canonized, 
 simple-hearted man that he was l^lZf- ^'?;? ^^'''^^^^^ honest, 
 mate marvelling as he often moyf^hlleT^h^ i" such modest esti-' 
 won the love of a being so radLt «n p-^ • -Z^^* ^^ ''^"^^ ^^ve really 
 a dream that was all bll^and Sty exS f ' "f, ^'^^^' '^^ ^'^^^ i^ 
 prvading longing to see her if h?' ^P* ^°'' *^'® 'ocessant and all- 
 , intensity that he had Z me^Z^^fJ"^' •'''' ?« ^«^^ her with an 
 ^ was she absent from h^thoSf an/ 1^?- . ^""^ ' T^'^^ '"^^^t 
 h,m crowned with a halo such Z ni '^''^'^f '^^^ ^PP««'-e<l tc 
 
 if the very newsboys and workm^ nf f !! I the night, wondering 
 privilege, that they could stenunnn lu f^ '^^''^'^' ^^eir blessed 
 liad pressed, that they could ^^e C I ^'^f°"^^ ^^^ ^'^^^ ^ot 
 as she strolled in the 3 of .i- "^^J ^''''^^P^ ^^^^ ^er voice 
 way of the little paJk tha adioShit"^ '^'t ^'^^''^'"^ P«"^^' 
 did h,8 heart went out to any one who ln« T"' ^^^"^ ^«^ ^s he 
 with the city where she dweft. hI had feJI t "' ^"^ '"^» ^^'^'^'^^ 
 Gordon Noel that, at times, he had dfffl.. u ""^ J-^^^.^ contempt for 
 was tempted to wVite to h m to sht on^.h" ^'"^"'^'^ ^«^ he 
 dential relations and have hfrn write lonrl/^ ^f '' '? «P«° <^o«fi- 
 lier. There were three men in h!.^ ^"T ^^^* should tell of 
 mysterious interest ZplTb^ustth T J\^^^™ ^' ^'^^ a vague 
 ijndezvous on Sycamore St^t on v^^ " '"'''*'^ "' ^^'^^^^ 
 
 Hewassofullof hopeTndSand W^""^"^"'"-''^ ^^^ home 
 garrison seemed to hold nLllt h^,t il "^ ^/?^'*"^^ *hat the whole 
 dreamed of the stories the rf en w re t:;^'^!'^ ^"".T «« "^^^^ 
 ^^fjhispering about the post Noel hadlr^/^' confidences women 
 and Mre. Riggg had not soared hl^vJ "^^'"^^ ^S^'" *» Mrs. Riggg 
 Queen City f^jetyth^the'e"^^^^^^ V^^ "?"-*<^ - 
 
 He had been associated with £ne fn sZ. ^'l Y'"cent's making. 
 di8astrous,butthecanti,;n ho^ I *?™® speculations that nroviSl 
 
 shape after all, and as ^c^ a.l ™?™®"t that they came out in e-ood 
 dauSiter he Ctd'on Lr atplL^Mi'""^^^ ^"-^^ 
 
 Ws coming to the rescuet.?h"^2T*h/h^!,'f^'T*'«" «bout 
 Vincent himself,— as indeed he h«d n ^ ^^^'* ^^^^^ ^^om Mr. 
 the moment alone, iu aCst of c^nL^ryf"'"^ ^^^" *hey were for 
 
 about the dear old father. Neif wSk von wm L°" T.™"* ^»'' «^ 
 and then, as vou snv ™„„i„ „ni "**" J^""'. *"' •» "> the mountoin. . 
 
 I shall be happy in'vou7ri^T";'/'r l^u' ^'T '" ™'«. and thenrtoo' 
 
 w, «,d .-a „„eh w„« i„ ^>'ni„::t tdisJ^ Tro«^r.';r 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 345 
 
 jest temptation and 
 
 be canonized. 
 ? Faithful, honest, 
 in such modest esti- 
 he cou]d have really 
 
 Mabel,, he lived in 
 le incessant and all- 
 3 loved her with an 
 )t a waking instant 
 IDS she appeared tc 
 
 knew. He used 
 » night, wondering 
 tlized their blessed 
 les her little foot 
 3S hear her voice 
 e gravelled path- 
 -Loving her as he 
 
 was even familiar 
 ars a contempt for 
 iguising. Now he 
 3t, to open confi- 
 lat should tell of 
 
 be felt a vague, 
 ilisted at the old 
 
 from her home, 
 de that the whole 
 liness. He never 
 )nfidences women 
 lin to Mrs, Riggs, 
 was now said in 
 ''incent's making, 
 ons that proved 
 f money and had 
 >meout in good 
 
 Lane loved his 
 formation about 
 leard from Mr. 
 en they were for 
 hom he believed 
 inceut had told 
 
 Lane's prompt 
 
 Ipect of my going on a two weeks' scout with my whole troop early in 
 the month ; but your letters will reach me safely." 
 
 Why was it that she should experience a feeling almost of relief 
 in reading that he was going to be absent from the garrison awhile,-— 
 going out on a two weeks' scout ? 
 
 I She had sent him, as she promised, a lovely cabinet photograph of 
 hereelf that had been taken expressly for him. It came to the old 
 trontier fort just as the men were marching up from evening stables 
 and the messenger, distributing the mail about the post, handed the 
 packet to the captain as he stood with a little knot of comrades on the 
 walk. There was instant demand that he should open it and show the 
 picture to them, but, blushing like a girl, he broke away and hid hira- 
 seit in his room ; and then, when sure of being uninterrupted, he took 
 It to the window and feasted his eyes upon the exquisite face and form 
 there portrayed. He kept it from that time in a silken case, which he 
 locked in a bureau drawer whenever he left the house, but in the even- 
 ings, . • when writing at his desk, he brought it forth to light again 
 f^' et it where every moment he could look upon and almost wor- 
 
 And then came her letters announcing their safe arrival at Deer 
 rark : 
 
 "Our journey was most trying, for the heat was intolerable until 
 we got well up among the mountains. Papa came ; but I know he 
 IS simply fretting his heart out with anxiety to get back to the office. 
 Mr. CJark only returnwl from his vacation the day we started. Gordon 
 Noel (^me down to the train to see us off, and brought mother a basket 
 of such luscious fruit. He says that he has no home to go to, now that 
 we are ffone Indeed, he has been very thoughtful and kind, and I 
 
 cheeJf 1 '^ ^"'^^ ^^^^^' ^^^'^^ ^'^ ®^°^^ *^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^y ^"^ 
 
 " Do you really mean that you will be gone a fortnight? How I 
 shall miss your dear letters, Fred ! And now indeed I will try to 
 write regularly. There's no one here I care anything about, though 
 the hotel seems very full, and there is much dancing and gayety. You 
 say my lettei-s will reach you; but I wonder how." 
 
 Lane read this with a sigh of relief. He had persuaded himself 
 that It was because he dreaded the effect of the long-continued hot 
 weather upon her that he so desired her to get to the mountains. Any 
 other thought would have been disloyalty to his queen. He wished— 
 just a httle bit— that she had not written of him as Gordon Noel • 
 he much preferred that she should call him Captain. She would not 
 write so fully and frankly of h^.m if he were anything but friendly, he 
 argued, and she would not tolerate his visits on any other grounds 
 Yet she did not tell him that they had walked up and down the plat- 
 lorm together for ten minutes before the train started, and that when 
 It was tune to nart liP haA Kon«- Ar^^.,,y ^.^A „«:4 _i i. • . _ • • 
 
 letter? 
 
 3 time to part he had bent down and said, almost 
 Do 
 
 in a w..ianpr . 
 
 you want to send a message for me to Fred Lane in your next 
 
 "I will do so, if you wish," she murmured ; but her eyes fell be- 
 fore the gaze in his, and the hot blood rushed to her face. 
 
346 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 00 l^t 'Jtl'^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^--t I BO loog to see, a«<, 
 
 five l^Str^r iTe!: ?n"' '" 'f "^, *^^"-^ *'-* ^^"ow-1 
 with delight ov^'r tLfr tenJerne^^^^^^ ^'^'^^^' ^«»^ wiJd 
 
 and then none i^m^ fLTu ^ . ^^* ^^ written Saturday 
 
 and brought tLTo'L^^^^^^^ *" ^¥ ^-rth day'Sm^;' 
 
 " Papt left us to^go Uck T h. "«- > ' /^^ Womtment, somehow, 
 couid stJind it no longer TfS^ f^A^- °'f^V '^^ ^^«*«- " He 
 Witherees came on sSurdav and * ^/^ ,^»«^ ^'"le good here. Th. 
 is with them sL «I wl3'- ^^''^ ^^^^^^^ g'^^> Miss Marshall 
 
 striving toTead m! fet^^PTh? "\^''^ ^^!f ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ - 
 and says vou wprp ' «n ^ . ,^^«/Peak8 so admiringly of you 
 
 WitheCranlfdo norrel'^mtt' ^'' '^' "^^^.* ^^^ ^^'^^ «* the 
 her to me. You s^ s^I am mth"'^''"' '''^' ^^^^^ ""^^hing about 
 friends. ' ' ^ ^"^ """^h more communicative abSut my 
 
 app^ln: the TpVoot^bttiSt ?r^«^ '''''''' W^^ should 
 night train Sunday a^dfrSlvwnf ^^ i^^ '^^^^ "«*" the mid- 
 And he. Lanl^to^peJ S^gTrT^ht' '^ ^" '^'^•" 
 
 XI. 
 
 onJe^' rhXSl7in t'<^'r ^^^ "^^^ ^"^'« -™P-^ had been 
 ordei^ cx)minff frorkmrSlnn a "^''' "^^^ postpoued/no further 
 
 any troops int'o KratTltt^^^^^^ 
 
 thing had hap^nS^?/"^^]^^^^^ "Some- 
 
 "to^hangetheSlf nf ^^ 1 ^7!«e> ^ho was a keen observer 
 
 lacked th'^radiarand^^^^^^^^^^^ His S 
 
 back from the East " i7hp iS^n • iH'^*^ ^^^ ^^^"^ «'^'°e he came 
 
 in circulation ?'^wa; the natuS If • "^ ^"^JV"^t°^ ll^' «*^"«« that are 
 that others were bS)re him r/hlf^f '^^ ^' ^' ^^'"°'"S *« ^^'^ 
 one could question him There It ^ I'-'^^^'u' ""^^^^ ^" ^tiH, no 
 trankness and k'ndi that hTld Zl^'^f "K"' ^'"'' ^^'^h a" his 
 confidence. He never hkd? rnlt i^^H ^'T^ ^'^^ ^"^'thing like 
 something thS rendered h1nf«fTf"* ^^ '^*'^f ^^^ «"^ thi! was 
 
 some one of themS iSof 7 '-''"^l' "' ^ '''^'' had chosen 
 a«rn„„f fL ^ul -_ .^ <^^^urse, reading the contents, could r^A;Ur 
 
 bad „et ^^ of p.^r;:pi:, '^ sts "ca „i;^^i 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 347 
 
 I so long to see, and 
 
 e week that followed 
 3is' heart went wild 
 IS written Saturday, 
 the fourth day came 
 ►ointment, somehow. 
 :," she wrote. " He 
 le good here. Th^ 
 firl, Miss Marshall, 
 he idea that she is 
 admiringly of you, 
 t you dined at the 
 ing anything about 
 micative about my 
 
 ight. Who should 
 lyed until the mid- 
 see him." 
 
 company had been 
 tpoued, no further 
 ^ required sending 
 The captain, far 
 bat he was not re- 
 moment. "Some- 
 a keen observer, 
 days." His face 
 VQT since he came 
 le stories that are 
 Jginning to learn 
 ?ard?" Still, no 
 him, with all his 
 m anything like 
 k; and this was 
 inpopular among 
 fule, had chosen 
 positary of their 
 3 had never in- 
 was it. Now it 
 d for the coming 
 ) weeks that fol- 
 me, well-known 
 3, could readily 
 
 iptions of dances 
 >untains. They 
 quainted with a 
 
 large circle from all parts of the country, fhey danced every evening 
 r^ularly in the hop-room, and were so thoroughly acquainted, and so 
 accustomed to one another's moods and fancies, that hardly an hour 
 passed in which they were not occupied in some pleasant recreation. 
 Lawn-tennis had always been a favorite game of hers, and her mother 
 was glad, she said, to see her picking it up again with such alacrity. 
 The open air was doing her good : her color was returning ; the lan- 
 guor and weakness which had oppressed her when she first arrived 
 after the long hot spell at home had disappeared entirely. But with 
 returning health came all the longing for out-door active occupation, 
 and, instead of having, as she had planned, hours in which to write to 
 him, almost all her time now was taken up in joyous sports, in horse- 
 back-rides, in long drives over the mountain-roads and through the 
 beautiful scenery by which they were surrounded. "And so," she 
 said, " Fred, dear, in regaining health and color, I fear, your Mabel 
 has very sadly neglected you." 
 
 His reply to her letter telling him of Mr. Noel's unexpected ap- 
 pearance at the Park was rather a difficult one for him to write. It 
 was dawning upon him that the attentions of his regimental comrade 
 to his fiancie were not as entirely platonic as they might be. Desire 
 to show all courtesy and kindliness to the lady-love of another officer 
 was all very well in its way, but it did not necessitate daily calls when 
 at home, and far less did it warrant his leaving his station without per- 
 mission — running the risk of a reprimand, or even possible court-mar- 
 tial — and taking a long journey, being absent from his post all Satur- 
 day and certainly not returning there before the afternoon of Monday. 
 If this were known at the head-quarters of the recruiting service, 
 Lieutenant Noel in all probability would be rapped severely over the 
 knuckles, if nothing worse. Lane could not, and would not, for 
 an instant blame his JiancSe, but he gently pointed out to her that 
 Mr. Noel ran great risks in making such a journey, and that it 
 would be well on that account to discourage similar expeditions in 
 the future. To this she made no direct reply ; but that she observed 
 his caution is quite possible. At all events, no further mention of 
 visits on the part of Mr. Noel appeared in any of the letters which 
 reached him before the orders for the scout actually did arrive ; but 
 that was not until near the very end of the month. It was just about 
 the 28th of August when rumors came of turbulence and threatened 
 outbreak among the Indians at the Chiricahua Reservation. Troops 
 were already marching thither from the stations in Ar'rona, and 
 Captain Lane was ordered to cross the range and scout on the 
 east side of the reservation, in order to drive back any ren^ades 
 who might be tempted to " make a break." Just one day before the 
 start he was surprised at receiving a letter from Mrs. Vin6ent. She 
 spoke gladly of Mabel's improved health and appearance ; she spoke 
 hopefully of Mr. Vincent, whose letters, she said, were more cheerful 
 than they had been, and who had been able to come up and spend two 
 Sundays with them. Mabel had doubtless told him of Mr. Noel's visit, 
 and how glad they were just then to see any face so pleasant and 
 familiar. And now she wished to ren ind him of their contract before 
 
348 
 
 TIVO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ii'liillliiil 
 
 il.v 
 
 Ji:S"CLt^r t^^^^^^^^ --^ro;. ...at she „«. 
 
 would not venture upon that nf MV ^" ^^^ '•^^«"« ^%, so she 
 ionger existed, and if Teso dtrt^ t wo'^V J?"^*^^ "^'^3^ "" 
 Wn^to his .iatives, as she w^M^rS^iTn^L^^^ 
 
 andj:-^^^ tn.e uneas, 
 
 etters before,-had^ever sluLm "^?V- ^-^^ ^^^^^ "«^^^ J'«^lov^ 
 Ws to her betrothed sS l^e "eVTsont "? '^'"^ ^vhata woma.t 
 However there was no one in tk^Xison fn J^«'.!' ^"^ ""^^fi"^- 
 to formally announce his en.'LS Un'^^'i' *!' 'P^'""^' «»red 
 making remarks or inquiries asmSS'^ m^^^'^ ^""^ '^"^"^ of iate 
 ^ng mformation from hinrin^he pa^^rf^ been successful in extract 
 should be forwarded once a w^fo; 3 ^'^ directions that his mail 
 railway-station nearest the ChlToahua Moimt^^'^'^'^ ^^Me.,i. the 
 It by sending couriei^ once in a while ncZft?!l ""^^"^ ^« ««"J^1 get 
 doing 80, Lane marched awar n^. ' provided there was no danger in 
 absence of an entire Sth'rf? ''^"""^. ^" ^''^^ P^^'^ed to b^ a^ 
 t e end of SeptembeTand the' Xlof " '''' T' G-ham undl 
 ehange from his scouting-rig l''ta^^e fn^'"!'' '^ ^""^'^« ^•™ to 
 clothes into a trunk, and t^o drive JottiT^"""^' *? *^^°^ « ^ew 
 the^a^Mance could .rry him, in^rdt t.^^^^:^^^ 
 
 f^^XZZi:tV^ A 
 
 to take to the mountains, thrS wh ch if " *^' reservation and 
 scouting; and to him and to h ?troon wL ' /' T!^^*"^ ^«« ^ben 
 turing and bringing thorn back to fT. ? '"^''"'^"^ ^^^ ^"'3^ of cap- 
 many a long m1le%outh 'rL rl waT'Tr'"- J^'' '"^^ ^^ 
 more before he made his wav tlfhJ^ ^* ^^ ^^' ^'^''^ ^eeks and 
 
 There he found a small packXe oft r^'TT ^^^ P^sone^ 
 
 direct from Graham where thp^^.-i^ir/'^'^'"^ bad been forward^ 
 the Agency before ;eachinlth^ rl'f '"*'^ ^i"^^ '^'^' ^« ^^o"W JoinS 
 probably Waiting C Vmo.f'^'r'' ^\'^5« bis other lettel v^ere 
 from Mr. Vincent. Briefly iS UsW "".t ^^ '^'^«^ ^^^oZ 
 to us as soon as you can obtl elt oHC '^ " ^^^'^^^ *'"'"g^ «o"^e 
 which excite my greatest appiXnln Id t7 wu ^^r^''" ^^« "««er3 
 My health, I regret to qav & !• -r ' ^"^ ^ ^^^ *bat I must see von 
 
 announced to all d,eir reCvi a„d ,haXf "'"J """^ •«» '■''™al)y 
 ,I^n .howe^J on Mabel S^H jM^-^rrlf?"?,™'"''''™ haj 
 ......re surprise expressed that slie ihonf,]"™™ ••■"■"ug" mere was some 
 
 W,r,.as not been «„ a. a>« ^II? ^-.^Vaf ?!;.;& 
 
 r- 
 
TH'O SOI.DJKRfi. 
 
 349 
 
 T« fk- , ^*^ *^'"'^ "«^'* f^'Ofii the mountains " 
 
 whichhe^ firJ. (&t„r? .? """Icrabe se.ise of soraetliing lacking 
 vfeit to IW Pa^l n„ "" "'"' ',•"" """O-nc*) Goido,, Noel'! 
 
 fri™^''orw'S^M'lE'l„"V'''' Departaent-an old .„d kind 
 
 reservation W Zai «1 aT "'S ""■■ .f"'"^ ««■ '■i°>^lf. «* the 
 
 , briefly s.a.«. l.i/n^Str! l^:^'^:''!'^^^^^^^ ^'l"' 
 
 him to one side ' ^ ""^ °" ""= ""l""'" » shoulder, and drew 
 
 " Y^r^^iSs Jun^^a??^^^--^ ^ P^^- -ed C«r 
 
 knows'^lttttbwCSln^^^^^^^^ «-""^- -^<J heaven 
 
 cent stumbJed oVrtbe bodv ,„ k a" P"?*' "^"^' ^"^ ^r. Vin- 
 
 \ shock, and died of htrtSl .h ^^''r '^^' ^^ prostrated by the 
 
 I of the tragedy for^^^^H/at^.T,^^^^ ^^'''' ^^' P«P«^ ^^^e full 
 
 il'm afraid. Now you will wTnV .n. .'"'! ^''' °T *^ ^ ''^d here, 
 
 troon Tnef +lii ^ ^ ^"* *° ^^''^' at once. Never mind vonr 
 
 I Late at night W reached fh?f" ^ ^"^^"^ ^^ ^^^^ marches." 
 hours behind. He tekJanhed^flVKT.Y'.?^^ *° ^'^^ ^^^ *»-ain Ave 
 fast as train couW brin|Sltt?^^^^^^ 'Y' ^'^ Tf^ ?^^ to her as 
 him. He strode T^moi^ri^^^ f '"l^^^^ad only just reached 
 glittering stars, yirning to rLc herT ^' T^ ^^f ^"'''" ""^«'- *''« 
 this bitter sorriw. Time ancfaiin h ^"^«^5>^^ and console her in 
 particulars which he hTd obllinT?. k'"^ ^^'^ '" ™'^"^ ^^^ ^^ 
 They were all too brief but i^t^S'l f ?«Partment commander. 
 Clark had been encourage! by Sbe ^fv. .T"'^ *^^°" fact,-that 
 deeply, in the ho^e of retrfevh ^^0!*^"^ i" ^^""^^ ^*'^^ 
 JLuckily for Vincent hpU ^ the osses of the past two years. 
 
 (the moirtg^e from hts iomP^lr'^^'' fT ^^"'"^"^^ i" "ft^ng 
 
 standing ^p^^^^^^ haHS. ^f '" ,*^^'°^ "P «".^ «f h'*« out? 
 
 partner; but^Wwo^der^ fl^t^T^^ '"PP^^ ^' ^^"fi'^e^t 
 
 ("P to the end of August at jeasf ^ ^"^ ^"^ ^*^^ that 
 
 (directed. "fhP ^roff I? fu'.^*..^^''*' Clark had not sent to him. a. 
 
 letter Mr. VinoeiV ha^e;;;' ;ri;S/h^^^^^ ^° ^^-^^ referred the fir^t 
 
350 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 iiiil 
 
 'ililfESi 
 
 illiiHiiiHi 
 
 hiiu in response to his telegraphic reouest. Wore ihere any letters ? he 
 eagerly asked. None now A small package had been foSed t^ 
 he reservation last night, and must have passed him on^e wa^^ 
 Others had been waiting for him at the mountain-station untU he was 
 t^"^ V'l^ arriving with his nrisonei^ at the A^^nc^ EveT;. 
 ^ing then had been sent thither, an5 there would be no getting Ihem 
 before starting At Graham the telegraph operator showed h!m th^ 
 duplicates of the telegrams that had 1x>me fofhim in his absent 1 
 only two. One announced Mr. Clark's suicide and Vincent's nroTt'ra 
 tipn and danger; the other, two days later, briefly read 'Mtfr C<St 
 died this morning. Mrs. Vincent and Mabel fairly well " 
 
 f ha 7ir f^u"^ " ^^"^^^ ^^''" ^"^^ * J^lo"« pang shot through 
 
 the poor fellow's heart as 1 3 realized that in all their be?eavemenTand 
 grief It was Noel's privilege to be with them and to be oni^t^ them 
 while he, her affianced husband, was far lavond hail. He w^ XmS 
 of his own thoughts an instant after, and bitterly upbraided In'mS 
 that he was not thankful that they could have had so attentir^nd 
 
 atufficfeitt? ^"^ ^^" '"^^ '^^ *« ^- -"^"--^y - -? 
 
 He had torn into fragments the anonymous sheet that had met him 
 
 at the r^rvation apd yei its words were gnawing at his heartstrings 
 
 now, and he could not crush them down : «ari8irings 
 
 Will P^.^^ y^?^ engagement denied ? Because she still cared for 
 Will Rossiterand hoped he might come back to her after all. 
 
 ihir.^ r ^ i ^*''1''o ^f ^ ^^y ** *^« ""^^^^ h^tel the second and 
 third times he spent Sunday at Deer Park? Because she wished to 
 hide from her mother, as she did from you, that he came at aU 
 
 Why does she meet him on the street instead of at home^ 
 
 ^gXtmyS!'^'' '"^"'^ '° ^'"' ^'^^"'^^ ^"' *" '^'' ^•"^ y«« ^'' 
 
 ,t« J^^o """"'^r^^. others exactly of their import, were what met his 
 startled eyes at C. iricahua,but the instant he noted that these carefully 
 tvpe-wnt jn sentences were followed by no signature at all,— not even 
 t htl^"f1- "^ i^>iend,''-indignation ancf wrath followed cL on 
 
 ItSl T tT"?' ^""^ ^'^ ''"^' «o°te"Pt he had destroyed the 
 cowardly sheet ; but he could not so easily conquer the poison thus 
 mjec^ m his veins. All the long, long journey to the^Ct they 
 haunted him dancing before his eyes, sleeping or waking, and it was 
 with haggard face and wearied frame that he Inched the Queen Cky 
 and, taking a cab, drove at once to her home. ^' 
 
 , . ?t was a lovely evening in early October. The sun had been 
 Binning brilliantly all day long, an/ almost everywhere doors and 
 wmdows were open to woo the cool air now gently stirring. The cab 
 stopped before the well-remembered steps, and Lane hastened to the 
 br(»d door-way. No need to ring : the portals stood uivitingly open. 
 The gas burned brightly in the hall and in the sitting-room t^theleft 
 He entered unhesitatmgly, and stood all alone in the room where he 
 n?,« sp^n^ so many nappy hours listening to the music of her voice 
 watehing the play and animation in her lovely face. He caught a 
 glimpse of his own, gaunt, haggard, hollow-eyed, in the mirror^er 
 
 / 
 
icre any letters ? he 
 been forwarded to 
 
 him on the way. 
 ation until he was 
 J Agency. Every- 
 be no getting them 
 r showed him the 
 
 in his absence, — 
 Vincent's prostra- 
 ad, " Mr. Vincent 
 well." 
 
 pang shot through 
 ■ bereavement and 
 be of use to them, 
 
 He was ashamed 
 pbraided himself 
 
 so attentive and 
 ^et — why was not 
 
 that had met him 
 t his heartstringij 
 
 jhe still cared for 
 
 fter all. 
 
 I the second and 
 
 ise she wished to 
 
 ime at all. 
 
 ad of at home? 
 
 the same you are 
 
 'ere what met his 
 at these carefully 
 at all, — not even 
 followed close on 
 id destroyed the 
 
 the poison thus 
 » the East they 
 king, and it was 
 
 the Queen City, 
 
 e sun had been 
 Inhere doors and 
 rring. The cab 
 hastened to the 
 invitingly open, 
 •room to the left. 
 5 room where he 
 isic of her voice, 
 . He caught a 
 the mirror over 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 361 
 
 the old- fash ione<l mantel. What was he, that he should Imve won a 
 creature so radiant, so exquisite, as the girl who had made these silent 
 rooms a heaven to him? There was the heavy portiere that shut off 
 the little passage to the library. His foot-fall made no sound in the 
 deep, rich carpeting. It was there she welcomed him that wonderful 
 Friday afternoon,— that day that was the turning-point, the climax, 
 of his life. Hark ! was that her voice, low, sweet, tremulous, in there 
 now? Hush! Was that v sob? — a woman's suppressed weeping? 
 Quickly he stepped forward, and in an instant had thrust aside the 
 second portifire; but he halted short at the threshold, petrified by the 
 scene before hinf. 
 
 Mabel Vincent, claspe<l in Gordon Noel's embrace, her arms about 
 his neck, gazing up into his face with almost worship in her weeping 
 eyes, raised her lips to meet the passionate kiss of his. " My darling,*^ 
 he murmured, " what can you fear? Have you not given me the 
 right to protect you ?" And the handsome head was toased proudly 
 back and for one little minute was indeed heroic. Then, with instan- 
 taneous change, every drop of blood fled from his face, leaving it ashen, 
 death-like. ^ ' 
 
 " Gordon /" she cried, " what is it ? Are you ill ?" 
 Then, following the glance of his staring eyes, she turned, and saw, 
 and swooned away. 
 
 XII. 
 
 A dreary winter was that of 188- at old Fort Graham. Captain 
 Breese became major of the —th, and his troop was ordered to exchange 
 with K, which had been so long at head-quarters, and this brought 
 old Jim Rawlins up to take command of the little cavalry battalion at 
 the oasis. ' There were many of the officers— Rawlins among them— 
 who thought that after his success with " the Devil's Own," as D Troop 
 had been called. Lane was entitled to enjoy the position of battalion 
 commander; but Mrs. Riggs had promptly asserted her belief that he 
 was not in position to enjoy anything. He had come back to the post 
 late m the fall, looking some years older and graver; he had been very 
 ill at Jefferson Barracks, said letters from that point, while waiting to 
 take out a party of recruits to the regiment; he had resumed duty 
 without a word to anybody of the matters that had so suddenly called 
 him East, but there was no need of telling : they knew all about it • 
 at least they said and thought they did. Mrs. Riggs had had such 
 oomplete accounts from Noel, and had received such a sweet letter from 
 Miss Vincent m reply to the one she had written congratulating her 
 upon her engagement to Aer (Mrs. Riggs's) "favorUe amom aU the 
 oj5/Mjer«,— and the colonel's, too." " She was so sorry— so painfully dis- 
 tress—about Captain Lane," said Mrs. Riggs. "She never really 
 cared for him. It was gratitude and propinquity, and pleasure in his 
 attentions, that she mistook for love ; but she never knew what love 
 was until she met Gordon. They were to be married early in the 
 spnng, and would take only a brief tour, for he had to be at his station, 
 bhe dreaded commg to the regiment, though she would follow Gordon 
 m,the end of the world if he said so, for she knew there were people 
 
352 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 iim 
 
 \im 
 
 ^^^'^ZXI!::^^ ^;r - «He '.ad to; 
 
 together. She haci written to h Tl "^ u "^ ^'"''^ "^^^'^ »>« ^appy 
 Ka«t and they ha.l tE dl^d ' '"^ ^"".""' ^""^ l^^^"^"' ''^ oame 
 with snoh ,/rfeot «c ti_ ^^d'su 7'"''' ^'•- ^^' ^^^ ^-''^v.! 
 Captain I.ane'8 feelings. Of ,?" «' r ?'''"•! «?"«i^'«'-ation for 
 reconcihation or future friend^ 7!'. T/'"" '«'^' «" possibih-ty of 
 Captain Lane humb^; oS^/^^^^!" *''-" ^^^ -^ an end uncles. 
 
 J«>ringit; fbrtl.efea^rfu exS^nofhr^ ^l "r^"^^' '^P^''^^ 
 hini listening at the portiere 1 ad ZL?/ 1 / '^ • ''^''° *'"'^ discovered 
 came to, (Jonlon said, u. tTme toTv IV ^«'"J.away, and «he only 
 window, 80 utterly wi e S &?p w ^'^^i^^S Inm out of the 
 Riggs a friend who Tould m^;oo ^0,^ '" *'''"^^"' *« ^^^« "'Mrs. 
 countc<l on to deny any to Lth^t '^^ T' °'^' T^ ^^« «""'*' bo 
 appointment raightVJn Nation "^^'' ^"*^'"'" ^"« '" '"« ^■•- 
 
 Bhe SrIS: U;:rai]lnow.^^' ,t t^T'- ^' 'r ''^ '«"- *o -'"-0'' 
 to her unoi^ened ; and she knew w£? 1" ^"' ^""^'^ «"^' ^^''^ «^"t 
 though she might have ''told jlI^lT l'^^\\o Mr,. Riggs that, 
 
 word of it until his eves v ml ^^ ' "'^ f\'^''^' ^'^ never knew a 
 night in the library ^hl'^'^tLf«rn'''^ \*'' '''"?'' ^^"^ ^'''^tohed 
 ^ There were othe^rnatteA whor^ln M^ love dream began and en<led. 
 Mrs. Riggs. He warnVrs! ior fit^'V^f ^'™^'^ ^^"^ «>"«"Jting 
 service nT^ht make him a oLS n la ''^'l^nant. Any accident of 
 
 " he might^e ordere^^ to^-o^at C O '/ P'^^^"' ^^'"^ ^•^"°^«^'> 
 nothing would give him Tre^L ^ ?^*^'"a"l>'> as she well knew 
 account-he hesilted 1 %M a^L^W "«?;-««'«')' «« Mabel's 
 that, if Colonel Rig^ would annfnv. ^'' I><^Partment had said 
 Euroi^e, for the purine of p^^^^^^^^^^ six months leave to visit 
 
 be obtained. Would she kindly et^^etc" P'"^^*^'^"^' «t»^'««> ™'ght 
 
 story Z rn^t^H, iT'Toixt '" ""T^ T'^ ^^ «'^^ o^ the 
 b. 1^ ^.^eT^r££r =-^^^^^ -en 
 
 JKsSv:l^^-S^?-^ 
 
 Their home remain J to them and h. " T^l 7'^ ^" changed iiow. 
 the wreck of Mr. V nc^nfrbut Rel' Tl '"^' ^"'*""e, together with 
 and seek to earn wlmt he could wF. f ^-F °J'* '"^o the world 
 wa.3 no one to step in and build uu^L old 7 '^'' f ^^^^^ss. There 
 advised that everything be dosecf n f Ir % ^'J^ ^'^^ executors had 
 ieft in lameutable^confiion tr ucS^^ ^^ai,^ had been 
 
 nothing, that is, but coSon i^d t ^ ;:,^^ ^^^^^V'^ ^Ise to leave,- 
 importuning her for payment of ll S -p ?' -^^pP e were constantly 
 c^nt^cted fy the firm^. ^"C' t^Z^:^^L^^^ ^' '^^y -- 
 
 them^^rtunehe\:!;^l?^l:?tedO^^ 
 
 
 / 
 
ne 88 she had to; 
 I never 1x5 happy 
 ng befof" he came 
 Noel had Iwhaved 
 consideration for 
 all possibility of 
 at an end unless 
 nercifully spared 
 » they discovered 
 vay, and she only 
 ? him out of the 
 I to have in Mrs. 
 nd who could bo 
 ^ne in his dis- 
 
 ! letters to which 
 
 e and were sent 
 
 Urs. Riggs that, 
 
 e never knew a 
 
 1 that wretched 
 
 pgan and ended. 
 
 ' was consulting 
 
 ^ny accident of 
 
 t were followed, 
 
 she well knew, 
 
 ely on Mabel's 
 
 ment had said 
 
 leave to visit 
 
 studies, might 
 
 one side of the 
 little else than 
 Iding garrison 
 en. 
 
 , letter written 
 tj to speak of 
 t she implored 
 changed now. 
 , together with 
 ito the world 
 iness. There 
 executors had 
 lirs had been 
 se to leave, — 
 TC constantly 
 hat they were 
 hcT iisiening, 
 would. ha;re 
 property «fiid 
 girl he loved 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 353 
 
 / 
 
 the home in which she had been reared. The very rcK)f under which 
 11 Its CO limns he fouiiil full account, written evidently bv some on. 
 
 XtliU!" "'^"'" ^ """ ■" ""' '-"-' 0.4 .^■.M« Z 
 
 hat ol!a«.r 8lttins at lii» desk with hi, head pillowcl n E L H, 
 
 ZtTr •"" P^'P-.P^f^"<i'fin^?,nl '^eeVt'lo:'' "a1,"Z 
 ^me Dr. Gowen happening i„,o the hospital while Lnc^a, viiin^ 
 
 A want you to go right to your quarters and s av there I^hp fi.r 
 
 12:: '"" r rKh'' ' '^'^^^' ™^''^^^'" fever,'^^: ^^i'^jiS 
 
 oraers. 1 H f^ with you in a moment." It was onlv the be<rinnimr 
 of what proved to be a trying illness of several N^^vks' dlmtion^ 
 
 smmm 
 
 u»u J ^^»v «» ;rear dgo. i^ater that evenino- he mef Iwii- in tu^ 
 
 Ti::t:^zr:^i'f nr '"? p'-ant trgn-.!: z^ 
 
 r 0„ the following day Mias Mf;shalf wa/'in the hall, reading, 
 
.354 
 
 TWO SOLDIICRS. 
 
 to/u three or7„,.r It .go??'' ^'"' '=™ ■-»'-«« l"^"'' »'■« wrote 
 ^^^'a nevo,- did," M Une. " Do you think that she did writ* to 
 
 frieJ«hip,.„d she ™.t. 1.^ tZX^.^^y^ sSee^-^^^fhoCh 
 1 had only met you once or twice before I fpl/X„f t ^ **' Although 
 
 "Is she at home?" asked Lane, eagerlv 
 
 was he there frequently when they were there before?" «at^ 
 Lane, an old, dull pain gnawing at hfs heart. ' ''^"'" ^^^'^^ ««ked 
 
 ana ir M l&t V'e^-'.u^ra ^i, ^ ^ -' - 
 
 «he couid not speak, and when she did^Ke checked w! ^ "*" "^"^'"'^ 
 
 n„. A •' ?»".*'''' ^'''''® ?g«^ aod suffered ! and it is all our doin^ —all 
 
 our doing!" she moaned, as her tears burst forth anew ''^'°^>"-"" 
 
 Never mind my crowWeet and gray hairs, dear lady," he said. 
 
 ^* 
 
?, she said, for Mrs. 
 e children. 
 
 I saw Mrs. Vin- 
 ith her. She haa 
 ! a letter she wrote 
 
 it she did write to 
 
 fled great surprise 
 very sure of your 
 ilence. Although 
 
 knew you so well 
 t)vable a woman as 
 
 she had told nic. 
 
 3 go to the moun- 
 e wenther is very 
 has advised that 
 wish to go, as it 
 able to get there 
 no reason why he 
 
 ! before?" asked 
 
 edge during our 
 generally Satur- 
 
 2ed be, I will lo 
 .all." ^ 
 
 icent in response 
 ition. " If pos- 
 mswer." What 
 
 for New York, 
 iset came. Ar- 
 anging his dress 
 ace his memora- 
 md asked to see 
 ane was shocked 
 ■"ears seemed to 
 le lines in her 
 ling forth both 
 ivered and she | 
 o a chair, and, j 
 2 lew moments 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 366 
 
 5ur doing, — all 
 lady," he said. 
 
 " It is high thne I began to show signs of advancing age. Then. 
 too, 1 am just up trom a siege of mountain fever." 
 
 " Waa that the reason you did not answer?" she presently asked 
 I never got your letter, Mrs. Vincent. When was it mailed ?" 
 About the lOth of May. I remember it well, l)ecau»e— it was just 
 after Mabel and Captain No«<I got back from their tour." 
 " Pardon me, but did you post it yourself?" 
 
 i-**i" ^u^ •^*If P*^*T ' ,*'» *y^ ^""^^ ™y ^''^^^^' I l^ve them on the 
 little table m the vestibule. 
 
 " Where any one r n ^ them ?" 
 
 "Yes; but who would v^^uch my letters?" 
 
 Une did not k lo -, of o irse. He was only certain that nothing 
 trom Mrs. Vincent ia reach d him during the past six months. 
 
 Captain Lane,"* ^r:^a,at last. « [ want you to tell me the truth. 
 Just after Mabels ma ...age I heard that e story was in circulation to 
 the effect that it was your money that umblod Mr. Vincent to tide over 
 the crisis m his affairs a year ago. It was even aaid that you had sold 
 property at a loss to supply him with means ; and some people in society 
 are so cruel as to .say that Mabel's trous.seau was actually purchased 
 with your money, because it had never been repaid. I know that Mr 
 Vincent often spoke of his obligation and gratitude to you. Tell me 
 rlhisftor^tS" '^^^ ^^^ ^'" give my husband money? 
 
 " I never gave Mr. Vincent a cent." 
 
 "Oh, I am so thankful I We have been the means of bringing 
 such sorrow to you " * ® 
 
 u "L^yo",raake no reference to that, Mrs. Vincent. Neither your 
 honored husband nor you have I ever thought in the least responsible. 
 u «ru *"^® ^*"®^ "^*^^> yo" ^ave been misinformed." 
 J\ hat cruel, reckless stories people tell! It hurt me terribly 
 mid then when no answ. r came to my letter I felt that probably there 
 M^LlT 7?/" It, and that you ware hiding the truth from me. 
 Mabel heard it too ; but she said that Captain Noel investigated it at 
 once and found that it was utterly false. I could not be satisfied until 
 1 had your own assurance." 
 
 ,.J' t""^ "TJ''" ^^\^ '^"J}^ ,'^'^' ^'*'» * «™'Je that shone on his 
 worn face and beamed about his deen-set eyes like sunshine after April 
 showers. " You are going to be advised now, are you not, and seek 
 change and rest in the mountains?" ' 
 
 ^ " We meant to go this week ; but Mrs. Paterson, of Philadelphia 
 IS urging us to spend the summer with her at the sea-shore, wherSshe 
 W a i-oomy cottage She is a cousin of Captain Noel's, and was an 
 intimate friend of Mabel's at school. That was where my daughter 
 first heard of him. Oh, I wish— I wish " / "augnier 
 
 .^r/'^^' ^'f%'^-^^\^-^^Q ffi^- Vincent's teaijs poured forth, and it was 
 some time before she could control herself. , it was 
 
 At last the captain felt that he must go. It was now his purpose to 
 
 leave town as soon as he could attend tofne or two matters of bEJs^ 
 
 Shall I not see you again ?" she asked, as he rose to take his leave. 
 
 "I fear not," he answered. "There is nothing to require more 
 
I'!:'. 
 
 k§ 
 
 > 1 J ! 
 
 356 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 the j«ervatio„ they oanTheU Tnohtl " ^""^ '""' "" '°"" "^""^ 
 
 tho„,.'"'l lir^uTe.^"!'!':/:! 'T.^'' -^r" a force to watch 
 Lane." ^ "^ ""' ^O'ng back ; but it 18 Jike yoa, Captain 
 
 whiitm ;:«*? 'll^iid «« Sr' •-«! -d -k«I nothing of his 
 
 have left town that very evenhlMr h'''f '"''^"<'-. »« '"^^-t «» 
 estate agent whom L Zl h» J S.! • ^ ''^ <»nsnltatiou with a real- 
 even as^e was ll™^>tLXr" kit'"il"^ '" '"'^7^^' '>»' 
 there came a knock at hi <)nn..?„T.t^ . '» a roomy leather bag 
 
 dress, who moSed the tl tov Inl ™**T' ° TV" P'"'" "'"l^"" 
 phot^raph ! . ^ *" "''*'■ "»'' and then held forth a 
 
 '"tK*'" '^"?'," *''»' your man Taintor?" 
 inspects '^"C^„'''^ot"irim"?? " ""^ ^'■^'' ''°--' ««» -«f"l 
 captlinri thTr: it st'e" mistke''''&1" ''"' ,*? T ''"'' '"^ *« 
 
 Lu7L ml:ntttatra?erd";:- "hcS"''^? "'"' J™' - 
 writing, and manages to get^akng anTiun^rtHn^T'"!-"'' '^I*" 
 woman who nassea «s 1.S wife ^/m ,, ^PP"" a good-lookmg young 
 
 back here te'^bte?' ^'^^ "*"" "» "'!'''= brouiht him 
 
 TheZHde"«frh,m"' """^ °' "■" -™i«-g-P«.ty to see him? 
 
 entirefy" %l^ £T t'JZ^f''' T-"* ^^T' '''■ ^''^ « new lot 
 at all, id theTwtLlUenKy '""'••"' ^' "'""«"'"■ "'' ™P'«'" 
 
 ^^ w!h the thTrr ,T°"'^'' P""*^ •'" a different part of tfce 
 heart iha^you had w/i^l J^'tf"'' Tfu^ "h"?; but when the Chief 
 until you c^uTd «« Wm bit hi h» A*°"i'" ^l^ '^"^"^ ">« ft""" 
 «>nld3ave h- .mTou w;retm1„S ''"'"^- '^'" **'^ "-^ ^^ he 
 
 ti-e 0^; one feltl' '""" '^"' ^"'■'* "" '"'■ ^--t. She was 
 
 "Beg pardon, sir. hnf ia«'f +u-4. i-t-_x_. ^t ?• 
 The capfail, lives theri, I think" "^ '^'*'* mother-in-law? 
 
 tZ^U^L^:^.!^^^^ *! -^ face. A uuestion w. 
 
 at his very tongue's en jf -1""yZT ■"! """' "f ' ^ <I"««''™ "«« 
 w.rni„g?):_b|tf,:s«fl;i itJiA^Tm^iSTgt^hr" ""^ «''"'' 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 357 
 
 [ shall seek a cooler 
 nt." 
 
 bs' sick-leave." 
 
 !st with my troop." 
 
 ouble brewing again 
 
 d no doubt disaffec- 
 aud to scout around 
 
 all a force to watch 
 3 like you, Captain 
 
 Bked nothing of his 
 md. He meant to 
 iltatiou with a real- 
 in his service ; but 
 roomy leather bag 
 an in plain civilian 
 then held forth a 
 
 iswer, after careful 
 
 » see him, and the 
 lis hair and beard 
 «^here he was up to 
 i bag with him, as 
 copying and type- 
 >od-looking young 
 link brought him 
 
 wrty to see him? 
 
 r. It's a new lot 
 with the captain 
 
 for the party ?" 
 iter because Cap- 
 ferent part of the 
 t when the Chief 
 hadow the fellow 
 there any way he 
 
 incent. She was 
 
 mother-in-law ? 
 
 A question was 
 ould have given 
 
 t. 
 
 " Y r^ ^^'""i" ^^ ^'^ S®"^ ^^^"^ o^ "»7 coming, I will leave on 
 ae late train, as I purposed, and you can wire to me when he returns. 
 Then keep him shadowed until I get here." ^ci-urna. 
 
 And with this understanding they parted. Lane going at once to a 
 
 DO resor on one of the great lakes. Four days later Ime the de- 
 
 Jpateh he looked for, and, accompanied by two detectives, Lane knocked 
 
 ^UtVolTeLtr^^ '" ''^'^' ^""^^'"^ ^^^^'^-^ -^^- ^-^^■ 
 A comely young woman opened the door just a few inches and in- 
 
 luired what was wanted. "Mr. Graves wm- not at home." He cer- 
 Jam ly wou d not have been in a minute more, for a man swung out of 
 the hird-story window and, going hand by hand down the convenient 
 lightning-rod, dropped into the arms of a waiting officer, and tlmlS 
 
 iTh ^T^?/"*^ ^'"''•^"" ^P^"t b«*»°d the bars in the Central Station 
 |The identification was complete. v-^utidi otauon. 
 
 .Lane was to appear and make formal charge against him the follow- 
 
 ng morning. Going down to an early breakfasThe picked up oneTf 
 
 Ithe great daihos at the news-stand, and, after taking^his seat at t^ble 
 
 and ordering a light repast, he opened the still moisfsheet The fir^? 
 te' 'I » ' t^'-^'T T '"^"g*^ ^° «tart him to his feet. " Indian 
 lOutbreak." "The Apaches on the War-Path." « Murder of Zent 
 
 Curtis at San Carlos." "Massacre of a Stage-Load <rpLseni?s" 
 li^'^^^t;^^ Cavalry, a victii" "Hor/ibTeXl 
 
 inffi •^ ^^^ *^^ ^^^^ ''^^. ^^""^y ^''^^y t'^l^^- Warnings disregarded • 
 fe ITJ'f ^J *^'- "«'g»^boring troop-commande,^ p^h-poS and 
 
 r^rof ot h V""'"'T'^ "^ '^' ^^r*^° ^"^^^" ' a sudden startling 
 
 Irubh of one body upon the agent and his helpless family ; a simulta- 
 
 neons dash rom the otiier end of the reservition upon the ^TerS 
 
 rutcWed^fcddt^'l' ^^r""'^ ambushed; a vLlo^sS 
 Dutcnered in cold blood. There was no more thought of breakfast for 
 
 Lane. He hurried to the telegraph-office, thence to the pol c^sStion 
 thence to an attorney whom he w^as advised to employ, S by nZ' 
 
 |at7thf£^^^^^^ "^" '-''-' ''' -'- ^^^ --^ ^l 
 
 XIII. 
 
 K„nT^^ JC'^'"'^ ^^r'^:^> a most valuable sheet in its way, in its 
 Sunday edition contained the following interesting item : ^' 
 
 Li 1 u i^^f °*: '? ^"^""'^^ '^'''^^^^ ''^s eclipsed of late the banquet tfiven at 
 
 Nie c ub last night in honor of Captain Gordon Noel, Ttlie EleTnth 
 
 Cavalry, on the eve of his departu^ to take command^f hi7troornow 
 
 hastening to the scene of Indian hostilities in Arizona AsTs' weU 
 
 ™io„T«;''""^' '''' "^"' f ^^« niunierous ouibr^^ at th 
 llZZT^ Z'IJ,1T^,!L ^.^--^ '^-- th- gallant officer applied 
 U^ :•"",: •• 'i^;'^^ "t.iu Ilia present autied m our midst and ordprpfl 
 
 bro/iLrX";:,^!:.*"'' "■"' "^ ""^'■' ^-'■^ -"^ '" 
 
 LdllS,?™/'-!'"','' '°'" ''r'y- ^""^ '«'''« ™ decorated with flowcre 
 j.«d g^^teued ^uhplat, and crystal. The met oompicuou. devf^"™ 
 
358 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 K^^Tt- ''^T ^J *^' ""^y^^'y^ ^^*^ *h« ""'"ber 11 and the letter 
 K, that being the designation of the captain's company Hr« honor 
 
 Sps^a- sis ?£^,£ S 
 
 were blanching and hearts were still stricken by the dread new« T^l 
 butcheries and rapine which marked the Indians^ fli^hfwKr fu ^ 
 shrank from such pilous work, wire Ls t rma^tl'tdd su^' 
 press the fervent adm ration with which hp hP!,r^ fKof *i P" 
 
 soldier who tet no ,i.e in demlZg^et'll t I'S™ Zt^ 
 
 the man who never yet had faltered in hU HnftT +^1 u ^™,' 
 
 honoi-ed chairman. If in the nn^f ho ho^j o. j J • P'^*?^^. <>i "leir 
 esteem, all the more woulS he t y to mert T^f"^ m ""'^S "^ '^^^^ 
 
 must he share them now. His hparf H,'« h^Vlf T- u v? "^^^' ^^ 
 
 time ^ p^ve hi„^f loMl^Sf h'lr;"^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 midst, and we predict that when the records .^tlT • ^ '°. """* 
 
 express. But there was aareatJ^l ^^JT'"''^ "^'V, *^^ *^^' 
 
 that would have elicited soSing Lore 1^^^^ 
 
 officers who knew Noel well ^ * '''^''^ g"» ^«>'n 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 359 
 
 we™^;U^S^l^„ttT„t^h:flt,"■■'^'•■■' *" fe« "dings 
 the Queen City. Tliefiret ^^1,' ^ ""^ "'™' reluctantly lei 
 
 I^ne,d^pi,ethefa"tl,rttshS';iT;"°"«'' *" ?"' Ca^^n 
 was yet by no mwmatnnJ hTIu !^ ^'T '*'">"'«J "nd that he 
 
 be joinedV some of h^^hw'ita: ™f It'f,,*'' ^'"''^"^ "»»« 
 be fierce and stubborn. TeleirrinS'tf.! '•""' """ipaign would 
 the general commanding the S Zn? 't Jf^"^ "djiftant and 
 once, and asking to be SotiL m ™T , "' i" '"'""<'«' "> ^^rt at 
 
 join the t™op,fe was orhft^Sn1n„tr°"'' ■""^' ^'^"^ 
 C^ArllS-f ^4^r^i^-^^^ 7 -de of ,his in the 
 
 Despite his many faults there JaVnn T ^f " "^^^'^ unwelcome, 
 very much in love ^? h h l w feb"? hTS^ *^f G^^^on i^oel was 
 the active part of his profbL^nThi-uTu"''^^ ^^"^ ^° love with 
 who had stood by hhn in the pisf InT * ^! '^^"^''^P''^^ ^« ^'«tives 
 letters informing them ha" bis wife's Zt^"^^ V^-g^"* anci pleading 
 that if he were cornel efat this moin? T 'V" ^dicate a statf 
 peri ous duty in the ApacVfcount^v SI '''^' ^^^.""^ *« g« "PO" 
 be the effect upon hc-r. ^Tfa possuS thW T "^ ^/^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ 
 be a delay of a fortnight. He eaiculat!d S m "'f^ *^"^ ^^^^'^ should 
 would either be safe across th. Mplio k f ^^ *^^* *"^« ^be Indians 
 reservation ; then he 3 ^ o^t a^"idn w'^ S^^>f ^ ^''^^^' *« ^^e 
 and no possible danger. But a new kinT J a ^'''''^'^ ^^ ^''"•"P^t^ 
 ment, who knew Joseph rXr f h!n t^ u^°^^ '° ^^^ War Depart- 
 honorable Secrelry had ^col t ^?7>^^ "^t. In some way the 
 of Captain No^Kmna^^^^^^^ Previous hiLry 
 
 «eme„ ^f ed to made' p^om^t aK^^^^^^^ gen": 
 
 was desig^atS ti'pr3 ,ronr/"f/'r^"* "^^'^ ^" <>& 
 Noel's re1.de.vous arplplrandVie^^^^^^ ^ ""^ *^'^ °^^^ 
 bim to start without delav and to nnf.Yu ft ^ '"^ ^"^'^ ^^''^ «ent to 
 of the date of his departure Vmn«f^ ^"^ department by telegraph 
 i?g. This correspoXcr£;i never T"?' ''? ''""^^°' P^'^^^^" 
 tim^ and it was kLwn only to h X^^ -^^^^^^^^^ '"^^"^^ '' '^' 
 wards. As soon as he found that 1 T Tl^^ f?' "^'"^ ^^^ after- 
 a letter in which, gallansoUe/lhaTlpr^^^^ he dictated to his clerk 
 General that thefews from Alona ' 7 ' ^' "^^"^"^^ the Adjutant- 
 outbreak of alarming Sn^Zh J fl "^""1'""^^°^^ ^'"^ *''at an 
 be might be relieved^as aTl ^ ^ '^'e^^^^^ '"'-5 ^^^"^ '^'' 
 
 - • ^' .I'i^i!."? !:^PV^ ^'a? ««"t. as the order d'irecting 
 
 u- , , v„v. xjciu. jLo rnis no repiv 
 
 mm to proceed had already been ismi^j"' P^.T"" " • """8 
 
 a^u^t *e moustachcd li^ Ir Z =L^tS If^^^ 
 
 Noel left the Queen Gty a hero in the eyes of the populace. He 
 
 ,1, 
 
 i)J| 
 ii 
 
360 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ill 
 
 was just six days behind Lane, of whose movements the Queen City 
 had no information whatever. 
 
 And now came an odd piece of luck,— a slip in the fortunes of war. 
 The cavalry stationed in Arizona were so far from the reservation at the 
 time that they had long and difficult marches to make. Only two or 
 three troops that happened to be along the line of the railway reached 
 the mountains neighboring San Carlos in time to quickly take the trail 
 of the hijstiles. Except the one little troop of cavalry on duty at the 
 reservation, none of the horsemen in Arizona had us vet come in actual 
 conflict with the renegades, and, oddly enough, it was the Eleventh 
 that first met and struck them. Old Riggs himself had not taken the 
 field, but the battalion from head-quarters had been whirled westward 
 along the railway and actually reached the pass through the Chiricahua 
 Range before the Indians. Expecting just such a possibility, these 
 wary campaigners had their scouts far ii; advance of the main body, 
 and prompt warning was given, so that only the rear-guard of the 
 Indians was reached by the eager cavalrymen ; the bulk of the Apaches 
 turned eastward and swept down like ravening wolves upon the 
 oefenceless settlers in the San Simon Valley, burning, murdering, pil- 
 laging as they went, full fifty miles a day, while their pursuere trailed 
 helplessly behind. When they had succeeded in crossing the railway 
 most of their number were mounted on fresh horees, and the section- 
 hands, who saw them from afar off, telegraphed from the nearest station 
 that they had with them six or eight women i.nd children whose hus- 
 bands and fathers doubtless lay weltering in their blood along the route. 
 Full seven days now had they been dodging through the mountains 
 and swooping down upon the ranchmen, and so skilfully had they 
 eluded tlieir pursuers and defeated their combinations tiiat now they 
 had a commanding lead and actually nothing between them and 
 the Mexican frontier,— nothing in Arizona, that is to say. But look just 
 across the border. There, spurring steadily southwestward until halted 
 for the night in San Simon Pass, comes a little troop of cavalry, not 
 more than thirty-five in number. All day long since earliest dawn had 
 they ridden across the burning sands of a desert region ; lips, nostrils, 
 eyelids smarting with alkali-dust, throats parched with thirst, temples 
 throbbing with the intense heat; several men and horses used up and 
 left behind were now slowly plodding back towards H\e railway. Look 
 at the letter one of those leaders wears upon hie • nn old scouting-hat, 
 — D. Yes, it is the " Devil's own D's," and Lanft i& at their head. 
 
 At the moment of the outbreak, both companies from Graham, 
 K and D, or strong detachments from both, w>.ie scouting through the 
 country,— one through the northern Peloncillo Range, the other far up 
 among the head-waters of the Gila. Not a word did they hear of the 
 trouble until it was several days old j then D Troop was amazed by 
 the sudden appearance of their captain in their midst,— Lane, whom 
 Uiey ^supposed to be i,n sick-leave far in the distant East. It was then 
 for the first time they learneu how iheir wmrades of K Troop had lost 
 their popular old commander, and that the great outbreak had occurred 
 at San Carlos. Stopping only long enoi gh to cram their pouches with 
 ammunition an-' to draw more rations, the troop hastened away towards 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 S61 
 
 the railroad by way of Graham, and at the station, just at dawn, Lane 
 sent a brief despatch to the commanuing general saying that he was 
 pushing with all speed to head the Indians off via San Simon Pass. 
 He had then forty-five men and horses, in fair condition. K Troop 
 would reach Graham that evening, and he urge<l that they be sent at 
 once to reinforce him. This despatch " the Chief" received with an 
 emphatic slap of his thigh and an expression of delight : " Bless that 
 fellow Lane! he is always in the nick of time. I had not hoped for 
 an instant that either D or K would be available, and now look," he 
 said to his aide-de-camp, " he has started for San Simon Pass, and will 
 probably throw himself across their front. Only I wish he had more 
 men." 
 
 "Shall I wire to Graham to have K rush after him, sir?" 
 
 " Yes. Order them to start the instant they can refit, and not to 
 take more than an hour in doing that. They have been having easy 
 work on their scout,— probably tak .ig it leisurely all the time; they 
 ought to be in first-rate trim. D, on the contra»-v, has been making 
 long and rapid marches to get down from the Upper Gila. Where 
 was K at last accounts ?" 
 
 " Couriers had gone to the Upper Peloncillo for them several days 
 ago, and, as Lane says, they are expected at Graham this evening. 
 Lane, himself, rode after his own men two hours after he got to the 
 post from the East, and Noel, who is K's new captain, is due at Graham 
 Station to-night." 
 
 " Then send him orders to lead his troop instantly, follow and sup- 
 port Lane. Tell Sim not to lose a moment on the way. Everything 
 may depend upon hit, promptness and zeal." 
 
 And so it happened that when Captain Noel stepped from the train 
 that afternoon at the old station the telegraph messenger came forward 
 to meet him, touching his cap and saying, " This despatch has been 
 awaiting you, sir, since eleven o'clock this morning. I have just had 
 a despatch from the post, and K Troop got in two hours ago and is 
 already starting. Lieutenant Mason says an orderly is coming ahead 
 with a horse ard the captain's field-kit. Shall I wire for anvthinff 
 else?" -^ ^ 
 
 Noel opened the despatch which had been handed him, and read it 
 with an expression that plainly indicated perturbation, if not dismay. 
 He had not been in saddle for an entire year, 
 
 " Why, I must go out to the post !" he said to the operator. ' ' tm 
 not at all ready to take the field. Let them know that I have arrived, 
 and will come out there without delay. Bet^^^er have the troop unsaddled 
 and wait for my coming." 
 
 "Will the captain pardon me?" said the operator; "the orders 
 from the Department commander that went through this morning were 
 that the troop should not take more than an hour in refitting at the 
 post and should start at once. I thought I could see them coming 
 over thfl divlHp inef qo tVta wKJc^la Kl/>.., » 
 
 The captain's face gave no sign of enthusiasm as he received this 
 news. He was still pondering over the contents of his despatch from 
 the commanding general,— its tone was so like that of his order from 
 
^62 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 •m^ 
 
 ilNI 
 
 ill 
 
 ffli 
 
 " Here come some of 'em n r sir " 
 «i™pp*l for th? field, witl, bllt^;S,l', , ."'rb'inriXf S 
 
 b,m to .neet j-o„ on your arrival, bu we wero all ba5y 1 L?the Zv^n 
 n«df. You've got your orfers, sir, haven , vou ? llf Si 1 Z 
 m wire to the :fort. «n,l !»„ .1,. „. ■ . ,_. ^ ^°" ' «•?»>">, 
 
 Of rea? fCn tit/r './'^! ?!' ^ ^^ "«X? ^'^^ a chance to do a bit 
 
 take me alon,-3;ou';e = t7g7the/e^;.:nrKJ IIZT^ 
 It. And the gallant little fellow looked, all eaoerne^ into Nop >«nn 
 responsive face. What wouldn't the hero of the oS C^Z C^l » 
 
 Kt:s;^tht-*^"?,r;?rt 
 
 are things I must attend to. You see I left the in.f^nfr^u '^^""^ 
 rnr^^H^etea^-ltiyXl^^^^^^ 
 
 Xft::\ti—^' ""''''' s-'»"0«"'trot:'^;s"„; ^^^irz 
 
 "Captain Noel pardon me, sir," interpc. Mie operator "Th. 
 fa^l^te^".!': f-"" ^^^^^^ «^^^- ^^^' -"^^ ^- if ^i^ 
 
 « YnnJl^ '" *TP !'"'* ^''' y^*- ' -^' Waiting for it." 
 louder voices the troop, s r." called ^nt Mr Ponc.i,« u i. i 
 
 nil! to the door. "Now let me hel^^. f^^h ^!^S'^^^^ 
 that canvas bag in here, orderly." '^n your cits. Bring 
 
 n. Jif!."!!!?'?_^^""I^^ ^ ."^f ««g? from '-L Ohief :" "Lose not a 
 
 _ . „„ ,„^ „j,^.^ jieport here by wire ; ^ *irrival of vonr ivr^^ 
 
 and the nioment you start. Behind time now." ^ *^P 
 
 i'oor Noel I There was no surgeon to certify that his pallid cheeks 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 363 
 
 were due to impaired heart-actioh, no senatorial cousin to beir for staff 
 duty, no Mrs. Riggs to interpose. He had just time to send a despateli 
 to Mabel announcing that he took the field at the head of his troop at 
 once, another (collect) to Amos Withers, Esq., of similar import, and 
 one to the general, saying that at 4.45 they were just on the point of 
 starting, when the troop, fifty strong and in splendid trim, came trot- 
 ting m, and Mr. Mason grimly saluted his new captain and fell back 
 to the command of the first platoon. 
 
 " Noel to the Front !" was the Chrmicys head-line on the follow- 
 ing morning far away in the Queen City. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Not an instant too soon, although he has ridden hard since eariiest 
 dawn, has Lane reached the rocky pass. North and south the Pelon- 
 allos are shrouded in the gloom of coming night, and all over the arid 
 plain to the eastward darkness has settled down. In previous scouts 
 he has learned the country well, and he knows just where to turn for 
 tanks of cool water for horses, mules, and men,— the cavalry order 
 of precedence when creature comforts are to be doled out. He knows 
 lust where to conceal his little force in the recesses of the rocks and 
 let them build tiny fires and make their c»ffee and then get such rest 
 as IS possible before the coming day; but there is no rit for him. 
 laking two veteran soldiers with him, and leaving the troop to the 
 command of his lieutenant, an enthusiastic young soldier only a year 
 out ot the cadet gray, the captain rides westward through the gloam- 
 ing. He must determine at once whether the Indians are coming to- 
 wards the pass by which the San Simon makes its burst through the 
 range, or whether, having made wide ditour around the little ^st at 
 Bowie among the Chiricahua Mountains, they are now heading^uth- 
 ward again and taking the shortest line to the border before seeking to 
 regain once more their old trail along the San Bernardino. How often 
 
 m7esS!;:;uTSr ^^^ "^ '"' '" ^^°"^ *'^"^ ^--^^ ^^^^^^^ -- 
 
 And now, secure in the belief that they have thrown all the 
 cavalry far to the rear m the "stern-chase" which no Apache dreads, 
 well knowing how easily he can distance his hampered pursuers, the 
 renegades, joined by a gang of the utteriy " unreconstructed" Chiri- 
 ^nZ' r. i!"'"? *^^i"^ .T'^ ^"^ "^'^'"g ^'^^ 0° the helpless 
 
 tunately tor the records, these are few in number; had there been 
 dozens more they would only have served to swell the list of butchered 
 men, of plundered ranches, of burning stacks and corrals, of women 
 and children borne off to be the sport of their leisure hours wE 
 once secure m the fastnesses of the Sierra Madres far south of the 
 n"I' ~i T ^"^<ii'o<;,*<^o soon come to the relief of these poor creat- 
 hlll""". ^ne anu an nis men had been spurred to the utmost elibrt 
 Dy the story of the railway-hands that they had plainly seen several 
 dorj"" S^iWren bound to the spare J ,.,.1, S>e Z^es T? 
 along across the iron track. 
 
.364 
 
 TWro SOLDIERS. 
 
 Among the passengcn-s in the pillaged st^ige-coach vvei-e the wife and 
 dauglaer of an Indian agent, who had only recently come o th^h 
 aj-id Territory and knew little of the ways of its indLnous In 
 Nothmg had 8,nce been seen or heard of then,. Captardini 
 and two soldiers going up as witnesses before a court-mirtial aiGran 
 were found hacked ahnost beyond recognition, and the driver too who 
 ^emed to have crawled out among the rocks to die. VerHv the 
 Apaches had good reason to revel in their success They hmi 
 hoodwinked the Bureau, dodged the cavalry, plundered rid.t and left 
 until thev were rich with spoil, and now, well fo the south of the rail 
 way, with a choice of either east or west side of the range their main 
 bcxly and prisoners are halt^ to rest the animals, wh^^ le^ m es t^t^" 
 
 r h v;Lf; e'tsfao^f '"^ ^'''''' ^^-^'"^^ P"^^"-' ai:5 mile^ou 
 .o. u Trp "'\ "^o«^ active young warriors are cr\ ing havoc at the 
 ranch of Ires Hermanos. It is the red gla-e of the flan^r toward^ 
 
 The nstant he and his comrades issue from the gorge and ueer In ' 
 tiously o the right and left, not only do they seeThfbC aCsX 
 wide valley, but northward, not more than half a mile awa^, E rise 
 oTrc\S:r' ' """' '''' '''' cannot-stake,-th'e' >^E 
 "Thank God," cries Lane, "we are here ahead of them I" 
 wait anhours reconnoissance reveals to him their uosition F«r 
 
 rusl, upon them in the night, they have made their bivouac and are 
 having a revel and feast while awaiting the return of the raider or news 
 from the rear that they must be moving. The range is ruggXnd p^ 
 apitous north of the gorge; cavalry ^cannot peneLte it?but La£ 
 plan 18 quickly laid. He will let his men sleeiVuntil two o'cl^k kTn 
 mg only three sentries on the lookout, one of them mTun^^ and S 
 of the gorge to give warning should thi Indians move during the niX 
 Then, leaving the horses conceale<l among the rocks south o/the stream 
 with two men to guard them, he will lead his company up the he3 
 and as close as possible to the Apache camp. He in^ hiding un fl t 
 IS hgh enough to distinguish objects, then dash down into ttfeir mids 
 rescue the prisoners in the panic and confusion that he knows w 11 result 
 from the sudden attack, send them back as rapidly as possiire IS 
 
 hfs little Zlrr'^''^^'"'' ^i ^^'^^^ are^corUed, while he anl 
 his^Utle band interpose between them and any rally the Apaches may 
 
 Knowing well that they are armed with magazine rifles and supplied 
 by a paterna Bureau with abundant ammunition, knowing that thS 
 
 wi r Wv^'.^"™ *Vr.*" T' ^"°^'"S '^^' by sunrise the whole trib^ 
 will have reassembled and must infallibly detect the pitiful weakn^ 
 
 atohl"! T' 1 '' " ^^P^'^*^ ^^^"^ *^ '^^' > but it is theTly one 
 
 i^r^r ti^^k^en Ht'tS ""T"" "^1 '^'^^ *"''*"^^' «g««" women,{hose 
 terror-stricken little ones, from a fate mnrp awful thnn ™,..vi. i_x_-,- 
 
 reachS'V:?^"' '""t "^T'"f' he argu^rfTroormusTSnt 
 W. K ? ' f ^J"*"^^ ^^T ^^ be fresh and strong, he knows that they 
 have had only short and easy marches and therlfore can isily ime 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 3fi5 
 
 ahead all n.^'ht long and be rounding the Pyramid Spur by davbreak 
 Hc !<now8 Ma.son well, and can count on that voung officer^s dohrhl^ 
 leve best ' to support him. Alas I he does not know that Mason s 
 compelled by th.8 time to fall back to second place and tL tlT W 
 
 and he fels as though he had not closed hi, eyes when Soral S 
 hends over hun to say it k two o'clock. Noiselessly the m™«!^ 
 
 jowionea tall in of the first sergeant, seize their arms and tnW 
 thejr place m l.ne. There Lane briefly 'explains the s tuition tells 
 them of the pos.t.on of the Apache bivouac ; details Cor^ral RUev 
 and four men to search for, secure, and hie aVay wi h theTr soitr^^^ 
 
 f ^ r tTd aTd ?r^{ r T/:: -, E iira=^it £5 
 
 S5:^;i|taf=:iSw--h;li''s= 
 
 start them back here. The rest of us will fall back slowly Em, b^ 
 tween them and the Apaches all the time. Never let tCn ^t!? ' Z' 
 pnsoners. That is the main object of our attack oSk he.e'vi 'h 
 
 i3;s":SillTr^'"^ '" ^'^r'-^ ''^^ whicht carstenS 
 «n^ t? .,?V*'^ p ^^ooP comes. Rest assured Lieutenant Mason 
 
 and his n.en will be along by eight or nine; and it cannot l^that^p 
 cavalry now pursuing the Apaches from th'e nortl wTlU^ mor^ than « 
 few hours behmd. Now, do you understand ? for the^ Im be n^ eW 
 or ^tt e " Vhose 'nf^""' your canteens; leave anything that wi hind r 
 ZnJt h % f ^''" 7^^ ^^^^ ^" «P"^«> *ake them off. Those of 
 you who have fonto or Apache moccasins, take oflT your ton hn^^^.^ui 
 
 ^"t you7 c"f^ *''^ "^ ^" 1^'" ^*^^^ '^^ g«'"^ "P thes^hi k'^L^^'^I^w 
 
 f^drt";mo^in^°eW;tinuT^^^^^^^^ ''''' "" ^''^'^^^' --> -^ ^ 
 Then he pencils this brief note : 
 
 "Commanding Officer Troop K, Eleventh Cavalry : 
 
 instant it i«'bahf "^ k\' ^^^'^''' ^'^^ ^'^^ "^^^'^ ^^^^'^ camp the 
 instant it is light enough to see, rescue their captives then fall iJnt 
 
 here tc M , gorge of the San Sim'on. They far^Stn •amber us ^d^ou 
 earner ..ch us too soon. I count upon your being here hy^llt 
 
 ^^rd"Srivi%^';/^"^' fir '^'' ^^^ r^ "-^'^^'^^^ 
 
 "Fbederick Lane, 
 
 " Captain Elevenih Chvairy" 
 
366 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 
 And now, just &e the dawn is breaking and a faint pallid Ueht k 
 stealing throi-r-' . . . *op.s along the rocky range, thek come creep- 
 ing slowly, vviHe.i^r i.iong the slope a score of shadowy for^is, crouch- 
 ing trom ..ouldn- ,o boulder, from tree to tree. Not a 'word is spoken, 
 save now and then a whispered caution. Foremost, carbine in hand i^ 
 the capl uu, now halting a moment to give Home signal to those near'est 
 iiim, n<.w peering ahead over the rocks that bar the way. At last he 
 reaches a ix)mt where, lookinjr down the dark and rugged hill-side 
 before him, he sees somef „ ..,...u cau8.M him to unsling the case 
 in which hiH field-glasses are carried, to gaze thither long and fixedly 
 With all eyes upon their leader, the men wait and listen: some 
 cautiously try the hammers of their carbines and loosen a few car- 
 tridge in the loops of tlieir prairie-belts. A signal from Lane brines 
 Mr. Koyoe, the young second lieutenant, to his side. It is the boy's 
 iiist experience of the kind, and his heart is thumpin% but he means 
 to be one of the foremost in the charge when the time comes. Watcliiiiff 
 Jlosely, the nearest men can see that the captain is pointing out some 
 object nearer at hand than they supposed, and the first sergeant, crouch- 
 ing to a neighboring rock, looks cautiously over, and then eagerly 
 motions to others to join him ^ 
 
 The Apache hiding-piace is not three hundred yp.'saway. 
 Down the mountain-side to the west and up the range to the north 
 their ae-itnes keep vigilant guard against surprise; but what man of 
 their numl)er dreams for an instant that on the south, bet wo, n them 
 and the Mexican line, there is now closing in to the attack a little troop 
 ot veteran campaigners, led by a man whon> they have learned to dread 
 before now ? Invisible from the valley below or the heights up the 
 range, their smouldering Tires can bt plainly seen from where Lane 
 and his men J»re nov.- oonceale But nothing else can be distinguished 
 l^ar over the .stern ae of the valley the faint red o-low tells 
 where lie the ) uins of the ranch their young warriore have destroyed 
 and any moment now their exultant yells may be heard as they come 
 scamper g bac! w camp after .' night of ;oviltrv, and then everybody 
 will be up and kioving off ant. veil on the way south vard before the 
 sun gets over the crest. Lane kn .vs he must mak^^ his dash before 
 they can return. Tiiere wouk >e little hope of rt ue for the poor 
 souJs lying there bound a hel' ^, with all those fierce youi.o- fighters 
 close at hand. ° ® 
 
 The word i^ passed long he men : «F<;llow ci. sely, but look 
 wll to your footing. Dislodge no stones." T! , slowly and stealth- 
 ily as before, on they go,— this time down the hill towards the faint 
 lights c t the Indian bivouac. A hundred yards more, and Lane holds 
 up his hand, a signal to halt ; and here he gives Mr. Royce a few 
 instructions in a low tone. The youngster nods his head and mutters 
 to several of the men as he passes, " Follow me." They disappear 
 among the rocks and trees to the right, and it is evident that they mean 
 to work around to the east of the bivouac, so as to nartiall--- qvi.-.'.t..}^ 
 them. Little by little the wan light grows brighter, and, cS at hanT 
 objects far more distinct. An Indian is just passing m front of the 
 nearest blaze, and is lost in the gloon among the stunted trees. One 
 
pallid light m 
 Bfb come creep- 
 ' fornis, crouoli- 
 vord 18 Hpoken, 
 ^ine in huiid, is 
 » those nearest 
 ly. At last he 
 igged hill-side 
 isling the case 
 ig and fixedly, 
 listen : soine 
 sen a few car- 
 m Lane brings 
 It is the boy's 
 , but he means 
 es, Watcliing 
 ting out some 
 igeaiit, crouch- 
 then eagerly 
 
 away. 
 
 ;e to the north 
 
 what man of 
 betwi;< n them 
 k a little troop 
 ^rned to dread 
 leights up the 
 a where Lane 
 distinguished, 
 red Q^low tells 
 ive ilestroyed, 
 
 as they come 
 len everybody 
 ird before the 
 8 dash before 
 
 for the poor 
 ^'OUi g fighters 
 
 iely, but look 
 y and stealth - 
 irds the faint 
 d Lane holds 
 Royce a few 
 and mutters 
 hey disappear 
 lat they mean 
 
 or two forms 
 
 .11, 
 
 „„„5_„U 
 
 close at hand, 
 
 front of the 
 
 I trees. One 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 about, but thev 
 
 367 
 
 getting 
 
 I 
 
 re movmg 
 guisnea. i^ne argues, li(jwever,' 
 ajid no time is to be lost. 
 
 ; moJl'^^J"' r^llry oL'^fUr "'LT" *" "■' "«i?' «"<' '"«. •»» 
 foe, anj soon many a form of «ir,Z» a'^ ' T "" ""'"speaing 
 
 .Te -fe t^t'rrf «rrs:^ r^-^irsf ^e° ti 
 
 yonr men. P^ the word to the right, .Lre A^l rZy " ' '""■ 
 mfant is for a moment b„,?X tT.h """i '"!' ""= '^'''^ *"" »f «» 
 
 ra from the midst of the bivouac; then— ' '"^'""« 
 
 Llarge!" 
 
 fll.^eSdr:t^4r?''=f^f'^^^^^ 
 
 daal. through Ztm,S,,.^hT:;''f'"« "' '"""""' "-esoldie™ 
 Lan. finds T,imSf^n?m?,tI^^ -^ ?'"''? ""enpants helter-skelter, 
 eyes gleam like dl^uml .^kT i"^'"".' ''^ » .T'S" ™™' whose 
 teeth gnash in furvL hTt L^' fj^ "!■ T'* '' '5* '«''■■'»■«' «'"« 
 loader^ No time^fS W „ rlw ' HAfK-^' 'T '''^ ^"^^■ 
 hammer comes crashinrdL^ ^ I i? "*? ^'f °»'''''"«' ■>" ' ""> 
 Kiley drives a^bX thL^h "hU he;'" ^"'"^ ' ^'"'" J""' "» C"'"*"' 
 
 g^^^hes on ^^'S^^J^^-^ JK^rrorSn^ ii'^I 
 A^^BL ^°S 1 the carbi,..., are ringing throueh the ro^ks an'I .™ • 
 
 7eiis «s-*rs:Lr JtheTStxr "''' """'^'■^ "'*"'■•■''- 
 
.368 
 
 TWO SOLDI k!RS. 
 
 " Never niiiid, lad," he answers. " Don't sound the mull till I 
 tell yon." 
 
 And again his ringing voice \a hoard among the tumult: "For- 
 ward I forward ! drive them ! keep them on the run, men !" 
 
 And HO for five minutes hinger, firing whenever a savage head 
 apjwars, inflictiug and receiving many u savag.; blow, but ntill victo- 
 riously forcing their way onward, the little Imnd follow their leader 
 down the rocks until apparently not an Apache is left iu the immediate 
 neigh Iwrhood of the old camp. Then at last the trumpet peals out its 
 signal-recall. 
 
 And slowly and steadily, watchfully guarding against the possi- 
 bility of leaving some wounded comrade among the rocks, the little 
 command finally gathers once more around the fires in the camp. 
 ^ Riley and his men have disappeaml. A shout from up the rocks 
 in the well-known Irish voice gives the glad intelligence that he has 
 brought with him all the prisoners he could find in camp. 
 
 '•There me throe women, sir, and two little children, — two girls ; 
 they're so frightened that I can hardly find out much from them, but 
 they say there was no more left." 
 
 "Very well, then. Now, men, open out right and left, and fall 
 back very slowly. Sergeant, take six of the men and move up so as 
 to be close to Rdey in case they attack from the flank. Are we all here? 
 Are any wounded or hurt ?" He asks the question with a little stream 
 of blood trickling down from his left temple, but of which he seems 
 perfectly unaware : either an arrow or a bullet has torn the skin and 
 made quite a furrow thruugh the hair. 
 
 " Murphy, sir," says one of the men, " is shot through the arm, and 
 Lathrop has got a bullet in the leg; but they're only flesh-wounds- 
 they're lying here just back of us." 
 
 Lane turns about, and finds two of his men looking a little pale 
 but perfectly plucky and self-possessed. " We'll get you along all right' 
 men," he says ; " don't worry.— Now, lads, turn about every ten or 
 fifteen steps, and see that they don't get close upon you. Look well to 
 the left." 
 
 Then slowly they fall back towards the pass. Every now and then 
 a shot comes whizzing by, as the Apaches regain courage and creep up 
 to their abandoned camp. But not until they are well back over the 
 ridge, and Riley and his little party, fairly carrying their rescued cap- 
 tives, are neariy out of harm's way, do the scattered warriors b^in to 
 realize how few iu number their assailants must be. Rallying shouts 
 can be heard among the rocks, and then there come the thunder of 
 hoofs out on the plain below and the answering yells of the returning 
 raiders. * 
 
 "Run to Corporal Riley and tell hii to make all the haste he can " 
 Lane orders his trumpeter. " Tell him to get back to the horses, and 
 then, as soon as he has left his women in a safe place there, to throw 
 up stone shelters wherever it is possible. — Rovee vnn lonV oat %r 
 this front. I will go to the left. "^ If any of vour men are hi^,"'have 
 them picked up and moved rapidly to the rear ; of course we can't 
 leave any wounded to fall into their hands ; but, where possible, keep 
 
TWO SOLDI K US. 
 
 369 
 
 your men u.uler cover- and keep under yourself, sir: don't let me 
 see yon exposing yourself unnoc.,H8arily, as I did a while ajro " 
 
 And once agawi the retreat is resumed. Luno lookVanxio..«Iv 
 among the rocks down the hill to his left, every instant e^^l to ^ 
 the young braves hurrying to the assault. But now, as though b 
 ol^(r.ence to the s.gnaKsof some lea.ler, the Apaclu« cmseThe r n"frsu t 
 I.tne well knows tha the matter is not yet i)nclude<l, but tC 1 
 for the respite Stdl warily his little force continues the wt<J^wa 
 and, without further molestation, reaches the gorge of the 8a, Si^r.' 
 and soon comes in sight of the dip an.ong the' roS wLere tl e hor'^ 
 are still hidden. Here too. Corporal Riley and his men are busirat 
 work heaping up little breastworks of rock, and Lane dil"s tha while 
 the wounded^-there are three now-aro carried down to wherr h. 
 r^eual women and children are lying, the other m ^L told het 
 In five minutes there are over a score of them at work and not 2e 
 instant t cm. soon. Corporal Donnelly, who has been p<^tc"l monn^ 
 at the western entmnc^ to the defile, comes clattering n to ay thafaJ 
 least a hundred Indians are swarming down the ridge ^ 
 
 And now the fight tliat opens is one in which the odds are greatlv 
 against the defenders. Lane has just time to climb to the heilhton 
 he east and take one long l,>ok with his glasses over the flate fevom^^ 
 the pass, praying for a sight of a dust-cloud towards the PyvamiACr 
 when with H.multaneous crash of musketry and choruVof yells the 
 Apaches come sweeping down to the attack. ^ 
 
 XV. 
 
 Meantime, where are the looked-for supports ? Lane, with wearied 
 hoi^es, had made the march from the railvay-station to \lTe pals {„ ' 
 ittle over fourteen hours. It was 5.30 when he startod nn I « i ^ u 
 he unsaddled among the rocks. He had come thrtug the LfJ';?^^^^ 
 ^hmeof the long June day , sometimes at the trot^soSmes ftX 
 bpe,ofttimes dismounting and leading when crossing riS or ravines 
 He was still pale and weak from his long illness and suffenWrnnf * 
 .orrow that had robbed him of all the bulyancyL t ev^r Is^ed^ 
 But the sense of duty was as strong as evpr nnri 11 i? ^ - •' 
 triumphed over th. ills^f the fleJh. ^ ' ^ ^^^ sold.er-spir.t 
 
 wiflfr'' -l""*'!!^ f '-^^ '^•''•' ^^'^'^ ^^••««« «"<J men fresh and eaeer 
 with a guide who knew every inch of the way, and the bi ght staS 
 
 nim. Things seemed to hnvp a ,i;flR...<.»* ^u- ui._''_. , J"**"^ ?"'P 
 the ping dowp of the surT behind the ciisia;;;!^^^^ Th:t^l 
 of the young infantry adjutant kept recurring to him, and he knJw of 
 old that when Lane started after Indians fc was "dSd suit to^et 
 em "as Mr. Mason was good enough to remind hira ^ 
 
'I' 
 
 370 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 
 ■n 
 
 «.uZTi^?" f °?' *? 8"i<Je had ventured to suggest a aaicker 
 
 to the scene worn out and unfit for pursuit. Mr. Masfn wffo' |3 
 
 K5 wSl.'lS'L' '"fr*"'? ''"' P— i' was7oMe°o^"r^ 
 
 n.e„tw„„,d side with his subaltern! so he wifoT^ ,^1 shwT 
 
 at sr ^ors^th'lt^a^e^!'^ 'i:^B^^i 
 
 such experience "For y^ur salee, Ma"on"l wish fhad b^n twelv! 
 
 Mason saw, but said a fifty-mile ride ought not to stagger any cavalrv 
 man, hard or sof and naade^no reply whatever to the SptainlT^unt 
 
 burst out with an earnest appeal : wdicn, ne naa 
 
 "Captain Noel, we'll never get there in time at this rate SnrpW 
 
 len o clock came, and st 11 it was no betfpr Th«r, Ur^u Vu i- *"^"^®- 
 
 mounted, the command did, for a while move oi «t. I f • ? 
 Mason would fain have increased Vi.p iZk w V°^' *'"'=^ 
 Midnight, and more rests, Sfhem fSllyl'm^Jes Itj^fZfl 
 where the guide and the lieutenant had pla^nned S 4. Even tho^^ 
 
 ^|tte„rwir*r^^^^^^^ 
 
 w^'ntSjrl-w^h-i^^rl^^&K^ 
 
 daylight,_six o'cIock,-an,i'here a lit were the PvS?^il ^""1 
 
 thejr right front, and, coming towards llZZ t^^U sluS W 
 
 that gentleman"sl,„oVhr3'h"ea:i";; JiilS nJS"' Thf ^T" \ '"1* 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 371 
 
 " How far is it, sergeant ?" 
 
 " It must be lifteen miles from here sir T ^«, i i , 
 my horse war worn out, and beSuse rZ;- f ™^ 'H^' ^^«^ 
 would meet the troop very muXTeaiS^tt" ^"' ^^^^^'^ *^«' ^ 
 fifteen miles, I re-^kon/' *''^ P^" ^^ s more than 
 
 ;^' Had the attack begun before you left ?" 
 
 hear tS d^jin'c^t' ""'' '" ''' ^'^'^ " ' ^^"^^ -* «^ *^« Pa-,~ 
 up toSr"*" "'^* *'^ °^"« ''^^ -P^- ?" -id Mr. Mason, riding 
 
 andSfir-uS^^^ 
 
 with eY^UairauL"- .:iXen^^^^^^^^^^^^ f^^^. ^--' ^--bling 
 
 Noel hesitated : « Pre entT-nSlnfl ' m""^';'.^ '' ^'"« ''««^'^«^- 
 forward at a trot, ^^^^V^^''^^y^~^'^^^i^y, Mr. Mason. We'll move 
 
 and nigh , and the fact that Z A . t ^^^"'^^"^ «f t^^e previous day 
 pass afd i^ complete fore^ The r Tu^J'''^ J"'' "'^'^^ "^" ^^'^ 
 
 passed among the men to increal ?h. T f ''^ ^u ^> ^' ^^'^ ^««l ^^^ 
 crowded upon the S^i; Td Cl tl>f ^^^ '"'^ ^\"^*^"* ^^^^^ ^^ey 
 and^varneS the men tTCt^f^tt:^!^^^^^^^^ '^^ ^-^ 
 
 Eijro'ri!,td^tr^^^^^^^ 
 
 an3 still the mvge wa/not in vl,^ I? "f P""?" ^'"« "'"'""k. 
 
 the massive fate^wlysimi to on^n hpf .f' ""''i "<'''^'y t™ tha 
 front, their e^er earl S^t^h ?h f '1°™' ""<* *''^». f" <» 'he 
 
 quesUo„aboutit,S;lta;uie?su 3el'^h?'f'T'"^ "'■'r'^ ™ 
 sir, let's get ahead ti his supp^A " ''" ' ^"^ '"'"""'' »»H 
 
 ah„rt^tta/;ri;t:rwhLiao^r'T'" ^"'^-"^"•^ ^■«»'- '"« 
 
 -I don't liL the idea of e.^ertl;?'^^ ^^"^ ^'^ '■<"''"•'"«' ""'« '••"■^'s- 
 only safe way to do It win 1^ f a- '*"' "" '*'""'"' ^r. Mason. The 
 mishe., ah™i If W stt^undTr' i""^ ."""" ? ""^ »' '"-ir- 
 open fire on us as we^^ through "' *'' "^"^^ undoubtedly will 
 
 Whrtt'PS^t1s^tuh;oltS"^" ^r^"- '» ""- «>™ back. 
 
 each set, tl.ro" .er^^o^^^.a! rh^?/"? ,^^^ T™'^' *•<"- "^ 
 ^0^ up the gentle s^e ^SS ^th^ tgK t"»":d 
 
 were^l; taloH"^ R,.ff ' ^""ir ' T' " *'™'' '»" 'hem that they 
 
 
 3] 
 
 VI 
 
 ■if 
 
372 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 Again Mason rode to his captain. " I beg you, sir," he said, 
 " to let me take my platoon, or the other one, and charge through 
 there. It isn't possible that they can knock more than one or two of 
 us out of the saddle ; and if you follow with the rest of the men they 
 can easily be taken care of." But Noel this time rebuked him. 
 
 " Mr. Mason, I have had too much of your interference," he said, 
 " and I will tolerate no more. I am in command of this troop, sir, 
 and I am responsible for its proper conduct." 
 
 And Mason, rebuifed, fell back without further word. 
 
 The pass was reached, and still not a shot had been fired. Over 
 the low ridge the dismounted troopers went, and not an Apache was in 
 sight. Then at last it became evident that to cross the stream they 
 would have to ford ; and then the " recall" was sounded, the horses 
 were run rapidly forward to the skirmish-line, the men swung into 
 saddle, the rear platoon closed on the one in front, and cautiously, with 
 Mason leading and Noel hanging back a little as though to direct the 
 march of his column, the troop passed through the river and came out 
 on the other side. The moment they reached the bank. Mason struck a 
 trot without any orders, and the men followed him. 
 
 Noel hastened forward, shouting out, " Walk, walk." But, finding 
 that they either did not or would not hear him, he galloped in front of 
 the troop, and sternly ordered the leaders to decrease their gait and not 
 again to take the trot unless he gave the command. 
 
 Just at this minute, from the heights to the right and left, half a 
 dozen shots were fired in quick succession j a trooper riding beside the 
 first sergeant threw up his arms, with the sudden cry, " My God ! I've 
 got it !" and fell back from the saddle. Noel at the same instant felt a 
 twinge along his left arm, and, wheeling hiw hoirse about, shouted, " To 
 the rear ! to the rear ! We're ambushed !" And, despite the rallying 
 cry of Mason and the entreaties of the guide, the men, taking the cue 
 from their leader, reined to the right and left about and went clattering 
 out of the pass. 
 
 lyiore shots came from the Apaches, some aimed at the fleeing troop 
 and others at the little group of men that remained behind ; tor the 
 poor fellow who had been sfjot through the breast lay insensible by 
 the side of the stream, and would have been abandoned to his fate but 
 for the courage and devotion of Mason and two of the leading men. 
 Promptly jumping from their horses, they raised him between them, 
 and, laying him across the pommel of one of the saddles, supporttid by 
 the troopers, the wounded man was carried back to the ford, and from 
 there out of harm's way. 
 
 By this time Noel, at full gallop, had gone four or five hundred 
 yards to the rear, and there the first sergeant — not he — rallied the ti'oop, 
 reformed it, counted fours, and faced it to the frcnt. 
 
 When Mason returned to them, leading the two troopers and the 
 dying man, his face was as black as a thunder-cloud. He rode up to 
 his <SDtuiU; who was Ktaiichinff with a handkercliiftf a littlp. .".t.rpjir.i (\f 
 blood that seemed to be coming down his left arm, and addressed to 
 him these words : 
 
 '■^Captain Noel, there were not more than six or eight Apuches 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 373 
 
 guarding those heights. There was no excuse in Gocl's wnrW =' ^ 
 
 hi, ^sition, ordi« Lfeuiena^t m'" ^.'l":^„l?r';™ "■«. dignity of 
 And, dismounting, and oal inffto o,«T ,1/1"' *""""" '" ''''^*- 
 
 .^^e . 30..', . \^^:vizr^^ir2.s^ 
 
 .here, listening to the Be frnile away ^nd Z'T """^ "■"""'"«'' 
 that thrilled every man with exd LT„7' t "«''',' ^''^eame a sound 
 
 the front = there "^.me ^.^shro n":k;7;rt^t>tT:^d':';Th^ '" •'"!' V" 
 strong reinforcements for one party or mm?hp • ? '* '"■"™' °^ 
 
 deyeloped by the glorious, rn^ "„,««"'' "tlJ^vwr""' "'i'T" 
 be tte of their oSmrades'of Greln^'Xttatn ' ''""'''""^ '" 
 
 ay heavens !" said Mason, witli a sroan " -ifinr „ll i, 
 
 retfc' ''' ^^--' - ^^^ ^ T^pTihaf^ot tK ti:^t 
 
 standing Irsuli^tlitir-^Tirh^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^'^^ ^^.^ -"' 
 
 soldier would have envied '^*^'' '^'''' "^^ '*^^ ^^^^ «"y 
 
 theiJ'lTAiuoLfJt'if f"li' *^^r '^^' ^ ^^^^^" ^-«p«- -<j f-' 
 
 meant, X^ r^t of tl^e„,eni;nl^ ''^^' '^^' "^'^^ ''"""^^ 
 
 there on theTro.nd artLnTf • ^''' ''?"'" "' '•'^'^' ^"^^^^ ^^'^^ «at 
 
 ing, however,'h:;rb;en o" ?ifli ^ o^X tTfl^^'i ^'^^ '!^^^- 
 on the part of those who had S loo W on tI'T ^"PP^^^'^'?" 
 pass increa^sed. The firing rapX dTedairv ^^^^ ^^J^^^-'^g "P the 
 the first sergeant was sitrnalUno. InJ .T^* ®'^"" '^ '^'^^ ^^^n that 
 
 rhe sergeant and Th! .f i^' ^ P''f «"% a man came riding back. 
 
 "™1riri/-^^- ^-^^'' '»a '"be^/th:T2::i =ti 
 
 r 
 i 
 
 
 
374 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 been their need ; safe, thoroughly safe, they would have been had Noel 
 got there in time ; but it was Greene's battalion that finally reached 
 them only at the last moment. And yet this was the thrilling anpounce- 
 ment that appeared in the Queen City Chronicle in its morning edition, 
 two days afterwards : 
 
 " Gallant Noel I Rescue of the Indian Captives ! Stirring Pursuit 
 and Fierce Battle with the Apaches 1 
 
 " A despatch received last night by the Hon. Amos Withers an- 
 nounces the return from the front of Captain Noel, who so recently left 
 our midst, with a p(»tion of his troop, bringing with him the women 
 and children who had been run off by the Apaches on their raid among 
 the ranches south of their reservation. The captain reports a severe 
 fight, in which many of the regiment were killed and wounded, he 
 himself, though making light ef the matter, receiving a bullet tl ough 
 the left arm. 
 
 " While the rest of the command had gone on in pursuit of the 
 Apaches, the captain was sent by the battalion commander to escort 
 the captives back to the railway. 
 
 " This despatch, though of a private character, is fully substantiated 
 by the official report of the general commanding the department to the 
 Adjutant-General of the array. It reads as follows : 
 
 " * Captain Noel, of the Eleventh Cavalry, has just reached the 
 railway, bringing with him all but one of the women and children 
 whom the Apachas had carried off into captivity. The other was shot 
 by a bullet in the desperate fight which occurred in San Simon Pass 
 between the commands of Captains Lane and Noel and the Apaches, 
 whose retreat they were endeavoring to head off. Greene's battalion 
 of the Eleventh arrived in time to take part ; but on their appear- 
 ance the Apaches fled through the mountains in the wildest confusion, 
 leaving much of their plunder behind them. 
 
 " ' It is impossible as yet to give accurate accounts of the killed 
 and wounded, but our losses are reported to have been heavy.' 
 
 " How thoroughly have the predictions of the Ohronicle with regard 
 to this gallant officer been fulfilled ! To his relatives and his many 
 friends in our midst the Chronicle extends its most hearty congratula- 
 tions. We predict that the welcome which Captain Noel will receive 
 will be all that his fondest dreams could possibly have cherished." 
 
 XVI. 
 
 For a week the story of Gordon Noel's heroism was the talk of 
 Queen City society. He had led the charge upon the Indians after a 
 pursuit of over a hundred miles through the desert. He had fought 
 his way to the cave in which those poor <raptive women were guarded, 
 and had himself cut the thongs that bound them. He was painfully 
 wounded, but never quit the fight till the last savage was driven fr^om 
 i-\ip, flp,lrj_ For dsrinir and brilliant conduct he was be Dromoted 
 over the heads of all the captains in his regiment. His name viras 
 already before the President for a vacanoy iu the Adjutant-General's 
 Department, and the appointment would be aiinounoed at once. He 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 375 
 
 to Noel, and draTh s hllth „tZ "^ '!'''"' ""'' congratulation 
 heads," 'who ventureS to pi^"ut tS ,^^ ^t'T" "^ "'"^ "'"'' «"^ 
 in, were pooh-poohed anfput doL °®°"'' "^P*"''^ '^"^ "'" X^' 
 
 spatch, Ikiug no allJS t^S^;r^„7■^^;?,^r'^.l'' -^t 
 
 for that vacancy. Not an \mtani rnn«f k^ j VV> at ', ^^^ P"^^ 
 
 naytothernan'whohad^aSM^^^^^^^^ 
 
 fund in his own State, and thereforrbof h 74%. . campaign 
 
 representatives in the Hou.se weTtw^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ '^'^ 
 
 the immediate nomination of SpJn Noo^^^^ ^'^.'^'°' ^ "''^ 
 
 jntant-General's Department made^acanrt?)/^^^^^ '" '^^ ^^- 
 
 upon the retirement of one of S olS memtrrT '^T^^^r* 
 
 Department had furnished the LecuUve wkh th^ rt '^^^ f"^ ^f 
 
 of the four men whom itconsider^ most dele vin^an^^^^^^^^ 
 
 name was not one of the four RnfT^L !u ?'• Gordon Nfjel's 
 
 the eminent pecunrar;tfpolitlirsrrt^Lrof M WithTtr ^it 
 
 nephew had jt.st behaved so superbly iiTction ? "'"' ^^''' '^^ 
 
 Meantime, the Apaches had scattered through the mnnnf^.-n. „ a 
 
 their ^^:iz^'.i:!^7^2^^:'^^tz'^£ 7t. 
 
 ttT/ "/ "" ', '^'^*'''''- '^^'^ ^* ""= »Tespondente to ferreUnsr and 
 «^en the despatches tegan to take a different <Slor. The verv dav that 
 Mabel receivwl her first ettei- from her husband »ni„». j?^ 
 tracts from it to envious friends wl td cfme in t s™ I'lheX™; 
 
 affaL tnan .:. ^p.-lTy s^' "" "^"''=" " *«^-"' ''="» "^ 
 
 But by his vine interest was waninfy Tf ii fVi« r.^* • 
 that is alwa.. .he strongest, the fl JTrf 'that' i^ b/getf^SS" 
 and no man who has believed one versioi will accept the tr^^wiS 
 
 o^TJXrSghtiirof ^wtLVr^' S ?^^^^^^ 
 maL' tllT^A'Tl >■- °?»"- '«oZ*ho m^'reTnt™,'' H^ Zi 
 
 Z^f.i ht ""*"• """"P'"^ •» P'^'^ in "rrest one oAhe prom - 
 nent officers of the regiment for misconduct in the f,™. ,." .™Z1™' 
 
 an unrelenting toe. She need not be surprised therefore if ihicTLT 
 «ema„ should strive to do hira grievous hS MabS' Lhshi^S-" 
 ccnnngly ae she read these lines toSome of her friefdr^id thatligt 
 
 % 
 
 
 m 
 
I' I 
 
 376 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 at the club it was hinted that Lane had been placed in close arrest for 
 failing to support Noel in his desperate assault. Just at this time, too, 
 Mr. Withers came back from Washington, looking mysterious. 
 
 The next published despatches were from the general himself. He 
 was incensed over the escape of the Apaches. Measures for the capture 
 wore complete, and it was broadly hinted that a certain officer would be 
 brought to trial for his failure to carry out positive orders. 
 
 " It is believed," said the Chronicle, " that the officer referred to is 
 well known in our community, as he had, oddly enough, been a prede- 
 cessor in the recruiting-service of the actual hero of the campaign." 
 
 Two weeks went by. There was no announcement of Noel's name 
 as promoted. Other matters occupied the attention of theclulraud the 
 coteries, and no one knew just what it all meant when it was announced 
 that Mrs. Noel had suddenly left for the frontier to join her husband. 
 Perhaps his wounds were more severe than at first reported. Then it 
 was noticed that Mr. Withers was in a very nervous and irritable frame 
 of mind, that constant despatches were passing i)etween him and Cap- 
 tain Noel in the West, and that suddenly he departed again on some 
 mysterious errand for Washington. And then it was announced that 
 Captain Noel would not be able to visit the East as had been expected. 
 
 All the same it came as a shock which completely devastated the 
 social circles of the Queen City when it was announced in the New 
 York and Chicago papers that a general court-martial had been ordered 
 to assemble at Fort Gregg, New Mexico, for the trial of Captain Gor- 
 don Noel, Eleventh Cavalry, on charges of misbehavior in the face of 
 the enemy, and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. 
 
 The Chronide made no allusion to the matter until after it was 
 heralded over the city by the other journals. Then it announced that 
 it was in possession of information showing conclusively that Captain 
 Noel was the victim of the envy of certain officers in his regiment, and 
 that the charges had been trumped up from th« false and prejudiced 
 statement of the man whom he had been compelled to place in arrest 
 for misconduct in action. "Captain Noel had demanded a court- 
 martial," said the Chronicle, " that he might be triumphantly vindi- 
 cated, as he undoubtedly would be." 
 
 At the club several men surrounded Lieutenant Bowen with eager 
 inquiry as to the facts in the case. Bowen, who was now in charge of 
 the rendezvous as Noel's successor, was veiy reticent when interrogated. 
 He said that while an officer might demand a court of inquiry, he could 
 not demand a court-martial ; they were entirely diiFerent things ; and it 
 was certainly the latter that had been ordered. 
 
 " Was there cot some likelihood of malice and envy being at the 
 bottom of the charges ?" he wis asked. " And was it not unfair to let 
 him be tried by officers prejudiced igainst him?" 
 
 Bowen said be did not belong to the Eleventh, but he knew it well 
 enough to say no to the first part of the question. As to the other, 
 
 'U _ -„ 's» '_i* '*' *• ^ •■!= i -t*^ i. '■* ' . 3 
 
 T)itt3t€ vt6tt2 Oniy irtVr vtlirlX'ro iTuiu bum. i CkiLUt:;*tii OU XJHQ COUrC, citJi^ Cut: 
 
 wae Noel's old friend and colonel, — Riggs. 
 
 It was in the midst of this talk that Mr. Amos Withers had sud- 
 denly appeared and li^ged a few words in private wltli Mr. Bowen. 
 
TWO SOLDIERa. 
 
 377 
 
 That night an officer from the War Department arrived in thp 
 Queen City, and was closeted for a while with Lieutenant Bowonafl.r 
 
 Meantime, the campaign h^d come to an end. Captain Noel had 
 reprted, m arrest to the commanding officer at Fort Gregg m d M?8 
 Riggs had tearfully greeted him : "She would so love to' Cve him 
 • under her roof, that she miglit show her sympathy anffriendlrp • bu 
 so many officers of high rank were coming on the court hat the cd'one 
 was compelle<l to g ve every bit of roSm he had to them " N^ 
 hanked her nervously, and said he could be comfortab^a m;here b^ 
 Ins wife was coming: she had telegraphed that she could o be seua 
 rated froni h.m when he was suffering wrong and ou rUe Canfafn 
 and Mrs. Lowndes, moved to instant sympathy, beggaS ^^e would 
 make their quarters his home, and pla'ced theii bl? room at lildis- 
 
 Two evenings afterwards he was permitted to go himself to the rail 
 
 TohC? T't PT ^''^'^'. 'l^' thr^w lierself into^iis Trms and almo t 
 sobbed her heart out at sight of his now haggard and care-worn faS 
 Mrs Lowndes then came forward and stiwe to comfort he whife 
 
 ?.°t r?M fv"^ ''".^ '""^^ ^^^^S^^"^^"- ^^'^«" they drove out 'trthe 
 po^t and MabeFs spirits partially revived when she found tiia t was 
 not a prison she had come to share with her husband. Everybody was 
 8o gentle and kind to her, she began to believe there was notWvery 
 serious in the matter, after all. "ou.ing veiy 
 
 It lacked yet five days to the meeting of the court, and in the inter- 
 vening time there arrived at the post a prominent ind dist nguish^ 
 lawyer from the East, sent to conduct the defence by Mr. Wkherst 
 
 offiZ' T "'"^ \^°"^ '''^^J''^ ^'' ^"^d ^iti^ his^lient and the 
 officers who were gathering at Gregg. 
 
 1 I*'^^^''^f ""^ ^'^o"f^««t in fkce of the enemy had been preferred 
 
 tLp T r^"'!"U'^'''™%"^"'' '^'^^ «'t^^ ^ ^^ witnesses Captain 
 Lane, Lieutenant Mason Lieutenant Royce, the guide, and two or 
 
 illL^T «"i^g««tleman " there were specifications setting forth 
 that he had caused to be circulated and published reports to thi effect 
 mrll T! '!'7^'""^^^'? ^h^t had been severely engaged, and his com- 
 
 T^l ] .?f "''* H "'P^'^"' ^"^ '^^^^^ the Indians, which 
 
 statements ne well knew to be false. Two or three onrrP_.,^nde.n^. .J 
 iauway employees and the telegraph operator were witnesses. "fhis 
 would U a h.ird one to prove affirmatively, as the JMdge-advocate found 
 when he e-.amined his witnesses as they arrived, and the great lawyer 
 tmvzca the accased officer that he could secure him an acquittal on that 
 
878 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^^^^^H >' i 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 ^^^B ^ 
 
 «^ 
 
 ^^^H 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 charge. The real danger lay in the testimony of Captain Lane and 
 Lieutenant Mason, who had not yet come. 
 
 And now, hour after hour, for two days, Mabel was reading in her 
 husband's face the utter hopelessness that possessed him ; nay, more, 
 the truth was l)elng revealed to her in all its damning details. It 
 might be impossible for the prosecution to prove that he had actually 
 caused the false and boastful stories to be given to the press and the 
 public ; but how about the telegrams and letters Mr. Withers had so 
 proudly come to show her? How about the telegrams and letters she 
 herself had received ? What impression could she derive from them 
 but that he was the hero of the whole affair, and that he was lying 
 painfully wounded when he wrote? The gash through the beautiful 
 white arm turned out to be a mere scratch upon the skin, that a pin 
 might have made. It was Greene's command from Fort Graham that 
 had rescued Lane, and Lane with his men who had rescued the cap- 
 tives, and then fought so hard, so desperately, against such fearful odds, 
 and sustained their greatest losses, while her hero, — her Gordon, — with 
 nearly fifty men, was held only a mile away by half a dozen ragamuf- 
 fins in the rocks. She had almost adored him, ■)elieving him godlike 
 in courage and magnanimity ; but now on every side the real facts were 
 coming to light, and she even wrung them from his reluctant lips. And 
 yet — and yet — he was her husband, and she loved him. 
 
 Again and again did she question Mr. Falconer, the eminent counsel, 
 as to the possibilities. This gentleman had fought all through the war 
 of the rebellion, and had won high commendation for bravery. He 
 had taken the case because he believed, on Withers's statement, that 
 Noel was a wronged and injured man, and because, possibly, a fee of 
 phenomenal proportion could be looked for. He met among the old 
 captains of the Eleventh men whom he had known in Virginia in the 
 war-days, and learned from them what Noel's real reputation was, and, 
 beyond peradventure, how he had shirked and played the coward in 
 the last campaign : so that he, who had known Mabel Vincent from 
 her babyhood and loved her old father, now shrank from the sorrow of 
 having to tell her the truth. Yet she demanded it, and he had to say 
 t^at her husband's fate hinged on the evidence that might be given by 
 Captain Lane and Mr. Mason. 
 
 That very night these two officers arrived, together with three mem- 
 bers of the court. The following day at ten o'clock the court was to 
 begin its session, and four of its members were still to come. That 
 night Mr. Falconer and her husband were closeted with several men in 
 succession, seeking evidence for the defence. That night there came a 
 despatch from Withers saying he had done his best in Washington, but 
 that it seemed improbable that the President woukl interfere and accept 
 Noel's resignation from the service. 
 
 Noel showed this to Mabel and sank upon the sofa with a groan 
 of despair. 
 
 v»ii, my Uuriiiig i siiu Y»iiispcrcu, Kneeiing oy nis eiuc tuiiil turwWftiir 
 her arms about his neck, " don't give way ! There must be hope yet ! 
 They cannot prove such cruel charges ! There must be a way of 
 averting this trouble." 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 379 
 
 oni;r"to^^';;:^^^ ^^^ ^^^^-^^ "p- -^^e- - «-«, if ,o« win 
 
 her"Z^t«rnl1-^ "°' "^^ *^ f ^' ^°."' Gordon?" die asked, though 
 niTghtX. ^ ^"^ "''' ""'^^ '^^"^ ^■'^^^ «^ ""^^^ t»»e demaud 
 
 he wilf n^^'^n ^f '''^'' '^ '%* ^ see-him at once. There is nothing that 
 sl H m V ?' ^''"' u ^ ^"^^ ^^^^^ I ^»<>^ '^hat he has done. 
 See him You know what to say. I cannot prompt you But ^ 
 him to tell a8 htt le as he possibly'can in regard to this Js^' ^' 
 
 wrong^r^MLt' "'^'' "^^" '''' ">« *« ^^ ^»^^«' ^^r the g.at 
 
 m^?^'^ '' 7 ""^^f "T^^'" '^^ *^« «""en answer. And he turned 
 moodily from her side, leaving iier stunned, speechless. 
 
 '^\ 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Somewhere about ten o'clock that night the judge-advocate of the 
 court dropped in at the " bachelor quarte^' where both^ne and 
 Mason had been made welcome, and a^ked to 'see those gentlemen He 
 was con veiling with them over the affair at the San SiiSn, when Cap! 
 tain Lowndes was ushered into the room. ^ 
 
 to Uoe" mote"^^'" "'^ *'' •""»'• "' "■'"'^ ™''«' ^ 'P-k 
 
 « By no means, Lowndes. Come right in. We'll be throuo-h in 
 
 Tk Troou^s'^it"/ 'dJ r'T'^"' 'h Lane, T^u'couli'rttt; 
 
 "Yes,-Klistinctly. I was praying for their coming, as our ammuni- 
 tion w^ running low. The Lidians seemed so encoumged by tlh^ea^ 
 with which they drove them back that the whole band swarmed Z 
 from cover and crowded on us at onca It was in the next fifCn 
 minutes that my men were killed,-and that poor woman " 
 
 And there were only six Indians who opened uie on Noel ?" 
 
 Only SIX, sir." 
 
 The judge-advocate was silent a moment. « There is, of course, a 
 
 Jf?^:Jt ''"'■ ^-nf *^i' T^ set here tomorrow morning in time. 
 If they do, you will be the first witness called ; if they do not, we ad- 
 journ to await their arrival. It promises to be a long case. A tele- 
 gram has just reached me saying that additional and grave charges are 
 being sent by mail from division head-quarters " K«"*»« 
 
 ^ Captain Lowndes listened to this brief conversation with an expres- 
 sion of deep perplexity on his kindly face, and as soon as the judge- 
 advocate had gone and Mason had left the room he turne<l to Lane • 
 
 «11 ♦».• *" ■ ^^^ ^'^ ^''^ '"^^^ "'• That poor girl has come 
 
 all this weary journey to be v.: h him, and there was absolutely no 
 place where she could lay her h...d unless we onflnpd -.,. a^^^.^a 
 took nim in too." ^ " ''"'' ""'^ 
 
 thae to^ SfXV'" ' '"^ ''"'^' """"""• '' ™ ""' ^°" ""' 
 
 "Lane," spoke the older man, impetuously, after a moment of em- 
 
' lit 
 
 i-J^' 1 
 
 
 380 
 
 rrO SOLDIEJiS. 
 
 barraased silence, " I want you to do something for wy wife, and for 
 me. Coiut' home with me for a fow minuter. You wont see him; 
 
 b'lt— .it Ih tiiat heart-broken girl. She begs that you will see her, 
 
 to-uight. Here is a little note." 
 
 Lane's sad face had grown deathly pale. Tie lookol w ideringly 
 in his companion's ey«.>.s a moment, then slowly took the note and left 
 the room, leaving Lowndes to pace the floor in muoh disquiet 
 
 In five minutes the former reappeared in the door-way. " Come," 
 h(! said, and himself led the way out into the starlit night. Not a 
 word was spoken by either man as tlie) slowly walked down the row. 
 Arriving at his quarters, Captain Luwndes ushered his friend into the 
 little army parlor, and Mrs. Lownd( ,i came forward, extending bt th her 
 hands. " It is good of you to come," she said. " I will let her know, 
 at once." 
 
 Two shaded lamps cast a soft, subdued light over th( simply-fur- 
 nished little room. What a contrast to th* sumptuous Mirroundings 
 of the home in which he had last n.et her ! Lane stood by tb- little 
 work-table a moment, striving to subdue the violent beating of his 
 heart und the tremors tliat shook his frame. Not oncp had he en her 
 since that wretched night in the library,— in that man Noel's arms. 
 Not once had he "initted the thought of seeing her to find a lodge- 
 ment. But all wa5 different now : she was well-nigh crushed, heart- 
 broken ; she h;i'* It-ini deceived and tricked; she was here practically 
 friendless. " I wt:!! know that at your hands I deserve no such mercy," 
 she had written, •' but a hopeless woman begs that you will come to 
 her for a few moments, — for a very few words." 
 
 And now he heard her foot-fall on the stairs. She entered, slowly, 
 and then stopped short almost at the threshold. Heavens! how he 
 had aged and changed ! How deep were the lines about the kind gray 
 eyes I how sad and worn was the stern, soldierly face ! H r eyes filled 
 with tears on the very instant, and she hovered there, irresolute, not 
 knowing what to do, how to address him. It was Lane that came to 
 the rescue. For a moment he stood there appalled as his eyes fell upon 
 the woman whom he had so utterly — so fairhfuUy loved. Where was 
 all the playful light that so thrilled and bewitched him as it flickered 
 about the corners of her pretty mouth ? Whither had fled the bright 
 coloring, the radiance, the gladness, that lived in that exquisite face? 
 Was this heavy-eyed, pallid, nerveless being, standing with hanging 
 head before him, the peerless queen he had so loyally and devotedly 
 serve<l, — whose faintest wish was to him a royal mandate, — to kiss 
 whose soft white hand was a joy unutterable? All this flashed through 
 his mind in the instant of her irresolute pause. Then the great pity 
 of a strong and manful heart, the tenderness that lives ever in the 
 bravest, sent him forward to her side. All thought of self and suffer- 
 ing, of treachery and concealment and deception, vanished at once at 
 the sight of her bitter woe. His own brave eyes filled up with tears 
 he would gladly have hidden, but that she saw, and was comfoi-ted. 
 He took her limp, nerveless hand and led her to a chair, saying only 
 her name, — " Mrs. Noel." 
 
 For several minutes she could not speak, but wept unrestrainedly, 
 
» 
 
 he, 
 
 TWO SOLDJERfi, 
 
 rw^rft^'wS'"!,!?! «-''»»'•"-'. '""Ki. 
 
 881 
 
 yd poworlesL 
 
 almost eve^thi„g' de^^"! u'^.f;: ^ ::X»"' F '^'"•'"•'"^'^ «'">' 
 «..., that X beliov-xl fo'r a whiirthaf ^Sfed .^T' ■""' '* ^ 
 '"in. I know now that von refiiMpTl .. iu * eharfreo against 
 
 1 am not to blame anv ^Z I„ l.i i' ^H ■"'"'^'■' »'"' 'hat-that 
 ray hnsband.anJ hl^n^^itaUhar ,'','!""''""'"'' "■-" ''"'>' » "i"' 
 »hc said, rising as shTZre'^donL ."."''' ""^ >""'• «»?'""' !«'«," 
 am |,reparcd for a, vthL ' J^ ? '7 '" r''"™ "X <■«""»« now. I 
 
 replied, niVfL^oS/ """^^^ '""-' ""^ ™=' -rfs," ho 
 delavtU':f^„!:j!,'i^V'A~'?, You know nothing more a.K,„t the 
 
 in suffering .ong-hd insfa , h rsai'iji;'^;; t^Tr'':^ ""■""■ 
 
 and sympathy in his. ' ^ ' °®"*''^ f*'e sorrow 
 
 aiarmS." ""■""""' "'"° ""^^ "° "->'-; "■«! "' 1^^' she Wked „p, 
 
 ing m::^ti 'l Sw't'he'nranorrh ir'VS ^ T ^^^'^ -«"- 
 that there were^only sl.AS.X^tt ? '^"' ''°,' 't^ '»^- ^ ^^ 
 eaw was (he retreat " ^ ^ " """° ' ■""' '^e next thing I 
 
 An;.?e^t|Sgtxt rp'jri^i- '-ttr " ""■'^' 
 
 — no way ?" ^ "iiseiy. is there no way, 
 
 of UDcontn&ble wlr and fin'. .' ^'?',^r^ P^^ ^^^^^ *« « «* 
 Onc-e he strove to rDlTf)nf«iraM «*°«^ .^^^Ipiessly, miserably by. 
 
 glass of waterSy a Zd W h"*/'t"\ ?« ^r^^^t Wa 
 something he had to suLelf ^fv !, ^'^ "^.T^/'" t^^^re was still 
 Jooked up ea..erlv throS tn f ""^^''^ ^"^^^^ ^''"™ ^'^ hand and 
 
 for her Jno"^ i^he maf .vt haTVobt^h" "^ft^ ^"'^ '' ^'-~ 
 of wife and home and hour and nn f ^ ^ °^ happu.ess, of love, 
 dared to rob him of honor^and ^T^A^ ^''"' ^^^ "^'"^^^ *»'«* h« 
 wretche^lly listening overhead tc \Ct'''^'^'^''''''^'^^ "^'^ °°^ 
 forgot entLlyex4trU^^^^^^^^^^^^ vo.ees below,-he 
 
 thev not^lTirrJTllTi"> ^-."d«— e most influential. Can 
 .u.:. . . . -::^--r-- -Y"^-^ "'yesignatioa will be tendered? Can 
 
 i stop 
 
 that way ?' 
 
 It IS hopeless. It hns been tried, and re 
 guilty there is nothing left,~nothing lef^" she 
 
 refused. If he is four 
 moaned, " but to ta 
 
 I 
 
s^. 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 1.1 
 
 11.25 
 
 >tt|21 12.5 
 ■tt liii |22 
 
 2.0 
 
 w 
 u 
 
 140 
 
 1.4 ||^ 
 
 V%L 
 
 % 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 riiUiMgidpiuu 
 
 Sdences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WIST MAIN STRUT 
 
 WIBSTIR.N.Y. 14510 
 
 (716) 872^503 
 
 ^^ a\ WrS 
 
382 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 lb 
 
 f ■ ' 
 
 I I . 
 
 W' 
 
 r/ 
 
 him back to the East with me, and, with the little we have now, to buy 
 some quiet home in the country, where our wretched ^mi need not be 
 known,— where we can be forgotten,— where my poor husbaiid need not 
 have to hang his head in shame. Oh, God ! oh, God ! what a ruined 
 life 1" 
 
 " Is there nothing I can do for you, Mrs. Noel ? Listen : that court 
 cannot begin the — the case to-morrow. Four members are still to 
 come. It may be two days yet,— perhaps three. Perhaps Mr. Withers 
 and his friends do not appreciate the danger and have not brought 
 pressure to bear on the President, brt— forgive me for the pain this 
 muse give you — there are other, new chaives coming from division 
 head-quarters, that I fear will harm him still more. I grieve to have 
 to tell you this. Try and make Mr. Withei-s understand. Try and get 
 the resignation through. If you will see Mr. Falconer and-^nd the 
 captain now, I can get the telt^raph operator." 
 
 " What charges — what new accusations do you mean ?" she asked, 
 her eves dilating with dread. " Are we not crushed enough already ? 
 Oh, forgive me, Captain Lane I I ought not to speak bitterly, you— 
 you have been so good, so gentle. You, the last man on earth from 
 whom I should seek mercy," she broke forth im|)etuously, — "yott are 
 yet the one to whom I fiiot api)eal. Oh, if after this night I never see 
 you again, believe that I suffer, that I realize the w.ong I have done. 
 I was never worthy the faintest atom of your regard ; but there's one 
 thing— one thing you must hear. I wrote you fully, frankly, im- 
 ploringly, before— before you came— and saw. Indeed, indeed, I had 
 waited days for your reply, refusing to see him until after papa died ; 
 and then I was weak and ill. You never read the letter. You sent 
 them all back unopened. I cannot look in your face. It may have 
 been hard, for a while, but the time will swn come when you will 
 thank God— thank God— I proved faithless." 
 
 And then, leaving him to make his own way from the house, she 
 rushed sobbing to her room. When next he saw her, Reginald, her 
 brother, with Lowndes and his tearful wife, was lifting her into the 
 ambulance that was to take them to the railway, and the doctor rode 
 awa^ beside them. But this was ten days after. 
 
 Inie to Lane's prediction, the court met and adjouiLed on the 
 following day. Colonel Stannard and Major Turner telegraphed that 
 they were delayed en rovle to the railway, and nothing was heart! from 
 the other missing members. Two days more found the court in readi- 
 ness, but the trial did not begin. There arrived on the exprer,?? from 
 the East, the night before all seemed ready for the o|)ening session. 
 Lieutenant Bowen, of the cavalry recruiting-service, with two guards 
 who escorted the ex-clerk Taintor. 
 
 Tel^rams for Captain Noel had been coming in quick succession, 
 but he himself was not seen. It was I-<owndes who took the replies 
 to the office. The firs*^ 7j,esting of the court was io have occurred on 
 
 MondaV. Ttiefidav AVPninv fho iuflnra-aHvnratfa aan¥ tn. *U« >^^..»J 
 
 officer a copy of the additional specifications to the charge of conduct 
 unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and notified him that tlie wit- 
 nesses had just arrived by train. 
 
Tiro SOLDIERS. 
 
 388 
 
 « iutJ .''u'*^^ Wednesday morning Mre. Lo^vndea w&8 aroused bv 
 a tapping at her door, and recognized the voioD of M«. Noel^inJ 
 
 .nHr^-fi^^^/'^^'^'V^^^^^ ""^^ ^«"t to her, finding her^i^mS 
 and terrified. Gordon, she said, had been m such misefy that Kdf 
 
 aiier midnight. Then he had gone down to make some memoranda 
 he said, at the d^k in which he and Mr. Falconer had therr^«' 
 and, as she could not sleep, she soon followed ; but he wasTotTre 
 Occasionally he had gone out late at night and talked aC the Jarade 
 after every one but the guard had gone to bed, and she thoX he 
 must have done so tnis time, and so waited, and waited and leered 
 
 ZrZ no lo^:^: '^"^ ""^' ^^ "^^'^'"^ ^' ^»- At lait'^lCuH 
 Lowndes hod heard the sobbing voice and one or two words He 
 
 day "'J' Do .Tt 'I T ''"trf '^''y ^-"^ tiroffic^r ;f ^l 
 suTcide?" ^ ''''"''^ ^^""^ ""^^ away with himself ?- 
 
 "Suicide I nol" answered Lieutenant Tracy. "He's too bio- • 
 coward even for that I" ^ xie s too big a 
 
 No sentry had se^.. or heard anything of him. The whole noat 
 was searched at daybreak, and without suc4s. A neigh b^rbgLdt 
 raent, mlestetl by miners, stock-men, gamblers, and fugiti v^ 4^11 ^ 
 
 mystery One or tvyo hard citizens-saloon-proprietore-nokXtheir 
 tongues m the., cheeks and intimated that "?f propeX aW^hed" 
 thev could give valuable information ; but no one bel^vS tfem That 
 nigl, deserted and well-nigh distrac'ted, Mabel Noel ky mc^iing i„' 
 her Jittle room, suffering heaven only knows what tortuJes: far from 
 the yearning mother arms, far from home and kindred, fa^iven from 
 he recreant husband for whose poor sake she had abandoned al to foK 
 low mm, for better for worse, for richer for rooi^r. in sick nZ or in 
 health,-only U> be left to the pity and ear3 o/strTnVli ° 
 
 Bnt she was in an army home and among loving, loyal simnle 
 heai;ts. The women, one and aU, thronge.1 to the littfe Si im 
 plonng that they might "holp in some way." The men whef tW 
 
 to be pursued. Mabel would accept only one explanation of his dis- 
 appearanoe : craz«i by misfortunes,*^he had taken L own ife • he hid 
 said he would But the regiment could not believe iram^^in foZ- 
 «ghthourahad traced him, on the saloon-keq^Vs ho,4e, ovei to the 
 Southern Pacific, and thence down to El Paso! Mora than one n an 
 gave a sigh of relief that the whole thing could be so easilyTtt?^ wTtJ 
 
 Tnl^^nf i""'' *'J1' '^"'r^ ^'"^ publishedTSlS "The" 
 court met and adjourned pending the receipt of ordere from the con- 
 vening authority. The telegraph speedily directed the reTurn to thS; 
 statio^ of the^several members. LieuteiLt Bowen we^tZk t. lu 
 ZT^ '^"'^S /-fiaioi ill iiie guard-house, and in a week Reginald VinI 
 cent came to take his sister home and to whisper that Gordon was slfe 
 in the city of Mexico,-Mr. Withera was sending hirmoneyrhere 
 and so from her bed of illness, suffering, and humiliation Z^rgTrl 
 
 
384 
 
 TWO SOLDI rj AS. 
 
 i ' < 
 
 WM almost carried to her train, and all Fort Gregg could have wept at 
 sight of her wan and iio|)eIes.s iHce. 
 
 She shrank from seeing or meeting any of her old associates, yet 
 was eager to reach her mother's roof, fondly believing that there she 
 would find letters from her husband. It hurt her inexpressibly that 
 he should have fled without one word to her of \m intentions; but she 
 could forgive it because of the suffering and misery th«t bore him down 
 and unsettled his mind. It stung her that Mr. Witliere, not she, 
 should be the first to learn of his place of refuga; but perhaps he 
 thought she hud gone E:A«t at once, ard so had written tnere. She 
 attributed his desertion to the strain to which he had been subjected ; 
 but she had been spared the sight of iliose last " s|)ecification8. Her 
 first inquiry, after one long, blessed clasping in her mother's arras, after 
 the burst of tears that could not be restrained, was for letters from 
 him; and she was amn/e<l, incre<lulous, when told there were none. 
 Mr. Withers was sent for at once : that eminent citizen would gladly 
 have dodged the ordeal, but could not. He could only say that two 
 telegrams and two drafts had l^•ached him from Noel, and that he had 
 honored the latter at sight and would see that lie lacked for nothing. 
 
 She would have insisted on going to join him in his exile, but he 
 had sent no word or line ; he had ignoretl her entirely. He might be 
 ill, was the first thought; but Mr. Withers assured her he was phys- 
 ically perfectly well. " Everything is being done now to quietly end 
 the trouble," said Mr. Withers. " We will see to it at Washington that 
 his resignation is now atcc'pte<l ; for they will never get him before a 
 court, and might as well make up their minds to it. '" y cannot drop 
 or dismiss him for a year, with all their red-tape ods and thei.' 
 
 prate about the * honor of the service.' I've seen enough, of the army 
 m the last three months to convince me it's no place for a gentleman. 
 No, ray dear, you stay here,— or go up to the mountains. We'll have 
 him there to join you in a month." 
 
 But the authorities provetl obdurate. Even the millionaire failed 
 to move the War Secretary. Unless Capt'iin Noel came back and stood 
 trial, he would be " dropped for desertion" (" and, if he came back 
 and stoocl trial, would probably be kicked out as a coward and liar," 
 thought to himself the official who sat a silent listener). This Noel 
 would not do. Wifhers sent him to Vera Crpz on a pseudo business- 
 visit, and Mabel, silent, sad-faced, but weeping no more, went to a 
 little resort in the Wck*^ Virginia mountains. 
 
 Meantime, another court had been convened, another deserter tried, 
 convicted, and sentenced, and before being taken to prison he made full 
 statement to Captain Lane and two officei-s called in as witnesses. This 
 was Taintor. He had known Captain Noel ever sinc>e his entry into 
 service. Taintor was an expert }>enman, a gambler, and at times a hard 
 drinker. He had enlisted in the troop of which Noel was second lieu- 
 tenant while they w^re in Tennessee, and had deserted, after forging 
 the post-quartermaster's name to two checks and getting the money. 
 The raiment w*^nt to the Plains: he was never apprehended, and long 
 years afterwards drifted from a {)osition in the quartermaster's d^pdt at 
 Jeffersonville to a re-enlistment and a billet as clerk in the recruiting 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 385 
 
 »^ure by forged d.e.,k8 for small amounts wl.ich he truste<l would not 
 excte suspicion. But ho had fallen in love with a young woman, and 
 
 hrZ^hni'^'T "" '"T "' ^'^•"^" •^'"''^ ^" ^'- neip:ht,rhood 'after 
 ulv>1f l\ T ?'"' TV ''''' "^^''•' ^*«« «h«<J'>we.! ar.<l arrests! I,y 
 the pol oe, and had g.ven hin.^elf up for lost when Captain NcKil wa« 
 brough to h.s cell to identify him. ke could hanlly be i eve Id senses 
 when the captain said it was all a mistake. Then he was relea^ecl ind 
 
 him he knew hm. perfectly and would keep hh secret provided he 
 won d "make himself useful." It soon turned out thit wha wa^ 
 wanted was the imitation of Captain Lane's signature on one o tw^ 
 
 \Z^ :lTl' "l"w *' ^f ^'^ "°' ^"'' ''•"^ *'•« tyne-writing of some 
 letters, one of which, without signature of any ki..<(, and referring to 
 
 You are l)eing betrayed," was sent to Captain Lane at Fort Graham 
 Very soon after this Captain Lane came back. Taintor again fled unti 
 he knew his old commander hml .: ,ne away, and then, venturing home 
 was rearrested, as has also been told. ^ * 
 
 Lane knew the anonymous letter well enough, but now for the first 
 
 deceit and aithlfssness and so bring alM)ut a rupture of the engagement 
 whujh a that time, Noe\ .saw no other means of removing Tt^he one 
 obstacle that stood in the way of his hoi)es. ^ 
 
 But what were the other papers? 
 r1wH.^"r'i <«me and with it the rumors of the appearance of the 
 Irl fr'" at Vera Cruz; but in the remote and ,,eaceful nook 
 where mother and daughter-two silent and sorrowing women-were 
 3 ;" r^J;'^''"*''?^' ''\ ti^Jings came. Vainly Mal^l watched the 
 mails for letters-.f only one-from him. She ha<l written under 
 cover to Mr. Withers, but even that evoked no replv. 
 
 One sunshiny afternoon t hoy wore startle<l by the sudden arrival 
 
 side EM^Iir"^ *" "^^'"^ '^"''^'"" ""^^ *" ^^"^^ '•'« '°«^her to one 
 side, but Mabel was upon him. 
 
 J You have news 1" she said, her white face set, her hands firmK 
 seizing his arm. " What is it ?. Have they dismiss^ him ?" 
 
 Ihey can never dismiss— never harm him more, Mabel " was the 
 solemn answer. * 
 
 *******♦♦ 
 Some months afterwards Mrs. Vincent received a packet of papers 
 that belonged to the late Captain Noel. Mabel hml been sliTto 
 
 S - /""!* •* "7"*'"'', '""Ir" 'i^"^''"g ^'' early widowhood with 
 k^nd and loving friends. The consul at Vera Cruz had written to 
 Mr Withers f u 1 particulars of his cousin's death,-one of the firet 
 
 ^Sl"?! r ^t ^'^;"!^^ ""^"-^ I'-r^ «^"^ t'»«^ P«F'-^ with the formal oer- 
 nf 1^"%?- "'^,f^^"^j^'" oniciais. Mr. Woodrow, one of the executors 
 Z^l' ^'."^"M««*«^ showed singular desire to examine these papers, 
 but the widow thought they should l>e o,,ened only bv her da.igKter 
 It was not until then that, with much hesitancy, the ^ntleraan explained 
 
386 
 
 TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 ?* 
 
 * 
 
 rl 
 
 f-' , f. 
 
 ^1- 
 
 
 that Mr. Vincent had given him to nndcrBtand that ho had intrasted 
 aorae papers to Captein Noel which that officer had promised to send at 
 once to his old friend Captain Lane. Mrs. Vincent could learn no 
 more from him, but she lost no time in searchinj^ the packet. 
 
 Within twenty- four hours Mabel was summoned home by tele- 
 graph, and there for the first time learned that to her father's partner, 
 for the use of the firm in their sore straits of nearly two years before, 
 Captain Lane had given the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, and that 
 among Captain Noel's papers was what purported to be a receipt in full 
 for the return of the sum from Mr. Vincent, which receipt was signed 
 apparently by Fre<lerick Lane and dated July 2, 188-. But this, 
 said Mr. Woodrow, must be a mistake: Mr. Vincent had aasured him 
 late in July that he had not repaid it, but that Clark had his instruc- 
 tions to repay it at once, and all Clark's books, papers, and receipts had 
 been examined, and showetl that no such payment had been made. 
 
 " It simply means that the very roof under which we are sheltered 
 is not ours, but that noble fellow's," said Mrs. Vincent ; and that night 
 she wrote, and poure<I forth her heart to him, while Mabol lockeil her- 
 self in her room. 
 
 No answer came. Then Mr. Woodrow made inquiries of the 
 officer at the rendezvous, and learned that Captain I^ne had gone to 
 Europe with leave of absence for a year ; and there her letter followed 
 him. She demanded, as a right, to know the truth. She had given the 
 executors to understand that the debt must be i>aid, if they had to sell 
 the Old homestead to do it. She would be glad to go and live in 
 retirement anywhere. 
 
 Not only did she, but so did Mr. Woodrow, receive at last a letter 
 from distant Athens. The widow sobbed and laughed and pressed 
 her letter to her heart, rhile Woodrow read his with moistened eyes, 
 a suspicious resort to his cambric handkerchief, and an impatient con- 
 signment of all such confounded quixotic, unbusinesslike cavalrymen 
 to — to the deuce, by Jupiter ; and then he went off to show it to his 
 fellow-executors. 
 
 The long summer wore away. Autumn again found mother and 
 daughter and Regy at the dear old home, but light and laughter had 
 not been known within the massive walls since the father's death. The 
 tragedy in Mabel's life, coming so quickly after that event, seemed to 
 have left room for naught but mourning. "She has so aged, so 
 changed," wrote Mrs. Vincent on one of the few occasions when she 
 wrote of her at all to him, and she wrote every month. " I could even 
 say that it has improved her. The old gayety and joyousness are gone, 
 and with them the wilfulness. She thinks more — lives more — for 
 others now." 
 
 Winter came again, — the second winter of Mabel's widowhood, — 
 and she was urged to visit the Noels at their distant home ; but she 
 seemed reluctant until her mother bade her go. She was stilt wearing 
 her widow's wmvIs. and hnr IovpIv fni^ vena novAP a^Mrtu^iaf in Ka«> »c»K 
 
 hood days than now in that frame of crape. Of the brief months of 
 her married life they never spoke, but the Noels loved her because of 
 her devotion to him when not a friend was left. In early March the 
 
 f 
 
 1 
 
 € 
 
 y 
 
 a 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 I 
 ai 
 
 h 
 
 at 
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 sa 
 h( 
 bi 
 
TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 387 
 
 new8 from home began to give her uneasiiiesH: "mamma did not seem 
 
 l£ Tw « «^P «"'^*'^".' ?^ •* ^*« ^^'"'^J that thTy wouW gTo™ 
 M far as Washmgton with her, and spend a day or two there when 
 Reginald itould meet and escort her home ' 
 
 Mal^rN,^! w^h {^"8¥, ">?"','"« '»,'»»«t most uncertain of months, 
 Mal>ei Noel with her sister-in-law and that lady's husband stood at the 
 P^^'i '»"^'»g'^« ting to be tolcen down to the hall- waToftS hotel 
 
 loiiowea by the others. Two gentlemen seated on one side removJ 
 
 saw one of them rise, bow, and extend his hand to Mak' savin/ 
 
 tTe pffL''V'.^7^.''*''"^™^"'«'«^ ™"«'^ access of color, ^me\hT^^^^ 
 the effect that this was a great suri,rise,~a statement which her fa^ 
 
 aesirea so to do. Neither of the two seemec to think of anv others 
 who were present Indeed, there was hardly time to a^k o^anlwe^ 
 
 Sr'a^nd'^^d ttj Y *' y ^"^ "^"^ r^ P'«- ^ XlXr; 
 to ascend , and then the gentleman nearly tumbled over a chair in 
 
 is r'lTt'^ ?f ?'^ «^'«"- M«. Noel^s face wS ave^ t thev 
 
 left he hall, but all the more was Mrs. Unier desirous of q^tion n^ 
 
 Who was your friend, Mabel ?" 4"«>""'"ng . 
 
 « sifeltS,1^^"I» " *« -"8™=-- H- &<» - glowing 
 " Captain Lane." 
 An hour later Mrs. Lanier said to her husband.— 
 
 nr..A "^^^Ji"^ '"'*" to whom she was said to be eneaoed before 
 
 Gordon ; and did you see her face?" «"gagea oeiore 
 
 on^?!?"* T'" they met,_thi8 time at the entrance to the dining-room • 
 
 Mr Lanie^ when he was presented. The lady seemed diSan and 
 chilling. The man held out his hand and .aid "I Wlad to Ln« 
 you, captaio. I wish you could dine with i But Ce had din«7 
 
 and was going out. ^ nined, 
 
 T^^*'i''?^*^.°*'?®' *°^ °<> Reginald. EApecting him everv mo- 
 
 w^iS'- 1r''"^ '^ P ^'^^ *'«^ f"«"^« «!^ slfoppingru? ^nd 
 7 JJ^tJ" ''xt 'f^™' thinking, when there came a Z at the dcTr 
 . a card for Mrs. Noel, and the gentleman begged to see heHii the naHoV 
 
 as sne descended the stairs. He was stand ng close bv the door Hut 
 he took her hand and led her to the window at their right ' 
 
 "xV^'^w T'^T?^'""^™™«'"«hecried. " Tell me-instantlv !" 
 
 andT/'h^'^T/'''"'^^ '■' ^* th«t y«» «hould comtMre^N^^ . 
 and she has sent for me. Reginald went directly Wes S S' 
 
 tlin nToZ:^'i'>'' ™^ "^^ ^ '^'^^ «^" ^- ^ -^^ ^- ^e -t 
 
 l„,n&.L^^.^T';i?«.•°«*«^*»^; was there no train sooner? She 
 
 siv^'that'Mi^ V.w 'i n ™°^n«^'^'""««« was fatal. He could only 
 say tnat Mrs. Vincent had been qu te suddenlv seixpd • anA ^^* ♦k "^ 
 hoped she would rally. Mak' ^t >>r.Z^Zy^brMtJt^'{ 
 buterly for her d.Utor, journey ; but she ots ridyfa^d 3 ^^ed 
 
38t 
 
 TWO Sai.DIKRS. 
 
 Ih^' 
 
 
 t ^ 
 
 composure when it wa« time to start. Mrs. I^anier'a farewell waa 
 somewhat strained, but the captain seemod to notice nothing. 
 
 Unobtrusively, yet carefully, lie watched over her on the home- 
 ward way. Tenderly he lifted her to the pavement of the familiar 
 old d^pAt, where Ii«^y met them. Mamma was better, but very feeble. 
 She wanted to see them both. 
 
 Three days the eentle spirit lingered. Thrice did the loving woman 
 send for I^ne, and, holding his hand in hers, whi8i)er blessing aiul 
 prayerful charge as to the future. Rcgy wondered what it couhl all 
 mean. Mabel, on her knees in her own little rocim, pleading for her 
 devoted mother's life, knew well how to the very last that mother 
 clung to him, but only vaguely did she reason why. 
 
 At last the solemn moment came, and the hush of twilight, the 
 placid, nainless close of a pure and gracious life, were broken only by 
 the sobbing of her kneeling children and of the little knot of friends 
 who, dearly loving, were with her at the gate into the new and radiant 
 world beyond. 
 
 One soft spring evening a few weeks later Mabel stood by the 
 window in the old library, an open letter in her hand. Twice had she 
 looked at the clock upon the mantel,, and it was late when Frederick 
 Lane appeared. Mr. Woodrow had unexpectedly detained him, he ex- 
 plained, but now nothing remained but to say good-by to her. His 
 leave was up. The old troop was waiting for him. 
 
 " Will you try to do as I asked you, and write to me once in a 
 while ?" he said. 
 
 " I will. It was mother's wish." But her head sank lower as she 
 spoke. 
 
 " I know," he replied. " For almost a year past she had written 
 regularly to me, and 1 shall miss it — more than I can say. And now 
 — it is eood-by. God bless you, Mabel !" 
 
 And still she stood, inert, passive, her eyes downcast, her bosom 
 rapidly rising and falling under its mourning garb. He took her 
 hand and held it lingeringly one minute, then turned slowly away. 
 
 At the portiere he stopped for one last look. She was still standing 
 there, drooping. The fair head seemed bowing lower and lower, the 
 white hands were clasping nervously. 
 
 " Do you know you have not said good-by, Mabel ?" 
 
 She is bending like the lily now, turning away to hide the rush of 
 tears. Only faintly does he catch the whispered words, — 
 
 "Oh I J cannot/" 
 
 THE END. 
 
THE TEARS OF TVLUA. 
 
 389 
 
 *i 
 
 THE TEARS OF TULLIA. 
 
 ROME shook with tyrannies. A bloated face, 
 Vile for all vices that debafle, 
 lilowered and menaced from the imperial plaw. 
 
 Men said "Caligula" below their breath. 
 
 Shivering, as one that faintly saith 
 In some new deadlier way the old word "death." 
 
 That robe which once round Cmsar drooiKKl sublime. 
 Dragglecl and fray«l, though not with' time, ' 
 
 *launt>ed from every fold wet stains of crime. 
 
 The empire of the world had fallen so low. 
 
 Inertly it saw its own blotMl flow, 
 As treason's black brood dealt it many a blow. 
 
 Deeper at each fresh ignominy it sank 
 
 In mires of cowardice more rank, 
 Scourged by a monster and a mountebank. 
 
 Where vast the arena of the circus lay 
 Loos«I lion or tiger, dav by day, ' 
 Would flesh Its fangs in shuddering human prey. 
 
 Throned o'er the slaughter, sat, with imrple . r ;e. 
 
 With laurelled brows, with wine-bfear^ eye. 
 lie whom to gaze upon was to despise. 
 
 ^** .""fSnant thus, .with crime for kith and kin 
 Did this crowned cut-throat seek to win ' 
 A hideous immortalitv out of sin. 
 
 His infamies caught splendor, like the fires 
 
 "iiru 'eapt in fury from those pvres 
 
 Where wives would watch their fords burn, sons their sires. 
 
 He seemed as one whose insolence erects 
 
 A^ane to his own dire defects. 
 With rapine, butchery, lust, for architects,— 
 
 A pile through haze of history to uprear 
 
 At every deed pure lives revere, 
 Its towering gibe, its monumental sneer ! . . . 
 
 And vet ^>^7t>n ha noK^..,!^ u >• i 
 
 Moods to his fiend-swayed soul appeal 
 Vol Sfv - '^*'^'*'' ""^ clemency Vould steal. 
 
 I 
 
 «i 
 
390 
 
 TJIK TEARS OF TVLLIA. 
 
 I 
 
 Xk, 
 
 ,tv 
 
 By 
 
 On 
 
 H 
 
 uome caprice no oourticr could explain, 
 young 
 
 fuvor, not diwduin, 
 noble of hi8 train. 
 
 When weary of insult, lechery, murtler, all 
 
 Wherewith his niadnesH held in thrall 
 Rome's cringing crowcls, on Livius he would call. 
 
 From the massed purple cushions whore he lay, 
 
 " Ucud me some poet," he would say, 
 " My Liviua, in your wise melodious way," 
 
 Then the youth, bowing with complaisance meek, 
 
 In lute-like tones would speak 
 Line after liue from Homer's golden Greek. 
 
 And onoo, when, kneeling at the tyrant's knee, 
 
 Itapt by unwonted passion, he 
 Had read the dark wrongs of Andromache, 
 
 Caligula half raised his drowsy head, 
 
 And with the smile men quaked at, said, 
 " My Livius, tliou hast eloquently read ! 
 
 "None but a lover could so treat this theme; 
 
 And thou, if rightly I deem, 
 Hast felt the full deep sorcery of love's dream. 
 
 " Would the kind gods had let mc\feel it, too I— 
 
 The gods that guard me as they do ! . . . 
 Nay, my sweet Livius, does report say true 
 
 "That thou hast loved, from boyhood sheer till now, 
 
 Tullia, the maid with vestal brow, 
 Patrician Publius' grandchild, and dost vow 
 
 " Unflinching virtue, continence complete, 
 
 Scorn of thy young blood's hardiest beat, 
 Till thou and she in marriage-bonds may meet ? 
 
 " Nay, Livius, dost thou love this maid so well ? 
 
 I charge thee, in all fair frankness tell 
 How strong is thy subservience to her spell 1" 
 
 Then, smitten as by the pang that barbs a spear, 
 
 Livius felt throes of mortal fear, 
 Not for himself, but one divinely dear. 
 
 He thought of how this royal vulture fed 
 
 On multitudes of guiltless dead. 
 With beak that ever bode unsurfeited ; — 
 
THE TEARS OF TVLUA. 
 
 • Wi!; "Tl^^.'T'*"** Kl»t« or oloy«, ^ 
 
 With rack, bowl, cJagger, and gibbet foi their toys ;- 
 
 ^finZTi**r'"" ^^r'^^ *"" ''""' ^''^nies died 
 Hilanus had sought Huicide, ' 
 
 And Or«rtilla had been stolen a bride 
 
 Even at the altar from her bridegroom's arras. 
 ^Remembering these and cunifess harms^ * ' * 
 i^tard as these, Livius with strange alarms 
 
 Thrilled as he murmured, " Emperor, if the sky 
 Made every star that hangs on high ^ 
 
 A word of fire for me to answer by,^ 
 
 "Still vainNr, in snita of such all-grasnimr snAPoh 
 My love fGr Tullia could I teaclf-^ ^ ^''' 
 Ita force, its faith, its rapture, and its reach I" 
 
 So spake the youth, tumultuously. A frown 
 
 , ne sneered, my Livius, courts renown I 
 
 " What say'st tiiou if I seek a vvay to prove 
 
 This vaunted value of thy love. 
 And how the ambition of it^ flame above 
 
 " Yvhif ' "'f.''^" ^'^^^^ ^'"*^ ^«rt and shine? 
 
 What say'st >u, favorite fool o' mine" 
 (Here a full su .ri broke), " should m^mood incline 
 
 n«n«^ f ""^ li *^°"' ^^« "'^ ^^o^-n «o leal, 
 ^nst from the imagmary pluck the real 
 
 " ^"^ P'-ove to me to all men, past a doubt 
 _T^at adoration thus devout ' 
 
 Blindfold may trace its precious object out?" 
 
 Pale turned young Livius, nnderetanding not 
 Dreading some despicable plot, ^ ' 
 
 While from the Emperor's lips bleak laughter shot. 
 
 While to the «unt LThTn-Jl^rL^S'- 1^ - ' - 
 
 ""^' ?ee* were naiiea I 
 
 "V"a '""^ ^''^'^ • • • A moment more . 
 IJ^""^ ^r^' "^ '^'^^^ «'«^«^ by the score! ' 
 Had pushed poor Livius past the tyrarSTdoor. 
 
 811 
 
 ♦ 1 
 
It*. 
 
 »* 
 
 392 THE TEARS OF TVLLIA. 
 
 Alone they Icfl him in a spacioiui hall, 
 
 Brooding on what ^im doom might fidl^ 
 Wliat freak dialmlio waited to appall, 
 
 Till, at the oloee of one slow hour, he heard 
 
 The bolta that held him captive stirred, 
 Ol)edicnt to Caligula's luud word. 
 
 Then with a smile where sly derision slept. 
 
 The KmiKTor past the portal stept. 
 And Htraightway two stout minions lightly leapt 
 
 Toward Livius ; o'er his eyes with speed they rolled 
 
 A Irandagc of Huch envious fold 
 Thut by quick night all vision was controlled. 
 
 Quite Htill he stood, resisting not; he knew 
 
 Res'stance ii: o trice would hew 
 From mercy its last piteous residue. 
 
 " Fate, work your worst on me," his fleet thoughts ran ; 
 
 " Ere now full many a nobler man 
 Hath bowed below this arch-aHsassin's ban ! 
 
 "So Tullia dies not with me, I shall bleas 
 
 Calamity for its kindliness. 
 And garner consolation from distress I" 
 
 But even as thus he mused, the air with sound 
 
 Of numerous foot-fafls did abound. 
 Like plash of delicate rain on grassy ground. 
 
 And through the wide-flung doors, with timorous tread, 
 ' With each a lovely and low-bent head 
 Half shadowing her bewilderments of dread. 
 
 Came twenty as bloomful maidens as the dome 
 
 Of lucid heaven o'erarching Rome 
 Had evei beamed on ; hence at speed from home 
 
 All had perforce been summoned by the sway 
 
 Of him unscrupulous to pay 
 Their liveb in penalty for their delay. 
 
 Now rose the tyrant^s voice, thai, seemed to kill 
 
 The silence brutishly, such ill 
 Its every note was packed with, pealing shrill. 
 
 " Livius," its words came, " with a poet's tongue 
 
 Hast thou belauded Tullia, young, 
 Radiant, thy love ; but here in beauty among 
 
THB TEARS OF TDLL/A. 
 
 " A sisterhood of other be«utcous niateu, 
 
 Thy reoogtiition she awaita, 
 Thy swift intuitive welcome supplicate*. 
 
 " I^t now this boaatocl adoration dare 
 
 Its inagic energy declare ; 
 I bid thoe touch on brow, ciiock, eyelidi, hair, 
 
 "Each maiden of these aascrnbh 1, till thou find 
 
 The cnHlaving iniHtr(?HH of thy mind, 
 Being blind tliyself m Love, thy god, is blind. 
 
 " Yet if by touch of hand upon her face 
 
 Thou fuilest, braggart boy, to trace 
 Rightly her lineaments, not mere disgrace 
 
 *' May wreak revenge on thy msh head, but she, 
 
 Tullia, and thou, her choice, mu.st be 
 Bound each to other and cast within the sea I 
 
 " So shalt thou learn what ecstasies belong 
 To love, witli all ita bonds made strong 
 As death's own lean clasp in the engirding thong. 
 
 " Yea, thou shalt learn of love that though it fly 
 
 So lofty and in so large a sky. 
 Low may it sink at last and darkly die 1" . . . 
 
 The looks of all save Livius now were turned 
 
 On Tullia, whose amnze<I eyes burned 
 With agony— then with adjuration yearned. 
 
 Scorn answered only from the Emperor's gaxe ; 
 Fierce to the grouped girls rang his phrase : 
 " One after one seek Livius, till he lays 
 
 " A hand upon your faces dusk or fair, 
 
 Searching for his lost Tullia there. 
 In each I . . . Obey me, or falter if ye dare I" 
 
 None dared to falter ; slowly all gathered near 
 
 Livius, who stood with mien austere 
 That told what pain must make his veiled eyes drear. 
 
 Yet the hand shook not that erelong he laid 
 
 On the first face of those arrayed 
 Before him, and with loitering touch essayed 
 
 To prove alone by tactual sense what siffht 
 w«.,M :„-*„-*{_ u i._ J _:_. . o 
 
 If given one vague ray of divulging light. 
 
 393 
 
394 THE TEARS OF TVLLIA. 
 
 Still, eager and yet with impotence, he sought I 
 
 Face after face, being swept thus, brought 
 But worse confusion to his laboring thought. 
 
 "I cannot find thee, Tullia !" rose his ciy. 
 Freighted witli torture. " We will die 
 Together, and curse tlie gods in our last sigh 1" 
 
 And yet even here, while thick sweat damped his brow, 
 
 A courage tyranny could not bow 
 Nerved him once more and made him sweep forth, now, 
 
 For the last time to the last face, his hand ; . . . 
 
 Then suddenly, as by joy unmanned. 
 He shouted, " Pitying gods, I understand I 
 
 " These tears have told me I Look, my hand is wet 
 
 With their sweet testimony ! I set 
 My life and hers on the dear amulet 
 
 " Their tidings proffer ! Nme has wept but she ! 
 
 I have found thee, Tullia ! Love's decree 
 Can teach even blindness a new way to see !" 
 
 Before his final word impetuous rung. 
 
 Poor Tullia, with 1 md sobs, had sprung 
 To clasp his neck— hud wildly about it clung. 
 
 So cruelty had been slain by love ; and they 
 
 Who sjiw Caligula that day 
 Clothed in atrocity, were still wont to say 
 
 (Long after vengeful massacre had wrought 
 
 End of his villany, as it ought) 
 That just when Livius found the face he sought, 
 
 Learning glad Tullia by her tears to tell, 
 
 Tears also from the Emperor fell 
 
 Strange as if dawn's white dews were seen in hell ! 
 
 Edaar Fawcett. 
 
THE AUTHOR OF ^^ THE COLLEGIANS. ' 
 
 395 
 
 THE A union OF « THE COLLEGIANS." 
 
 TT is now nearly a quarter of a century since Mr. Dion Boucicault 
 J. made the anuouncement of a new play to be produced at Niblo's 
 nn^ i'^''" f' u'^™^ "^'""l^ ^'^' acfvertised as founded upon fact. 
 ColleTn BawT" P'-^^ented under the captivating title ot "The 
 
 nlo^nylrllT^ a novelty at that period, but Irish incidents and 
 plot and Irish character in the drama were as popular then as now 
 while the cast for the original production of « The Colleen Bawu" yvm 
 such as to insure its success. Laura Keene was to plav the part of 
 ^•r^r?r ' """'i/'T' ^^"l^rtson the title rdle of the sVeet Colleen 
 Eily O'Connor Mr. Boucicault himself taking the part he ha^ s iS 
 made famous of the hunchbac Danny Mann.^ Old^heatre-g^rs Z 
 recall the exciteraen and enthusiasm of the presentation-n.iht,-the 
 
 rrmTr^-T"""^' u ^Pl^'^^f ^'"^'^ g'"^*^^ ^««J^ s'tuation, each bit of 
 bnhant dialogue between Anne Chute and Hardress C^egan, Kyrle 
 
 nP^plr fiir?''"^''"^ by the actress whose place in the part can 
 never be refalled, gave a poetic charm to every scene in which Eilv 
 makes her appearance. Certain discrepancies, however, were apparent 
 H this fii^t rendering of " The Colleen Bawn" which ciuld no faH ?o 
 attract the attention of some of the spectators. The play wa.s an almost 
 hteral transcrip ion or adaptation of an Irish novel entitled "The 
 Collegians ; and a gentleman in the audience called the next mornine 
 
 (jerald Griffin The result of the interview was a prompt revision of 
 the play Mr. Boucicault acting with every courtesy towards his visitor 
 who desired that the novelist's name should be a.ssociated with harof «ie 
 dramatist From that date this play, by far the most su^ces d n M 
 
 ?f « T^ P ir'^''^ v^^^^^'T' has been known as a dramatized version 
 of The Collegians," a novel which has begun to enjoy a revival of the 
 popularity which macle it famous in the earfy decadei If Zc^nturJ^" 
 trerald Griffin, best known as the author of " The ColWians" and 
 of a tragedy entitled "Gisippus," in which Macready madf his most 
 «>l.d reputaUon, was the son of an Irish gentleman who emigrated to 
 
 chnZn n '^" r.' • ^^^' '1'"°^ ""''^ ''^' «^ ^'^' children aifd g^nd' 
 Or ffin h„"iTJ -^^^ '' T"" '^r^?. ^ Binghamton, New York.^ Mr. 
 Griffin had been induced to take this step through the glowing accounte 
 given by his eldest son, an officer in the English army, who hadTs S 
 America and retiirned to Ireland captivated by the^rnery neirtte 
 Susquehanna. Difficult as it was to resign himself to the p^rtint 
 
 Mth^.r ' ^f '•^•^^'"* sixteen, elected^o remain in IrelanTwitI' 
 his brother, a physician practising in Limerick, and two ^i^t.r. wk" 
 were too youpg fo r the voyage and the trials of pioneer life.*' """ 
 
 mi 
 
 • vi 
 
396 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF ''THE COLLEOJANS.' 
 
 
 in 
 
 m 
 
 Young Griffin's decision was the result of an unconouerable impulse 
 towards literature, especially the making of verses and arumatic writing, 
 which he feared would he turned aside if he followed his family to the 
 New World. He had already sketched "Gisippus;" his desk was 
 full of poems many of which are wrongly attributed to his later years, 
 and he had arranged various small dmmas for private representeticn, 
 throwing himself ardently into the character or stage-manager when 
 they were produced by an enthusiastic set of amateura in his native 
 town. His realistic views would have suited the company of the 
 Th6fitre Franjaise to-day. An amusing incident connected with these 
 boyish efforts was told me by an old English gentleman who recalled 
 one of the rehearsals — if not the actual performance — of a play written 
 by Gerald Griffin in his seventeenth year. The heroine was to take 
 poison and die in a dramatic agony. The young lady cast for the part, 
 however, failed to carry out the author's idea of the death-scene, and 
 insisted upon dying gracefully, with a becoming expression of placidity. 
 Young Griffin watched the rehearsals of this scene with impatience for 
 two or three days, and then a brilliant idea occurred to him. The 
 evening of the performance he presented Miss with a glass con- 
 taining a bitter draught of quassia, asking her to drink it in the poison- 
 scene. The result may be imagined. All the contortions of expression 
 and action which the young dramatist desired followed, and he ap- 
 plauded loudly, assuring his indignant " leading lady" that it could not 
 injure her, and that it had improved her " business" in the play tre- 
 mendously. 
 
 About the same time, before his seventeenth birthday, he one day 
 summoned his brother the doctor to his room and handed him the 
 manuscript of a tragedy in blank verse which he had just completed. 
 Dr. Griffin spent the night reading and criticising it. Fortunately, he 
 did not share the opinion of many of the lad's friends that literature 
 was a sorry profession for him to enter upon, and the reading of this 
 play, " Aguire," decided him to advanc-e his younger brother's literary 
 mterests as speedily as possible. John Banim, then beginning to be 
 famous, pronounced " Aguire" to be the work of a genius ; but, unfor- 
 tunately, it as never produced at any theatre, and was accidentally 
 destroyed and not rewritten. The tragedy of " Gisippus," which was 
 not completed until the next year, had, '^owever, been sketched when 
 he was fourteen. The nephew of the author told me that his uncle had 
 been fond of reciting passages of it to him in their very boyish days, 
 walking between Limerick and Adare. They were the same with 
 which Macready years after the author's death held London audiences 
 spell-bound during the famous run of the play at Drury Lane. 
 
 After " Aguire" was written, Gerald appealed to his brother for 
 permission to try his fate among the theatres and publishers of London. 
 Naturally enough, the older man hesitated to consent to such a venture 
 on the part of an inexperienced lad, just turned eighteen, who had no 
 private fortune, and who was endowed with the most sensitive of poetic 
 temperaments, a disposition generous and unsuspicious to a fault, and 
 a faith in the art he was pursuing which would lead him to endure 
 any toil or privation for the chance of success. Various minor con- 
 
I 
 
 'iJii AUTHOR OF ''THE COLLEGIANS.' 
 
 397 
 
 siderations had also to be thought of by the older brother as likely to 
 war against the young author's life in London. He was an ardent 
 Catholic ; and those were intolerant days for the followers of the 
 Church of Rome. He had a sense of honor in literary work which 
 was almost extreme ; no consideration then or ever induced him to so 
 much as violate a private opinion or judgment of his own in print, 
 and his idea of the fulfilment of a contract — so one of the most vener- 
 able editors in England told me — bordered on the quixotic, so afraid 
 was he of not giving the full value demanded by publisher or public. 
 A miniature still in the possession of his family represents him at this 
 period of his life as a strikingly handsome youth, with a face almost 
 Spanish in coloring, the eyes darkest hazel, the complexion a clear 
 olive, the brow broad and lofty, with mass - of dark hair tossed back, 
 the features strong in outline, but regular, and the mouth singularly 
 sweet in expression. There is a blending of mirth and melancholy in 
 the face : the boyish glance seems to give a challenge to the future 
 from which he expected so much ; the proud and sensitive lips seem 
 eager to speak of things that lie deep within the young and ardent 
 heart. 
 
 •To London in 1823 th6 young man journeyed with the best of 
 spirits and the lightest heart, believing he could assist the great actors 
 of the day in restoring the drama or purifying the stage of what he, 
 with many others, considered mere dramatic charlatanism. He was 
 eighteen years of age, vigorous in constitution except for a weakness 
 of the heart which subsequently tried him severely ; life had hitherto 
 been prosperous, and the world had shown him its smiling side. He 
 had "Aguire" and the notes for "Gisippus" in his satchel, and a 
 box of other manuscript, iwems and essays, which represented to the 
 lad fame and fortune. His personal attractions, the magnetism of 
 manner and power of influencing those about him, seem to have been 
 entirely unconscious, and not to have been counted in his stock of 
 worldly advantages either by himself or by his family. Had it been 
 otherwise, he might have reached success easily through the medium 
 of the society of the day, for Londor in 1823 was as brilliant in its 
 way as London in 1890 ; but a striking ijharacteristic of the boy and 
 the man was his disdain of using any personal influence in his literary 
 ijareer. 
 
 He sought out very quiet lodgings, whence he wrote to the family 
 at Adare notes of the London he began to know. He had intro- 
 ductions through his devoted friend Banim to the Kembles and other 
 professionals, who seem only to have shown him in those days the 
 civility of an occasional box-seat for the theatre. He speedily wrote 
 home deploring the decline of the « legitimate" in the drama, not, 
 however, without some sense of humor in his criticism of the sort of 
 play that was then in vn^ue, while his analysis of the methods to be 
 employed to insure vo].>\hrlty might be repeat^, to-day^ and it seems 
 hardly possible that nearly seventy years have elapsed 'since they were 
 written. 
 
 " I will tell you," he writes to his brother, " something which will 
 give you an idea of the drama and the dramatic management of the 
 
 
 M 
 
398 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF ^^ THE COLLEGIANS." 
 
 m 
 
 t 
 
 day, which, however, for tlie credit of the mitier, I would not breathe 
 to ears profane. Of all the walks in literature it is the most heart- 
 rending, the most toilsome, and the most harassing to a niun who is 
 possessed of a mind that may be at all wrought on by circumstances. 
 The managers only seek to fill their houses, and don't care a rap for 
 all the dramatists that ever lived. . . . With respect to the taste of a 
 London audience, you may julge what it is when I tell you that 
 ' Venice Preserved' will scarcely draw a decent liouse, while such a 
 piece of unmeaning absurdity as the * Cataract of the Ganges' has 
 tilled Drury Lane every night for three weeks past. A lady on horse- 
 back riding up a cataract is ratiier a bold stroke ; but these things are 
 quite the rage now. They are hissed by the gods ; but that is a trifle, 
 80 long as they fill the house and the managers' pockets. . . . There 
 is a rage foi fire and water and horses, and as long as it continues fire 
 and water and horses are the lookout of the sovereigns of the drama. 
 Literary men see the trouble which ttends it, the bending and cringing 
 to performers, the chicanery of mar-agers, and the anxiety of suspense 
 which no previous success can relieve them from ; and therefore 
 it is that they seek to make a talent for some other walk and con- 
 tent themselves with tiie fame of a ' closet writer,' whi(?h is acccfln- 
 panied with little or none of the uneasiness of mind which the former 
 brings with it. ... I cannot immediately fix my eye upon any one 
 who I should say without hesitation was qualified to furnish us with 
 a good tragedy, excepting only my friend Banim and countryman 
 Knowles. They decidedly stand best on the stage at present. Kean 
 is going off to America ; and Macready, I understand, speaks of enter- 
 ing the Church, but I should be sorry for it. This I have only just 
 beard said, and know not whether it be quiz or earnest; but it is 
 widely reported. Have you seen any more of Shell's work ? I think 
 his last piece, * The Huguenot,' a very indifferent one; and the public 
 thought so too, for they damned it three nights. For us poor devils 
 who love the drama well and are not so confident in other branches 
 of that most toilsome and thankless of ull professions, authorship, we 
 must only be content to wade through thick and thin and make our 
 goal as soon as we may. This sawdust and water work will pass 
 away, like everything else, and then perchance the poor half-drowned 
 muse of the buskin may be permitted to lift her head above the flood 
 once more. I have got a sneaking kind of reputation," the lad goes 
 on, " as a poet among my acx^uaintances." In fact, the circle among 
 which his handsome young face and slim boyish figure began to be 
 known had already gained a hint of the boy's genius, and any one less 
 sensitive than he would have availed himself of the advances of 
 friendship which were certainly mtiile him at the time, but which he 
 completely overlooked, doubtless because he was, as his companions 
 later averred, utterly devoid of vanity, and while he was making clever 
 criticisms on everything he saw and heard about him he seems to have 
 had no idea of the effect which he produced himself. 
 
 Not being able to compete with the " sawdust and water work" 
 style of drama, GrifBn began about this time to turn his entire atten- 
 tion to writing for reviews or magazines ; but some idea may be given 
 
THE AUTHOR OF - THE nOLLEGIANS." ^^ 
 
 dJh ZT'fU ""'•''^^ '^™" °^ *'•« J""'-"^!^ Of the day were con- 
 ducted by the following extract from a letter to his mnt\Lr u t I 
 
 about writing," he saysf" for various week^puWic^ ion Xof whict 
 except the LUera^-y QazeUe, cheated me a Jufnabir F uSing^ 
 
 a^lv insT2l .rr \'^' ^r' '"«^^'"^- My articles we?e g ner- 
 ally inserted, but on calling for payment there was so much shufflJn.. 
 and shabby work that it dise-ustpil m^" H„ .] i^ i l- 77 "^ 
 anotiier lett'er against the chaTof^wrTt^iig f^r the rt:^:e Zof /" 
 correspondent ,eems to think immoral. '^ thought^^he savs «^^ 
 have set your mind at rest upon the question Jthe dmma f,' this 
 etter, but I have scarcely room for my arguments Gi^e mo Invl 
 ho^yever, to say that when a humble individuToServ^ a Zal7"i 
 
 h s nTk"'^''^; "; ' '''' "^!"""^' ^'''^ ^ «»»"«t s^ TnytringTongTn 
 his making whatever exertions he can to use an efficient means fn « 
 
 number of people fr„„ doi-lg TZ"^ Z:'^\jZrS7:ll 
 op,n „„ not bad y spent. ... At the time »hen the C Jre annehS 
 
 buttt'^eSb^i''^ ^'^ ""-^ -tainly deserving of ~ 
 
 among other things transiting an entire boolc for two I,L k^i 
 do,ng very little dmmatio worl. " Ye^leHay," he .^Js "Tha™ 
 
 say peltry, I have a c«ns4nce as well a" anSr man.'?'""'' ' ''"° ' 
 JJut this sort of work no longer had its charms for him and "O! 
 
 ^istance Griffin would accept was an introduction to a ouhlishpr S 
 whom, however, he wrote under an assumed name" bavins Km^ J 
 m<Bt morbid about presenting himself peisonally ti eithw an^iTor „, 
 
 DonnK^T- tr''"^ »'■ '^^ "■"'^ '«*«■•. when at he hcLb^ rf h°s 
 Rtr/r?lr/!l'L™?^ <■« -y^'I - l.a«"y deiXto'vo'u 
 
 ency,- foV I wasVorkTng ha'-^i'lTl ."JZZ:^ ^f P'-'^PO""- 
 receiving money for thilabor'of thiTr^^Furb:',;' 'iS ZZ 
 see a face that I knew; and, after sitting writing all dayTwhel I 
 
400 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF *' THE COLLEOIANS." 
 
 ii I 
 
 
 
 walked in the streets in the evening it actually seomed to me as if I 
 was of a different species altogether from the people about me. 1 he- 
 fact was, from pure anxiety alone 1 was more than half dea<l. 
 
 He deemed himself fortunate in securing a position on a well- 
 known magazine at a guinea a week, he giving six hours a day to re- 
 views of all sorts, essays on topics of the day, m fact, as he says him- 
 self five hundred different subjects, written under as many signatures ; 
 and outside of this he worked for other journals, ind begafi his first 
 series of tales,—" Holland Tide, or Tales of the Munster Festivals.' 
 Later he is in receipt of two pounds a week from an editor who is 
 extremely anxious to discover the real name of the author of certain 
 sparkling papers on questions of the duy, which, in spite of the young 
 man's anxieties, were brimming over with good-humored sarcasm, fun, 
 and piquant criticism. " The editor," he writes, " sends my money to 
 my address every week bv a livery servant, who never says a word, but 
 slips the note in, touches his lips, and— mum ! presto !— off he is. All 
 very romantic, isn't it ?" Later the editor himself arrived, determined 
 to penetrate the mvstery of his contributor's name,— " a tall, stout fel- 
 low with moustachio'd lip and braided coat." This gentleman speedily 
 carries the young author off to his isuperb country place, where, after 
 many social attentions, he makes a bargain with him for we dare not 
 think how much work at a hundre<l pounds a year,— this, however, t» 
 be only paid him according to the amount of work he was able to fanish 
 weekly. When we reflect that young Griffin's work on this one maga- 
 zine alone was to include poetry, fiction, criticism, essay-writing, para- 
 eraphs, and " anything which the editor required and which did not 
 violate principle and sense of right," there seems almost a pathos in 
 the fact that the lad could regard it as so brilliant a stroke of fortune 
 and rejoice in that "his luck" was turning. His work was copied 
 widely. Had it been written to-day it would have placed hi ra among 
 the foremost of magazine contributors. As it was, the periodical for 
 which he wrote received all the credit of the work done by the editor^s 
 voung assistant, and he seems to have had not the leMt idea that he 
 might have grown suddenly into fame. Certainly Gerald Griffins 
 work at that date was superior to much that was being done about him, 
 and " having," he finds, " some hours to spare in the twenty-four not 
 appropriated to his regular position, he, to use his own expression, 
 "sold them to a publisher for five dollars a week, writing steadily from 
 nine o'clock until three in the afternoon," the publisher encouraging 
 him with a prospect of half as much again at the end of a certain 
 period of time ! The ludicrous side of it all began to appeal to him 
 very forcibly. He speaks a little wistfully of his high-hearted hopes 
 on arriving in London, and now, he says, in writing to his sister, 
 " you may perceive that I am putting myself in train for Warren s 
 Jet Blacking,'" which in 1825 required a special sort of advertisement. 
 Keats's death about this time affected him powerfully, tliere having 
 been a common bond of sympathy betweeu the two youn^ nicu, arm 
 Gerald recognized a certain similarity in their tastes and feelings, and 
 perhaps it was with a view to spare himself from the lash of merciless 
 criticism that 3 so long preserved his incognito. Keats's young sister 
 
1I ', 
 
 as if I 
 !. The- 
 
 a well- 
 y to re- 
 y9 hini- 
 latures ; 
 Ills first 
 jtivals." 
 
 who is 
 
 certain 
 e young 
 sm, fun, 
 loney to 
 ord, but 
 is. All 
 erniined 
 tout fel- 
 speedily 
 ire, after 
 lare not 
 (rever, to 
 to finish 
 le raaga- 
 ig, para- 
 did not 
 tathos in 
 
 fortune 
 s copied 
 n among 
 dical for 
 e editor's 
 I that he 
 
 GrifBn*« 
 )out him, 
 four" not 
 cpression, 
 dily from 
 jouraging 
 
 a certain 
 al to him 
 ted hopes 
 lis sister, 
 Warren's 
 rtisement. 
 re having 
 
 iiicu, auu 
 lings, and 
 ' merciless 
 ►ung sister 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF "THE COLLEGIANS." 
 
 401 
 
 he knew well, and she told him that she had frequently found her 
 brother on suddenly entering his room seated with the notorious review 
 of his work in his hand, " reading as if he would devour it, —com- 
 pletely absorbed, absent, and drinking it in like mortal poison. Tlie 
 instant he observed her, however, he would throw it by and begin to 
 talk of some indifferent matter." From his conversations with his in- 
 timate friend Valentine Llanos, who was one of Keats's nearest and 
 closest friends, and who conversed with him three days before his death, 
 Griffin had not the least doubt that Gifford's malignant review killed 
 the poet. This same Llanos, who was on delightfully friendly and 
 social terms with many of the young men of the day, seems to have 
 exerted a beneficial effect over their minds, and Gerald was apt to grow 
 despondent when long away from him. However, the turn of luck 
 certainly had come. Applications were now made to him for comedies 
 and librettoes for the English Opera. He produced a play the name of 
 which is foi^otten, doubtless through his indifference on the subject, 
 although it was highly successful and the part of the heroine taken by 
 the famous Miss Kelly. About the same time he wrote an article in 
 the News proposing a new plan for the English Opera, making sugges- 
 tions for complete stage business, the management of the recitative, etc. 
 This attractecl a great deal of attention, and Griffin followed it up with 
 a complete essay on the Italian and English Opera, suggesting that the 
 latter might be made completely operatic, and giving specimens of the 
 sort of recitative which would be suitable. He made use of the signa- 
 ture of " G. Joseph," by which name only he was known to the man- 
 ager of the English Opera-House, Mr. Arnold ; but, in evidence of his 
 horror of having any one piece of work accepted or successful simply 
 on the merits of a former production, I may mention the fact that after 
 Arnold had accepted and produced with great success two or three 
 operettas written by him he sent a fourth manuscript under another 
 name, determined to discover just how much intrinsic merit lay in the 
 composition. His style, however, betrayed him at once to A mold, who 
 showed the manuscript to John Banim, asking him if he was not cer- 
 tain that Joseph was the author. Banim, who was then established as 
 reader for certain theatres, of course detected Griffin's ruse at once, but, 
 unfortunately, mistook its motive, fancying that his young friend had 
 taken a new nom de plune in order to avoid placing himself under the 
 least obligation to Arnold's reader; and this trifling circumstance pro- 
 duced a breach in their friendship which the younger man as well as the 
 older lived to deplore. All that we know of these operettas or come- 
 dies which he apparently wrote with such facility is that they were 
 highly successful at the time and performed by the best stock-com- 
 panies. In v/riting of his turn of fortune so far as theatrical matters 
 are concerned, he says, " It would have been very delightful a year 
 ago ; and even now I own I am not indifferent to it, though a great 
 deal if not all of the delicious illusicoi with which I used to envelop it 
 is lost ; but a better feeling has come in its place." He was suffering 
 
 Eainfully during this time from the weakness of the heaii to which I 
 ave alluded, and which obliged him to spend many wakeful nights, 
 while his publishers little dreamed of the tremendous tension put upon 
 
 /I 
 
 hM 
 
 ''li 
 
402 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF "THE COLLEGIANS." 
 
 L-t 
 
 hira by His literary work, which never flagged, except when, after, as he 
 88^8 himself, «' trying to brazen it out," he would break down suddenly 
 with attacks of complete prostration, increased doubtless by his intense 
 anxiety to be up and at work again. It was soon after one of these 
 that his brother, coming to London, found him working for ten men, 
 but delighted by the fact that he was making headway in all de'^ired 
 directions. His book was completed, and he rejoiced in receiving sev- 
 enty pounds for the entire manuscript and copyright. 
 
 The young author, flushed with what he felt at least would soon 
 mean success and relief from mere drudgery, returned to Ireland for 
 the first time in five years, and met a circle of friends in Dublin, with 
 whom he spent one gayly happy day, at the end of which he was met 
 by news that his favorite sister had died suddenly, the physicians sup- 
 posing her death to be the result of the long tension she had suffered 
 on his account and the too swift revulsion of feeling on hearing of his 
 success and his intended visit. The blow completely prostrated him 
 for a time; but on reaching Pallas Kenry, where his brother's family 
 resided, he determined to rouse the family circle from the depression 
 into which they had fallen : therefore the remembrance of that visit 
 lingered long in the minds of all who knew and loved hira. 
 
 Of this visit to Pallas Kenry his youngest sister writes to the 
 family in America, — 
 
 "Would you wish to view at a distance our domestic circle here? 
 William and I are generally first at the breakfast-table, when after a 
 
 httle time walks in Miss H , next Mr. Gerald, and last of all 
 
 Monsieur D — -.. After breakfast our two doctors go to their patients ; 
 Gerald takes his desk by the fireplace, and writes away, except when 
 he chooses to throw a pinch or a pull at the ringlets, cap, or frill of 
 the first lady next him, or gives us a stave of some old ballad. Our 
 doctors then come in at irregular hours, when the first question, if it is 
 early, is, ' Lucy, when shall we have dinner ? I am dying,' and if 
 late, 'Why did you wait so long?' After dinner, books, tea, and 
 sometimes a game at cards,— formerly chess ; but it is too studious for 
 Gerald as a recreation." 
 
 Many and laughable are the freaks recorded of him during this 
 visit, when the plot of " The Collegians" was working in his mind ; 
 but they are hard to reproduce, since, it is said, there was so much 
 more in his manner and inimitably ridiculous way of doing or saying 
 an amusing thing than in the mere fact or substance of the fun itself 
 So complete were his gayety and abandon at the time that non-literary 
 friends looking on were frequently disedified at the apparent light- 
 heartedness and possibly sohool-boy wit of the young man who had 
 written " Gisippus," and who was known to be engaged on a work of 
 a serious character. 
 
 It was during a siege of blinding fog in the November of 1828 
 • •-•v ^i,v3 ^.njix^-^iaits w»3 uuujpiuicti, young unmns spirits being 
 unusually fine, in spite of the depressing weather, for the work was so 
 much the result of inspiration that, as he said later, " it wrote itself." 
 But in every scene he regretted the fact that he was not preparing it 
 for the stage, his dramatic inclinations having been subdued only because 
 
THE AUTHOR OF '* THE COLLEGIANS.' 
 
 403 
 
 of the necessity of earning his daily bread. " What I would Rive/' he 
 exclaimed to his brother one evening, " to see Edmund Kcaii in that 
 scene of Hardress Cregan at the i>arty just before his arrest, where he 
 IS endeavoring to do p()litene88 to the ladies while the horrid warnine 
 voice 18 in Ins ear ! Every movement of Kean's countenance in such a 
 scene as that would make one's nerves crwp. Every motion and atti- 
 tude ot his, his ghastly efforts at complaisance, and *his sulxlued sense 
 of impending rum, would be all-sufficient to keep an audience in a thrill 
 ot horror. 
 
 The main portion of the book was written before breakfast, as 
 during that meal there was nearly always a rap at the door and the 
 printer s boy appeare<l, demanding copy. Frequently the manuscript 
 would l)e handei forth without revision, the author simply letting his 
 pen fly onward, but declaring that he had no difficulty in keeping up 
 this strain of work. What annoyed him in the book, however, was 
 the impossibility of making Kyrle Daly more interesting than Hardress 
 Cregan Just listen to me 1" he exclaimed one day : " isn't it extraor- 
 dinarv how impossible it seems to write a perfect novel,— one that 
 aliiill be read with interest and yet be perfect as a moral work ? There 
 IS Kyrle Daly, full of high principle, prudent, amiable, and affection- 
 
 nnAr '""T'lVx"' '^Ti V^', ^'^ f'**"' P"'-'^'*'"' ^"' "^^^P'^g his passions 
 under control, thoughtful, kind-hearted, and charitable,— a character 
 
 m every way deserving our esteem. Hardress Cregan, his mother^s 
 Bpt)iled pet, nursed in the very lap of passion, and ruined by indul- 
 gence; not without good feelings, but forever abusing them : having 
 a lull sense of justice and honor, but shrinking like a craven from 
 their dictates; ol owing pleasure headlong, and eventually led into 
 crimes of the blackest dye by the total absence of self-control. Take 
 Kyrle Daly a character in what way you will, it is infinitely preferable • 
 yet I will venture to say nine out of ten of those who read the book 
 would prefer Hardress Ci-egan, just because he is a fellow of high 
 mettle,^ with a dash of talent about him." 
 
 " '{'l? Collegians" was published, and instantaneously accepted by 
 the public as the work of a genius. The leading men aid women of 
 the day read it with delight; the scene in which the death of the old 
 huntsman was depicted found its way into innumerable journals of the 
 time; while writers like Miss Edgeworth and society women like Lady 
 Al^rgan were anxious to lionize the new author; but in evidence of his 
 intense dislike to anything of the kind I may mention the fact that he 
 formal a close friendship at the time with an Italian gentleman of 
 rank, from whom he kept so as.siduo.isly the secret of his authorship 
 that It was only through Sir Philip Crampton's meeting them together 
 after several months of intimacy that the secret was Revealed. The 
 Ita lan upbraidet Griffin mercilessly for allowing him to hear so much 
 said of The Collegians" in society he 're^uented without having 
 the pleasure of knowiner that ...s fn'pnd wn« th^ anfh^- ^f fU^ i.„„i- ^ 
 i.ite seemed about to smile upon the young author from every point 
 ot view, and his letters at this time brim over with contentment, fun. 
 and interest m the things about him. He writes to his sister Lucy as- 
 Buriug her that she may be content with her way of spending Lent, but 
 
 .»^i 
 
404 
 
 'UiE AUTHOR OF "THE COLLEOIANS." 
 
 •jh 
 
 addH that he has been dancing quadrilles on a Monday evening and 
 meeting a mo8t charming girl indeed. " I will tell you how I might 
 give yon 8ome idea of her. If Eily O'Connor had l)ecn a gentlewoman 
 
 she would have l>een juHt such a one, I think, as Miss , the same 
 
 good nature, simplicity, and plnyfulness of oharaotcr, the same delicious 
 nationality of manner. Isn t this very modest talking of my heroine? 
 I have a great mind to put her into my next book ; and if I do I will 
 kill her, as sure an a gun, for it would be such a delightful pity. I 
 exult in the destruction of amiable jxjople, particularly in the slaughter 
 of handsome young ludies, for it makes one's third volume so interesting. 
 I have even hud a hankering wish to make a random blow at yourself; 
 and I think I will do it some day or other : so look to yourself, and 
 insure your life, I advise, for I think if well maiiai^ed you'd make a 
 very pretty catastrophe; but until I find occasion for killing you, my 
 dear Lucy, continue to love me." Soon after this an invitation reached 
 the young man from Mr. and Mrs. L , people of the highest culti- 
 vation, living with every possible comfort and ease in their own home 
 near Limerick. In accepting the cordially- worded request that he 
 should visit them, young QrifRn laid the foundation of one of the most 
 
 perfect friendships ever recorded in a literary life. Mrs. L was a 
 
 woman who had inherited from distinguished parents mental endow- 
 ments which were precisely what Griffin most needed in a companion 
 and friend. Henceforward she was the judge to whom he submitted 
 everything, the one whose keen perception no flight of his poetic fancy 
 could escape, and at the same time the critic who pronounced most care- 
 fully upon his defects, taking as vivid an interest in his improvement 
 as in his successes. 
 
 The success of " The Collegians" led to the writing of a number 
 of novels, essays, poems, etc., to the pleasantest of social associations, 
 and to all those pleasures which Griffin as a lad of eighteen facing the 
 world had longed to enjoy. Just how and when the idea of suddenly 
 renouncing them all and entering a religious order came to him his 
 biographer has not stated, but I may venture to quote the opinion given 
 me by Mr. Aubrey De Vere. He assured me that the leading idea in 
 Gerald Griffin's mind was that writing fiction was injurious to his own 
 standard of thought and feeling, and tnat his higher inspiration was for 
 a life devoted to charitable works. He began to criticise his own novels 
 unsparingly, declaring that he found in some of them tendencies which 
 he disapproved. He was nervous over this, anxious for the work even 
 of a missionary, but by no means either morbid or fantastiq in his views, 
 as some of his critics have averred. When he decided to join the 
 Christian Brotherhood to devote himself to a life of simple usefulness, 
 of teaching the poorer classes, and also of writing religious works, he was 
 in the calmest and serenest frame of mind. The call had reached him, 
 and it was not to be resisted or denied. One who lived in the same 
 order years later told me that those among the Christian Brothers who 
 
 among them. He had studied law, theology, and metaphysics ; he had 
 mingfed with the leading spirits of the day ; he bad talked philosophy 
 with the followers of Voltaire and Hume ; he had listened to every 
 
THE AVTHOR OF "TJiE COLLEOIASS.' 
 
 405 
 
 my 
 
 iort of opinion that fl.mted through the Lon<l<m he called his home, and 
 l>e had ot late yeare Ixh^ii mot more than half- way by fame and ikk-u- 
 niar^ succejw. Thfre was no depression in his deeiMon, no sud<len phase 
 ot teelmg that there was a tremendous heroism or wcrifiw in the steu 
 he contemplattHl. It w,is as clearly a necessitv to him and the scheme 
 ot Jife and salvation he propostnl to himself" as if it had been a Saul 
 who listening to the voit« in the hojivens, answeie<l, *' My Lord and 
 
 ipy Go<l. Kyen his devoted tiiend Mrs. I. , >vho had lio sympathy 
 
 with his relimous beliefs, acknowledjfOil the sublime fitness of the life 
 he delil)erately chose for himself. Her regret at losing the comrade- 
 ship so dear to her was natural enough. He writes to her Uwing her 
 forgiveness for seeming cold, but not daring to express himself too 
 much at length. He speaks of their meeting often again ; but in i)oint 
 ot iact alter entering the Brotherhood he desirtnl that this should m>t 
 l>e the case. He threw himself ardently into the new work, and felt 
 that distractions from without were not wise. When his decision had 
 been reached, he visited Pallas Kenry for the last time. He had built 
 a Jittle house for himself in the garden there, which consiste<l of one 
 room, and to this he retired from time to time for religious meditation 
 and study, although at other times he was the same joyous, mischief- 
 oving member of the small home circle. He defende<l his purpose to 
 the friends who considered it fanatical by desiring them to reflect that 
 selt-sacrifice, self-denial, and mortifiaition are at all times admired in 
 the pursuit of ambition, worldly glory, or military renown, and yet let 
 them be undertaken for the sake of religion and, behold, they seem in- 
 tolerable and fantastic to one's friends. This being his 8i)irit, it is not 
 to be wondered at that he 8i)ent his last days at home joyously, in 
 spite of tlie regret he must have felt on severing personalassociations 
 torev^r. The day before his departure from home his brother went to 
 Gerald s room for a quiet talk before the family dinner. The door was 
 opened, and after a few moments' delay Dr. Griffin was admitted, to 
 hnd his brother standing in the middle of the room, his face pale ami 
 his eyes full of something which might have been the passion of remem- 
 brance or the last flame of merely worldly feeling. The fireplace was 
 filled with charred bits of paper, and in an instant the elder brother 
 knew what had been done. Every particle of unpublished manuscript 
 which lie had with him, but one, had been destroye<l; and this would 
 lave^hared he fate of the rest had not Dr. Griffin arrived in time to 
 Jay claim to Gerald smiled as his brother stretched out his hand 
 
 u- u 1*'"^^?^^"^'*'°.'^*'''''* ^'^^^^ boyish hopes had been built.— 
 which had been, as he considered, the saddest failure of his life, and 
 vet which he, with all his freedom from vanity, his diffidence about 
 himself, believed in to the day of his death. "Gisippus'* was saved 
 trom the flames, and twelve years after the author's death was produced 
 at l.rury Lane by Macready before the most brilliant of London audi- 
 ences, the queen attending the second reoresentation of th« nl«v ^r^A 
 commanding its continuance. Of his life'in religion there need" "here be 
 said only that it gave evidence of the same sensitive scrupulosity that 
 had distinguished his life in the world. Being naturally unpunotual. 
 he endeavored to make conformity to every rule of the house a matter 
 Vol. XLV. — 27 
 
 
 ' rP 
 
40« 
 
 OVR KSOLlsH COUSINS. 
 
 of pTftve duty. Hnving oominenocd a n lijrionH tnle, he one morning 
 was ill thfi midst of a 'ijtcnce, the word ' l)ey()nd" being under hiH |>on, 
 irH<»n the bell rang Rummoning him to the refectory. He at onoe re- 
 i.|Kjiid»i! to th« Hunimons, leavn\g ^he woni unfiniHlied. Never again 
 jj, was he t< pick up the jien that he Imd droppc<l. The name day he wjw 
 
 *^*i attacked with fever, and on Friday, the 12tn of June, 1839, he expired. 
 
 Thi're seems to l)e a (lurious irony and yet fitne«H in the oouree of fate 
 in certain livefl, and in the (««e of the author of "The Collegians" thia 
 is strikingly ap|>arent to those who recall his enthusiasm for the drama, 
 and his desire to l)e known as the producer of a play which, as he said, 
 should elevate the stage and provide gocwl where ill had b<M;n. At the 
 present day Gerald Griffin is best known as the author of the intensely 
 dramatic novel to which Mr. Boucicault has given a stage setting, and 
 
 '■V an having left a tragedy which when it was performed proved that 
 
 purity of o ntiment and diction, strong character-drawing, and intense 
 passion are not incompatible with the loftiest moral point of view. 
 
 Lucy C LiUie. 
 
 N 
 
 M.' ^ 
 
 OUR ENGLISH COUSINS. 
 
 IT is great fun, to a man with a weakness for studying human nature, 
 to listen to the talk of returning tourists about our cousins across 
 the water. The two or three hundre<l live Americans who always may 
 be found on a big ocean " liner" approaching our shores may represent 
 all States of the Union and all circles of American society, they may 
 differ shockingly about religion, the tariff, dress, and the liquor ques- 
 ti': v., but they may be relied upon to agree almost unanimously that 
 the English are a queer, unsociable, rather unhappy people, who see no 
 goo<l in any other race or nation and very little in one nolher. 
 
 I used to know a rural philosojther — he was a Pt.i.isy'va'iia Ger- 
 man — who would explain all ditiierences of opinio . ' .. eraark, 
 " Veil, it is yoost as a man is raised. If he doii t ocen raised to 
 know anyding about some dings, how can he get 'em right ?" I often 
 feel J'ko using the same expression, changed only a little, to explain 
 the Tc' aken ideas that some Americans, who are not fools, have about 
 the E£;,^Hh T»eople. They have had no opportunities of knowing 
 English ',. .1 . f v'CT.ien ; they did not learn anything about them be- 
 fore gf'5'i-j .' re; ', and when they reached the mother-country they had 
 no mean*^^ o; <;e;ting acq ; sittxl: so they had to depend upon impres- 
 sions of those with whom they chanced to come in contact. English- 
 men as scantily equipped who have often come to America, roamed 
 about aimlessly for a week or a month, and then gone back home and 
 printed books or letters about us, have occasioned indignant howls 
 from Americans who happened to read their lucubrations ; but how do 
 the offending Britishers differ from the oi'dinary Araericiin tourist who 
 airs his opinions of our cousins across the water ? 
 
 Having already admitted that our people who go abroad are not 
 
OVR a.SOUSH COVSINS, 
 
 407 
 
 fool« and knowing that ., one hates more than the American to 
 blunder about auythm>r, I a.4i)unu- to net my Hmall srif up as ft tea.her 
 for a few momentH, and toll sometl. ^g truthful about tl.«! English 
 
 In the first place, you cnn't study a great jK^ople correctly horn the 
 top ol an omnd>UH or the window of a cab. Neither can you V't a goo«l 
 idea of them by 8|)cnding all yoiir time in theatres, hotels, ,.| eating- 
 h. uses, and wh-mih the sights. That is the way ti.urlsta usually try to 
 do ,t ; but they would learn nearly as much by sitting by their fire- 
 tides at home and re:.dii.f< the advertising pages of an English news- 
 paper. I shouldn't think much of an Englishraai. who would study 
 us in any such stupid fashion. ^ 
 
 To see people at their best you must have some acquaintance with 
 them ; Init of the thousands of tourists whom I haveseert on their way 
 home, not one m twenty had a single friend or acqumntanc*^ in the 
 mother-country. Most of them were not to blame for (hih i\^v English- 
 men are scarce in America, so letters of introduction to Britons of any 
 class are not easy to get, except in large cities. The rural Britisher is 
 a big-hearted fellow, as easy to get acquainted with as hi. cousin the 
 American farmer ; but our tourists seldom go into the rui. ' <listricts: 
 they imagine that London and a few "show" places com iin all of 
 England worth seeing It isn't easy, though, to " scrape aai,. lintanco" 
 with a Londoner, and I can't see how he differs in this respeci from an 
 inhabitant of New York, Philadelphia, or Chicago. I profesn to be a 
 gowl-natured fellow myself, and willing to unload all I know on any 
 one who shows any longing for it, but I do expect that the r 'cipient 
 will first haye himself properly intnxlucetl. On the other han> I, it has 
 never occurred to me that some of my distinguished fellow-citi *>ns of 
 the metropolis are stupid or inhospitable simply because I have 't the 
 honor of their acquaintance and am obliged to judge them o ly by 
 their outward appearance. For instance, a prominent banker inder 
 whose hospitable mahogany I sometimes swing my legs is the most 
 dehghtful fellow in the world to his intimates, but in the street, o the 
 cars, or in his office, he is sober, sharp, and reserved. Why shot, in't 
 he be? Do any of us wear our hearts on our sleeves before stranr re? 
 Not unless we are fair game for confidence-men. Now, to the tmvel- 
 ling American all Englishmen are strangers, and act accordingly. If 
 they hnd themselves stared at curiously, and look suspicious, or sullen, 
 or indignant in n ply, what wonder ? What would you do, genial a id 
 great-hearted American reader, if an Englishman visiting this count t 
 were to stare curiously at you in the street, at your office, in the rts- 
 taurant, or at the theatre ? Unless you are better-natured and weaker- 
 muulcd than I you would be enough provoked to look cross and let 
 him understand that you tl. night him an im|>ertinent nuisance. 
 
 1 don t profess to be anybody in particular, nor to have anything 
 about me that should make people kinder to me than to anybody else. 
 
 pleasant a lot that I don't hesitate to pay them the highest compliment 
 in the world, which is that they are remarkably like Americans. Some 
 ot their customs differ from oure, but that is entirely their own affair. 
 In almost everything that makes men and women interesting in them- 
 
408 
 
 OUR ENGLISH COUSINS. 
 
 selves and pleasing to their fellow-beings they are worth knowing and 
 remembering. I am not speaking of the aristocratic classes only, but 
 of all classes with whom Amerit.'an tourists would cure to associate. 
 Each stage of a people's development has its sj)ecial ear-marks, and it 
 seems to me that the better class of English, having got beyond the 
 time when they had to fight for their lives and their rights, clear their 
 forests and drain their bogs, and worry about having a roof over their 
 heads and keeping the wolf from the door, have reached a period in 
 which courtesy seems their special study and delight. In my earlier 
 days abroad I imagined that I was being treated with sjiecial consider- 
 ation, probably because of the letters of introduction I was careful to 
 obtain before starting ; but I learned in time that I fared no better 
 than those about me. Good manners and thoughtful kindness was the 
 rale ; rudeness — even rough, good-natured " off-handed ness" — was the 
 exception. 
 
 I learned also that the English have acquired the virtue of deHl)er- 
 ation, and never are in a hurry or fret. It is not necessary for me to 
 inform the reader that England is the greatest business nation in the 
 world ; yet all the business is conducted in a quiet, leisurely way that 
 seems to an American like child's play, but is dead earnest all the same. 
 Your English banker will be found in some little building not at all 
 like an American bank, and with very few clerks in sight. Nobody 
 rushes breathlessly in or out ; yet the amount of business transacted 
 daily in that dingy little building is enormous. 
 
 Instead of being glum and unhappy, as most of our tourists 
 imagine them, the English give more time and attention to their enjoy- 
 ments than any other respectable people in the world. They do not 
 crave excitement, like some Americans ; but genuine enjoyment — rest 
 for the body, and gratification for the eye, ear, and palate — they do love, 
 and they spare no efforts to obtain it. Because they do not go wild 
 over good work at the opera or theatre, and make a noise with their 
 hands and feet. Englishmen are supposed by Americans to be unap- 
 preciative or listless 5 but they are nothing of the kind, as you will 
 find out for yourself if you sit beside one whom you know and talk 
 with him between the acts. When judging an Englishman by his ap- 
 pearance and manner in a crowd, don't forget the old saying, " Still 
 waters run deep." 
 
 The English are the most hospitable people alive ; at any rate, they 
 are as hospitable as the best Americans. An Englishman does not take 
 all his acquaintances to his house, to smoke in the parlor and break for 
 an evening the privacy of his family circle. He distinguishes sharply 
 between acquaintances and friends, — a habit which Americans can afford 
 to copy, — but he will take both to his club rather than disturb his 
 family by taking home some man whom he likes, but who he knows will 
 not seem interesting to the wife and the grown-up children. When he 
 etiiei'iaius, however, he does it in large-hearted style ; he does not think 
 his whole duty done when he gives a great party, invites everybody he 
 knows, and fills his house so full that nobody can get through the 
 crowd to see anybody else. He keeps " open house" if his means allow : 
 to build a big liouse, furnish it elegantly, and then live in solitary 
 
OUR ENGLISH CO US J AS. 
 
 409 
 
 grandeur, as some Americans tlo, would never suit the well-bred Eng- 
 lishman who has any money. He is ceaseless in his endeavors to 
 have something " going on," and any excuse is sufficient ; it may be 
 only a musiccUe or a recitation, but he jumps at the chance, not so much 
 for what the artists may do as to bring his friends together and enter- 
 tain tliem. I have driven in spring and summer through some of the 
 most delightful suburbs of great American cities and seen one tine place 
 after another as quiet as if nobody live<i there ; in similar suburbs of 
 London there would be a succession of parties playing tennis, croquet, 
 or some other out-door game, and people constantly coming and going. 
 The English hate the word " communist" as badly as my friend Colo- 
 nel Robert Ingersoll hates the name of the Satanic majegty who he says 
 doesn't exist, but nevertheless they seem to be full of the better com- 
 munistic principle which causes a man to make the most of his money 
 for the good of his fellow-man. 
 
 Another ridiculous American notion about the English is that they 
 dislike Americans. This is worse than a mistaken notion : it is an un- 
 pardonable slander. The many American girls who have married Eng- 
 lishmen are highly popular in London society, and no decent American 
 living in London is ever heard to complain of his treatment by the 
 natives. Americans who visit England with letters of introduction to 
 members of clubs or any circle of society are never allowed to feel not 
 at home : " I know how 'tis myself." Intelligent Englishmen are as 
 sympathetic and open-hearted as any people alive ; if they were not, 
 they could not have descended from the forefathers of their country and 
 ours. They treat an American as if he were one of themselves, and 
 not like a foreigner at all. They do not allude to the days of '76, or 
 the tariff, or any other subject that might be annoying, but act just as 
 if they thought he had come over for a rest and a change and they were 
 going to help him along as much as they could. Some of them do ask 
 a good many questions about America, but they don't do it offensively, 
 and nearly all whom I've met have shown a real cousinly admiration 
 for a good many things peculiar to this country. Of one thing I am 
 very sure : the English admire us far more than they do any other 
 people, although they have plenty of blood-relations, on the royal side, 
 sprinkled about in Europe. 
 
 Frenchmen and Germans who come to this country say that anything 
 is an excuse for a dinner here. Any one who goes about among the Eng- 
 lish'people a little while is sure to learn how we came by this peculiarity. 
 I have not been much in France and Germany, but, according to books 
 written by men and women who have spent a great deal of time in 
 those countries, hospitality stops, as a rule, at the dining-room door. 
 There is no meanness about it : it is merely the national custom. But in 
 England it is the rule to eat and drink ; it is almost impossible to find 
 an hour of the day at which you can go to an Englishman's house 
 without being asked to refresh the inner man. It isn't a formal invi- 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 XTLT rx.x.'L.xttxx: 
 
 4-r\t\ ■fi-wvrl on/l nnrtA ^\in 
 
 tea are brought in and set on a little table rolled up in front of yea 
 before you have time to say you've just breakfasted, or are on your 
 way to lunch or dine somewhere else. A lot of good fellows I know in 
 
 -n 
 
 A 
 
 . 1 1 
 
410 
 
 OUR ENGLISH COUSINS. 
 
 
 London seem to give up most of their time to finding some one to 
 breakfast or lunch or dine with them. Suppose you want a general 
 look at the lower middle class and upper lower class and take a railroad- 
 trip in a third-class car, which is one place in England where you can 
 safely speak to a man to whom you haven't been introduced. You sit 
 down by a man who looks like a farmer, and begin to cliat with him : 
 within five minutes he will take from paper or box or basket a great 
 pasty, or some boiled fowl, or meat and bread, and insist on your join- 
 ing him. He always has t -ice as much as any one man can eat, and 
 he meant to have twice as much when he started, so he could invite 
 somebody to lunch with him. 
 
 Before I had been abroad at all I heard a great deal about " English 
 airs :" so when I reached the old country I began to look for them. I 
 didn't find them; and, although I have been over several times I 
 haven't found them yet. I stopped looking for them long ago, and 
 I've relieved my mind to the fellows who told me about them. There 
 are upstarts and pretenders and toadies in England, and they ape their 
 betters ; I think I have seen something of the kind on this side of th«5 
 water, too. But there's no such nonsense among Englishmen who are 
 sure of their position, be it high or low. It has been my fortune to see 
 a great many Englishmen of title and position, though I've been only a 
 sort of " mouse in the corner," and I don't know a more mild-mannered 
 unassuming set anywhere, not even in the United States. It is English 
 custom not to introduce people who have not expressed a desire to know 
 one another, but, on the other hand, there is the pleasant custom of 
 speaking to any one whom you chance to meet in the house of a friend. 
 As I am a restless sort of fellow, and quite fond of a chat, I used to 
 avail myself of this privilege, and never was snubbed, but always met 
 half-way. Occasionally I was paralyzed, afterwards, to learn that I 
 had been acting in hail-fellow-well-met style with some i>erson of con- 
 sequence. Once it was the Duke of Teck, who is as near the throne as 
 any one can be ; but he was as affable as an old acquaintance, and it did 
 not occur to him that he was being condescending, or anything of that 
 sort, in chatting half an hour with a little stranger from America. Of 
 course there are in England, as there are over here, a set of new-rich 
 people who are trying to push their way upward, and if they have not 
 the necessary amount of manners and intelligence they find themselves 
 awfully snubbed. When the Englishman needs to be cool and distant, 
 he can do it magnificently ; but who that has had bores, parasites, and 
 vulgar people try to attach themselves to him doesn't honor the English- 
 man for it ? 
 
 In short, our English cousins are the nicest lot of people to be found 
 anywhere outside of the United States, and it is a great pity that they 
 are so far away that all of us cannot know them better. They differ 
 from us no more than New England from the Pacific coast or the North 
 from the South. Under the customs and manners which their own life 
 has developed are the same big heart, good nature^ kind sinirit. hnsnitslit" 
 and energy that have made Americans all they are. Don't abuse them! 
 dear reader or tourist, until you know them, and don't try to go among 
 them until you can be introduced to two or three of them, either by 
 
IDOL AFFECTIONS. 
 
 411 
 
 friends already there or by letters from friends here. If your company 
 is worth as much as your room, you will have all the attention and con- 
 sideration you want, and unless you fall into the too common faults of 
 criticising them in their presence, flaunting the Stars and Strii>es in their 
 faces, and making the American Eagle scream himself hoarse in their 
 ears, you will have nothing to regret and nothing to find fault with. 
 Try it, and see if I am not right. 
 
 Marshall F. Wilder. 
 
 m 
 
 and 
 
 IDOL AFFECTIONS. 
 
 INSCRIBED TO BOBEBX BBOWNINa. 
 
 Our idols are our exeoutionera. — Amikl. "" 
 Qod's oare be God's. — Browhinq. 
 
 THERE is no day of all my years whereon 
 I could not darken every sunniest hour 
 With memories of my life that was, before 
 God drew our distant paths near and morg near. 
 I know the Hand which broke before my face 
 The idols I had wrought from clay and clothed 
 In golden raiment, then within my heart 
 Installed, as on an altar-shrine, to fall 
 And crush me where I knelt, — more merciless 
 Than mediaeval priests who racked the saints. 
 Yet spared their tortured frames when strength waxed low. 
 Ah, then I thought my heart a sepulchre, 
 Where only weeds and noisome things would dwell, 
 In which no ray could ever shine again ! 
 Unto this place of graves thou didst not scorn 
 To come, dear friend, bringing a jewelled lamp 
 To hang above the empty shrine, and flash 
 Its beams where now for weeds lie flowers which gained 
 Their birth and growth in gardens of the soul. 
 Like incense doth their perfume rise, by day 
 And night, to heaven, as rise my prayers to God 
 In thanks for such a matchless gift as thine, — 
 Renewed like amaranth blooms as seasons roll. 
 What can I do but trust the Hand which worked 
 Such marvels for me when I prayed for death ? 
 " God's care be God's :" I wait upon His will 
 To lift all shadows from my life that shines. 
 
 \jruu 3 ixtru u'j \jruu s : X li leavB to iiim Ilia task, 
 And, trusting in His love, forget to ask. 
 
 o « . . ,„„„ <^*'« Bloomfield- Moore. 
 
 8A1I0T MoBiTz, August, 1887. 
 
 
412 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ''ELIXIR OF LIFE.' 
 
 ■•'{ ; 
 
 'r i 
 
 
 ^h, 
 
 ! 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S "ELIXIR OF LIFE." 
 
 HOW HAWTHORNE WROTE. 
 
 III. 
 
 ["D EADERS of the preceding two articles have made some acquaint- 
 Xi» ance with the youth Septimius, the gloomy-browed and ques- 
 tioning student of divinity and searcher after strange knowledge ; with 
 the mixture in his blood of the Puritan and the Indian, ever struggling 
 with each other, and giving him no peace. They have had glimpses 
 of the legends concerning his ancestry, — of the shadow of witchcraft 
 that hung over it, of its former wealth and distinction in England ; 
 and they have tasted, as it were, of the mysterious herb-drink, rumored 
 to possess life-giving qualities, though the source of it was more than 
 suspected to be infernal. They have noted Septimius's singular per- 
 
 made to die, but that the means 
 
 suasion 
 
 that 
 
 man was not original!' 
 
 exist around us (did we but know how tc use them) to prolong physical 
 life indefinitely ; and they have seen how he seemed to be supported in 
 this contention, not only by the alleged virtues of his aunt Nashoba's 
 beverage, but by the vague hints as to a life-elixir let fall by the dying 
 oflScer whom he slew, and who was found to be the last of the English 
 branch of that race of which Septimius was the latest American repre- 
 sentative. They have assisted at the discovery by Aunt Nashoba, in 
 the dead youth's bosom, of a packet of documents which, it is insinu- 
 ated, may contain that very recipe for a Drink of Immortality which 
 Septimius had believed or hope<l could be produced. Incidentally, 
 they have gained some knowledge of Septimius's environment, — of his 
 lonely house and hill-top, of his pretty step-sister Rose, of his friend 
 the minister, of the sturdy yeoman Robert, and of Aunt Nashoba her- 
 self, who stands out in vivid colors from the rest. We are now to 
 learn what use Septimius made of the packet, and in what manner the 
 progress of his researches towards the end that he had at heart was 
 helped and hindered by persons and events. 
 
 But in this tale of "The Elixir of Life," as in "Septimius," the 
 active element is subordinate, and the speculative and meditative prevail. 
 Even the characters are of less import than is the central idea round 
 which they are grouped and in which they all become involved. It is 
 a story whicli we must look into, not at; a criticism of life, not a 
 portrayal of life itself. Whea we give to a group of persons a single 
 controlling and absorbing interest, we come inevitably to regard them 
 as practically but varying exponents of that interest : we study them 
 less for their own sake as individuals than for the light which their 
 diverse characters may throw upon the overruling theme. They be- 
 come, in short, but a means to an end,— the end in this instance being an 
 elucidation of the causes and objects of man's existence. Tom, Dick, 
 and Harry, Jack and Jill, are of consequence to this problem only in 
 80 far as they may specifically contribute towards its general solution. 
 
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S '^ELIXIR OF LIFE. 
 
 413 
 
 IFE." 
 
 acquaint- 
 nd ques- 
 ge; with 
 truggling 
 glimpses 
 i^itchcraft 
 England ; 
 rumore<l 
 lore than 
 ular per- 
 le means 
 physical 
 ported in 
 ^ashoba's 
 ;he dying 
 ! English 
 an repre- 
 shoba, in 
 is insinu- 
 ty which 
 [dentally, 
 , — of his 
 lis friend 
 loba her- 
 e now to 
 inner the 
 leart was 
 
 lius," the 
 e prevail. 
 Ba round 
 d. It is 
 fe, not a 
 ; a single 
 ard them 
 idy them 
 ich their 
 rhey be- 
 being an 
 m, Dick, 
 I only in 
 olutioD. 
 
 We are not to expect, therefore, in this story a rapid and exciting 
 succession of episodes, but, rather, a slow and rich growth, gradually 
 shaping itself to a symmetrical result. The beauties are to be found 
 not 80 much in the accessories and excrescences of the creation as in 
 the substance itself of it : as the glory of the mahogany-tree is to be 
 sought not in its boughs and foliage, but in the deep hues and veinings 
 of its interior structure. The interest of such a stpry is effective and 
 lasting ; whereas that of the tale of incident is transitory, however 
 engaging for the moment. The latter penetrates no further than to the 
 external memory; the former sends its influence into the soul, a:i<l 
 there generates new thought. 
 
 Hawthorne, however, never suffered anything to leave his work- 
 shop with less than his last perfecting touch upon it; and the masterly 
 modelling of the figures in " The DoUiver Romance" shows that he 
 was far from intending to magnify his central idea at the expense of 
 his characters : he would finish the latter with his utmost skill, while 
 not the less keeping them so disposed as not to shut out the effect 
 which he paramountly desired to produce on the reader. We see this 
 in"Dolliver," which received his final revision; but in the prelimi- 
 nary studies (of which "The Elixir of Life" is one) it is not true to 
 the same extent. For in these studies he was aiming to secure his 
 grasp of the central idea first of all : until he was sure of that, he 
 could not cast the characters in their perfected form. They are all, in 
 a greater or less degree, tentative, experimental, and exaggerated : some 
 (like Rose and the minister) are too faint; others, like Aunt Nashoba, 
 are emphasized beyond the prevailing tone of the picture ; some, per- 
 haps, he would altogether have eliminate<l ; and he might have found 
 it expedient to introduce new ones not foreshadowed here. Nothing is 
 settled, in fact, except the general tenor of the argument; and it is 
 because there were so many possible arrangements of detail that he 
 fouuJ the latter so hard to fix in their ultimate places. 
 
 Meanwhile, as we have already observed, it is just because the pre- 
 liminary studies are not perfect that they are available for our present 
 purpose. Were they as finished as is " The Scarlet Letter" or (so far as 
 It goes) the " Dolliver" fragment, they would tell us nothing of how 
 Hawthorne worked ; but, being experiments merely, we can^'measure 
 the bent and the calibre of his mind by the difference in direction 
 and attainment between them and the finished product. Knowing 
 what his music is, we can divine from these first rude and unordered 
 sounds how he would beat his music out. And it must heighten, not 
 diminish, our estimate of his genius to know that it was the kind of 
 genius that fights to the bitter end the good fight, and not the kind of 
 genius (if there be such a kind) that moves in the air and effects its 
 results by a sort of immaculate conception. 
 
 Before resuming the direct quotations from the manuscript, I will 
 summarize that part of the narrative that immpdinfplv fnllnwo thp 
 death of Francis Norton.] 
 
 While Septimius was sitting in his study, meditating gloomily over the 
 tragedy, hts step-sister Rose entered, and, seeing the sword and fusil and "the 
 other spoils of war, she recognized them as having belonged to the young officer 
 
f' 
 
 414 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S *' ELIXIR OF LIFE.'* 
 
 i 1 
 
 and asked Septimiua whether he had slain him. Septimius admitted it, and 
 justified his action. " Is not the country mine to fight for?" he asked. " You 
 sent Robert to the fight, with prayers for his success; and why not me as well?" 
 Rose acquiesced, though sadly, and then went on to express her anxiety as to 
 Robert's fate. Partly moved by her solicitude, and partly by the feverish- 
 ness that this strange day had left in him, Septimius proposed to go in quest 
 of him; "and indeed there was a quiet, solemn influence in Rose, a sort of 
 domest'.c influence, that he had often felt, and that made him wish to escape her 
 when he had anything wild in his mind. So he set forth, and travelled in the 
 dust over the road where the battle had rolled, espying now and then a dead 
 man lying in the dust, now the smoking ruin of a house, till in the twilight he 
 beheld Robert approaching, weary, with blood on his face, and an English 
 tower-musket on his shoulder. Both of these young men had taken a human 
 
 life." 
 
 * Robert related his adventures in the battle, but did not seem at all disturbed 
 by the deed he had done; for " there are some natures that blood rolls off of, 
 without staining it,— healthy, wholesome natures; others into which it sinks, 
 as it were, and makes an indelible stain. Warriors should be of the former 
 variety, and then their trade does them no moral injury. The mixture of 
 race (as in Septimius) seems to be a crime against nature, and therefore per- 
 nicious." 
 
 At this point the author— partly, no doubt, in order to settle the matter in 
 his own mind— proceeds to tell at some length the history of Septimius'a ancestry. 
 In so doing, he admits a large intermixture of legendary matter, observing that 
 such gossip clusters round old truths, like gray lichens or moss, having its roots 
 in what is true, and if ruthlessly separated, there remains only something very 
 unpicturesqne,— sapless ; and that it is these fanciful things, th&se lichens and 
 natural growth over dull truth, which, after all, constitute its value, as spring- 
 ing from whatever is rich and racy in it, and being a distillation from its heart, 
 oozing out and clustering in a sort of beauty on the outside. 
 
 It seems, then, that the first ancestor of the Nortons in America was a per- 
 sonage enveloped in a sort of mysterious, heroic atmosphere. He was the very 
 first white man to arrive in New England, just before the advent of the Pilgrims. 
 And when the latter came, tbey heard reports of a certain powerful sachem, 
 ruling over a wide extent of territory with a strangely intelligent sway. He 
 showed, however, no desire to civilize his people, but only to improve, on its 
 own plane, their savage life,— to keep them children of nature, but to expand 
 and beautify their life within its own laws. This wise sagamore had also the 
 reputation of being a wizard, able to raise tempests and to hold conclaves of 
 demons, and was the source of the witchcraft that afterwards overspread the 
 country ; and the first settlers never heard the roar of the blast, at midnight, 
 among the pine-trees, without shuddering at the thought that now Wachu- 
 sett and his weird followers were sweeping through the air to their place of 
 meeting. 
 
 The sagamore, at all events, was an inveterate enemy of the English, hating 
 them with more than an Indian hatred, defending his forest kingdom against 
 them, and annihilating their settlements. Meanwhile, he succeeded in recon- 
 ciling the internecine feuds of his own people, and bound together the hitherto 
 mutually hostile tribes into one great people. Among other attributes, he was 
 said to possess a divine gift of healing, a knowledge of the roots and herbs of 
 the forest, by means of which he could extract from them at his pleasure the 
 deadliest poison or a medicine that could add years to the life of frail humanity. 
 It was even asserted that he had by its means endowed himself with miraculous 
 length of days, and lived for unknown years, never changing, never wrinkling, 
 never a hair growing white. The tradition ran that he had si'idenly api)eared 
 among the Indians, none knew whence, but with such m<'j:ijty and wisdom that 
 they accepted him as a direct messenger from the Great Spirit. 
 
 It is uol surprising, however, that the Puritans failed to appreciate his good 
 qualities; and, being unable to capture and convert him, they resolved to slay 
 him. Accordingly, they watched their chance, fell by surprise upon the wigwam 
 of the .Prophet, and killed him, his wife, children, and household. But when 
 they examined the dead body they found it to be that of a man of European 
 
; 1'^ 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S *' ELIXIR OF LIFE. 
 
 416 
 
 birth; and among the spoils were articles evidently brought from beyond the 
 sea, showing that their owner must have originally been familiar with civilized 
 state and luxury: though why he had given them up and betaken himself to 
 the savage lite, was a matter concerning which there were no grounds for con- 
 jocturc* 
 
 One infant only escaped from the massacre, and was adopted by the victors 
 though It was said that the dusky mother had been the daughter of a family 
 that traced its origin, not remotely, from the Principle of Evil. Nevertheless 
 the child was baptized and brought up in the Christian faith ; and because 
 among the plunder of the wigwam was found a small coffer curiously ornamented 
 and strengthened with steel and bearing the arms of the English Nortons this 
 name was given to the half-breed baby. A beautiful crystal goblet was' also 
 found, and was said to have been preserved even to the epoch of our story 
 Buraor went that it had been u«ed as the sacramental cup at a witch-communion 
 and was supernaturally fortifie<^ against fracture. 
 c .J"^? bovgrew up idle and incapable, caring only for hunting, and neRlijrent 
 of the fertile tract, beneath the hill on which his father's wigwam had stood 
 whica had been allotted him as his portion. Instead of building a house he 
 dug out a cave in the hillside. He betrayed a fatal fondness for strong drink • 
 in short, he was a credit to neither side of his ancestry. Finally, he was lost in 
 a great snow-storm, and his body was found only in the ensuing spring 
 ^u Worthless though he was, he had been comely in his youth, and had won 
 the hand of a pretty maiden, the daughter of one of the settlers. From this 
 union sprang a son and a daughter, both persons of marked force, though widely 
 different from each other. The boy was given a good education, and became a 
 scholar of the first rank : he entered the ministry and reached the highest pin- 
 nacle of fame as a preacher. Great as was his influence, however, there were 
 malign whispers about him, to the effect that he was not yet purged of the 
 Satanic strain of his forefathers. A tree, from beneath which he had launched 
 a curse, was blasted, and never brought forth a leaf again ; the power of his 
 preaching was but a diabolical art taught him by Satan ; he had slaughtered 
 and scalped an Indian in King Philip's War; and in the latter part of his life 
 he had tried to found a new sect, and had been excommunicated. There were 
 stones, too, of his having inherited his father's craving for strong drink; that 
 his wife, once beautiful, drooped and became a miserable woman, and on her 
 death-bed shrunk from her husband's parting kiss ; besides other tales, most of 
 them doubtless colored by the jealousy and malevolence of his brethren. 
 
 As for the sister of this man, she was condemned and executed for witch- 
 craft, and her brother, in preaching her funeral sermon, approved the sentence of 
 execution, and related incidents to confirm its justice. Yet there was probably 
 nothing worse in her than a survival of the Indian aspect and character. The 
 secret ot the mysterious herb-drink was said to have been retained in the family 
 and It was added that the clergyman's wife had died of drinking it in an im- 
 mature stage of decoction. 
 
 Thus we may understand how it was that Septimius, the latest offspring of 
 this strange family, should, in spite of his good sense and education, be liable to 
 devote himself to the pursuit of an object which we choose to pronounce un- 
 attainable. But natural science, at that age, was able to aflirm no such denial • 
 and Septimius might be excused, therefore, for at least believing that human life 
 had been shortened by man's neglect, whether the difference were one of ten 
 years or of ten centuries. 
 
 The father of Septimius, it may be remarked, had married a second time a 
 widow with a daughter. Rose, who had thus become Septimius's step-sister. She 
 was like a flower transplanted from a softer and sweeter soil ; but she never quite 
 amalgamated with Septimius and Aunt Nashoba. She lacked the strain of wild- 
 ness and incompatibleness that ran in their blood, and instinctively brought a 
 standard of ordinary judgment to bear upon Septimius's ideas. But sHp. k«nt 
 pace with him to some extent in his studi^, and was able, by teaching school to 
 earn the bread she ate. Septimius loved her, but was shy of her, feeling tha't a 
 full communion with her would be like opening the dark and musty chambers 
 of his heart, letting the air and sunshine into them, and so putting to flight the 
 ghosts and weird fancies that haunted them. Septimius's mind iastinctively 
 
 \ I' I 
 
416 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ''ELIXIR OF LIFE.'* 
 
 ^'■i 
 
 shrank from letting her clear, pure influence enter into it ; as mystic plants bi(l« 
 themselves from the light of day. 
 
 Septimius, the day after the battle, in compliance with the winh of Francis 
 Norton, wrote a letter to the lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, mentioning his 
 death and burial, and giving an inventory of the property found in his posses- 
 sion. But he omitted to allude to the parchment envelope, telling himself that 
 this had formed no part of Norton's intended legacy to the world. He had not 
 as yet broken the seal ; but he felt a dark, gnawing curiosity to know its contents. 
 What fateful secret was hidden there? Even if he were to bury it in Norton's 
 grave, would it not be disinterred years hence, and issue forth like a pestilence? 
 or, were be to burn it, might not the same portent happen as in the case of an 
 ancestor of his, who used to communicate with Satan oy tossing little scraps of 
 writing into his household fire, and a great dusky hand would clutch the missive, 
 and be withdrawn, vanishing into the intensest neat? The truth was, Septimiua 
 had resolved to open the packet, and did but amuse his conscience with the^e 
 suggestions. 
 
 The young man felt no horror of the grave upon the hill-top which he had 
 dug and filled : indeed, he fancied a providential dispensation in the strange 
 chance that bad brought himself and his English kinsman together and de- 
 livered the packet into his hands. He soon resumed his walks along the ridge, 
 therefore; and one day, looking down thence, he saw Rose and Robert talking 
 together, in a manner that indicated a more than ordinary tenderness between 
 them. A kind of jealousy of Robert entered into his heart, — a cold, shivering 
 sense that this union would estrange them from himself, leaving him to wander 
 away farther and farther into the remote wilderness of speculations, desolate and 
 horrible if they came to naught, perhaps only the more so if they were realized. 
 He became conscious of something to be guarded against in hiniHelf, and felt as 
 if this sister, whom he was now about to lose, had been assigned to him as a 
 safeguard. And he sent forth a lamentable and awful cry, — 
 
 " Rose 1 Rose I I want you. Rose I" 
 
 She and Robert looked up, startled ; but Septimius had already repented of 
 his appealing cry, and he only smiled and beckoned to them. They climbed the 
 hill to join him ; and then Robert told him that Rose and himself had promised 
 themselves to each other, and that he had enlisted as a soldier in the war. Sep- 
 timius acquiesced in the betrothal. In the talk that followed, Robert noticed 
 the mouna above Norton's body, and asked what it was; but Septimius replied, 
 with an ambiguous smile, " No matter what it is : I have planted there some- 
 thing that may bear rich fruit, in due season." So the lovers departed together; ' 
 and Septimius continued to pace the hill-top, and the people passing below 
 marvelled to see a man keeping sentinel's watch there, when the enemy had re- 
 treated forever. On one side of him, as he walked, were the pines and the wild 
 shrubbery amidst which his wizard sagamore ancestor had dwelt ; on the other side 
 the placid landscape of meadow, like tne face of a calm, sympathizing friend. But 
 seldom, either then or in the days that followed, did Septimius turn to the wide, 
 simple countenance of Nature ; a dense shrubbery of meditations, of which he 
 scattered the seeds more and more as he walked, grew up along that often-trodden 
 pathway, shutting out the view of external things, and making a cloistered wall 
 as sombre as those where monks used to tread, keeping out the sun, and ad- 
 mitting only a damp, unwholesome atmosphere. There Septimius walked, and 
 brooded over strange matters. 
 
 Spring passed, and summer came, and still Septimius had not broken the 
 seal of the packet. Partly, perhaps, his hesitation was caused by the importance 
 (as he fancied) of the secret it contained: partly — for there was a quality of 
 keen sense in him, which continually criticised his extravagances — because he 
 feared that it might all prove a ridiculous dream. He may have been influenced, 
 moreover, by the consideration that he was violating the sanctity of the grave, 
 But when at length he took the irrevocable step in the matter, it was in such a 
 quict, riijittcf of fact v.ay that it Was doiic bcfofc he had time for any emotion. 
 
 He had promised to go into the woods with Aunt Nashoba and Rose, to 
 gather the shrubs and herbs which the old lady made her famous drink of, and 
 which were to be culled at a particular time of the moon. There being a few 
 minutes while Aunt Nashoba was putting her kitchen in order, Septimius, all of 
 
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ''ELIXIR OF LIFE. 
 
 417 
 
 a sudden, went to the drawer, unlocked it, took in hand the blood-stained pack- 
 ace, anil broke the seal, before he consciouslv thougljt of what he was doinir 
 He took out some dozen sheets of yellow, aRe-worn paper, written over with a 
 8tran(?e, obscure handwriting. Something dropped out of the envelope and fell 
 rattling upon the floor; he picked it up, and found it to be a small antique kov 
 curiously wrought, and with intricate wards, and seeming to be of silver In the 
 handle was an open-work tracery, making the initials H. N. Septimiua exam- 
 ined this key with great minuteness before proceeding further, wondering where 
 "i^u cu ^^\ J^tvhole that suited it, and to what treasure it was the passport. 
 [The fellow to this silver key, and to the lock corresponding with it, will be found 
 in Doctor Grimshawe's Secret."] Then, laying it carefully away in the drawer 
 he proceeded to inspect the manuscript. ' 
 
 .,, '^^'^ *PP.^"^<* to be a collection of deeds and documents of legal weight 
 with formal signatures and seals, of considerable antiquity and difficult chirog-' 
 raphy. Septimius could not make out much of their purport, nor did he feel 
 much interest m them. But finally he came to a fold or two of manuscript 
 written with exceeding cloaenesH and in a character that seemed at a first glance 
 to be wholly illegible. Yet, whether it were by faith or revelation, Septimius, 
 turnmg over these old yellow pages,— which, old as they were, were crisp, and had 
 a kind of newness, as if nobody had ever fingered them before this day,— read 
 or fancied that he read, a single sentence, the purport of which stamped itself 
 into his mind more from the mere inappositeness and absurdity of it than from 
 any other cause. Indeed, he was by no means certain whether he had read this 
 sentence or had only imagined it; and, at all events, it grew more distinct to his 
 mind after he had laid the manuscript away than while he was actuallv trvin"- 
 to read it. j j a 
 
 He had but glanced at it, when Aunt Nashoba's shrill screech sounded at 
 his door. So he locked it up, just as he was beginning to be interested,— just 
 as a light seemed to be gathering on the dark, mysterious page, that promised 
 to enlighten it all, and make the faded letters, that once were black, shine like 
 burnished gold. 
 
 As tjie three went into the woods together, it was singular to see the 
 delight of Aunt Nashoba in snuffing the fragrance of the wild growing things • 
 how the rugged, rough old pitch-pines seemed to have a charm for her and be 
 old acquaintances ; what a natural motion she had in making her way through 
 the underbrush ; in fact, she was like a half-domesticated animal, a wild-cat 
 that had been taught life-long to sit by the kitchen fire, coming to the wild 
 haunts ot its race, where it feels the powerful, blind, imperfect stirrings of its 
 nature, and snuffs a delight which yet it cannot wholly know. Without any 
 sense of the beauty of the woods, Aunt Nashoba stood and snuffed and snuffed 
 with an animal delight. A strange look of wildiiess and— in spite of her 
 rheumatism and manifold decrepitude— of possible agility came over her; so 
 that It would have seemed almost natural had the stooping, slow-moving old 
 thing suddenly taken the shape of a strange, ugly fowl, and gone scrambling 
 and flapping away,— a sort of change customary with witches. 
 
 ' Ah, Seppy," she said, " when I get out of my kitchen into the woods, 
 methinksl am another woman, or rather no woman at all, but somethfng that 
 belongs here and never should think of kitchen chimneys nor meeting-houses 
 Kose, now, has no such feelings." 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Rose, " I love to come here and gather these delicate 
 flowers, with their faint, sweet smell. They seem to have no kindred with the 
 deep, dark forest where they grow. They are sad, never gay ; being rightfully 
 children of the sun, they live and die without having a glimpse of him." 
 
 Delicate, do you call them ?" said the old woman. " I tell you, girl, there 
 are herbs here that, in hands that -knew how to use them, would do wonderful 
 _'",^\ And if Septimius inherited the gifts that belonged to his race, he 
 wouid ue auic to come here and lay his hand on leaf and root that would be 
 worth all the medicines doctors ever brewed. Even I— withered old thing that 
 have stewed my life out over the kitchen fire— even I have an instinct of things, 
 and could fill my basket vnih herbs that would make me a young woman again 
 Ah, Seppy, I know more than I ever told you, and some day I'll give you the 
 recipe for my drink. As for you, wench, it's not your inheritance.'^ 
 
418 
 
 NATHAiHlEL HAWTHORNE'S "ELIXIR OF LIFE." 
 
 5.;- ,1 
 
 > > 
 
 They went on through the forest, SeptimiuH gathering the herbs thnt Aunt 
 Naahoba designate*!, and she, with an air and looit of mystery, occasionally 
 putting other things into her basket, winking and nodding at Septimius, and 
 thereby needlessly adding to the ugliness ot her visage, — so that you would 
 have thought the two had laid a plot to poison the sweet and innocent Rose, 
 and that this was the old woman's hideous exultation as she got together, one 
 after another, the ingredients. She reftised to let Rose add anything to her 
 collection. 
 
 "No, no, girl," she said; "your touch would take the virtue out of the 
 stuff. You're not born to it. Let me gather my own herbs, I tell you." Saying 
 which, she poked into little recesses of shade, and under heaps of moss,' and 
 sometimes into hollow nooks of trees, and brought out vegetables as if she had 
 put them away there long years ago and knew just where they were to be found. 
 
 At length Rose, still looking Tor buds of beautjr, wandered apart from the 
 others, and then Aunt Nashoba beckoned to Septimius with a look so int<'l'igent 
 and full of meaning that the young man was half afraid of her. She tok< him 
 that she was growing old, and that it was time she imparted to him h socrot 
 which she would not have die with her. 
 
 " It is not a secret on my conscience," she added. " I have no murd'ir to 
 confess, though they say my medicines hurried somo people off sooner than they 
 would otherwise have gone. No, it is the secret of my drink that I want to tell 
 you. Here are all the herbs and mysteries within reach of us now, and I can 
 show you where they grow and how to gather them. They can make you live 
 forever: a thousand years certain, and forever for aught I know." 
 
 " Forever, Aunt Nashoba ! and yet you talk of dying already ?" 
 
 " Ah, Seppy, there is something lost out of the recipe ."nd so it has not its 
 ancient virtue. But with your hook-learning and your Indian descent you'll 
 find it out, though I never could. And so it takes you a year, or a lifetime, 
 what matter? the end pays for all." 
 
 But Septimius, doubting, probably, the eflScacy of the old lady's beverage, 
 put off the revelation. "My mind is very busy on a certain matter," he said. 
 " Let me finish that, and I'll take up this. But* not now." 
 
 " Well, Seppy, you'll live to repent it," quoth Aunt Nashoba, shaking her 
 head, and looking so darkly intelligent that Septimius was half afraid of her 
 again. " This is not my secret, but your great-grandfather's, and his father's; 
 and as to whom he had it from, there are different stories. But take your own 
 way ; and if the thing dies with me, it is not my fault." 
 
 They returned home, but various interruptions kept Septimius from further 
 examination of the manuscriot during the day. For a man no sooner sets his 
 heart on any object, great or small, be it the lengthening out his life intermi- 
 nably, or merely writing a romance about it, than his fellow-beings, and fate 
 and circumstances to back them, seem to conspire to hinder, to prevent, to 
 throw in obstacles, great or small, as the case may be. In tne original compo- 
 sition and organic purpose of the world there is certainly some principle to 
 obviate great success, some provision that nothing particularly worth doing 
 shall ever getdone, so evidently does a mistiness settle between us and any such 
 object, and harden into granite when we attempt to pass through it ; so strangely 
 do mocking voices call us back, or encouraging ones cease to be heard when 
 our sinking hearts need them most ; so unaccountably, at last, when we feel as 
 if we might grasp our life-long object by merely stretching out our hand, does 
 it all at once put on an aspect of not being worth our possession ; by such 
 apparently feeble impediments are our hands subtly bound ; so hard is it to stir 
 to-day, while it looks so easy to stir to purpose to- morrow ; so strongly do petty 
 necessities insist upon being compared with immortal desirablenesses, and almost 
 always succeed practicalljr in making ua feelthat they are of the most account. 
 This being the case, Septimius had not such individual cause of grumbling as he 
 
 [The above abstract, though for the most part greatly condensed, 
 generally retains the language of the original. We will now resume 
 our uncondensed quotations.] 
 
NATHANIEL HAWTHORN F/S ^^ ELIXIR OF LIFE." 419 
 
 One of tho incidents was a visit from q lank and bony old patri- 
 arch, who came to jfot a rome<ly from Aunt Nashoba f..r his rhenma- 
 tiam, ^yhlch lasted longer into the summer than had l)een its wont • 
 and his errand bemg done, he hobble<l familiarly into Sej.tiraius's 
 J'tudy to talk of the war (a theme of which the young man was now 
 hear ily weary), and to tell stories of other wars, in which the old man 
 had been personal yengaged,-Indian and French,-and where ho had 
 «)ntracted tn.s self-same rheumatism by sleeping, as he said, in the 
 beils of running streams. Then, going farther and farther back, along 
 the Iineof time^ gone by, the old man talke<l of Septimius's forelUthers 
 tellmg ot their peculiarities and oddnesses, with hard Yankee shrewd- 
 ness; and how they were a people that never mixed up kindly with 
 others either because the Indian or the devil was in them; and how 
 the old man had heard that there was something strange in them, some 
 singular property, so that if the witch-woman had not been hancred 
 It was said she would have lived forever; and that there did eo a 
 story that the great preacher (whom the old man had heard pr«ich. 
 when he was ajittle child) only escaped the same doom by killing him- 
 self; for somehow he had toughened himself so that time and disease 
 never would have sufficed to kill him. And, staring Septimius in the 
 face with his bleared eves, he said that he had a look of him, he being 
 a dark, cloudy-browed man. wrapt up in himself; and he told traite 
 of him which he had heard babbled round the fire in his age-long die- 
 tant infancy, m which Septimius fancied that he could see his own 
 characteristics And he was depressed and appalled by the idea that 
 he had really been extant nobody knows how long, repeated identif-ally 
 from generation to generation, and that this was the sort of in terra i- 
 nable life he should find, and the other only a dream. And still the 
 ol( man was going on, wandering and stumbling among traditions, and 
 wild, dreary, sordid stories, and would probably have found no end — 
 when luckily there came along the road a neighbor with a wagon, 
 beholding whom, the old gentleman feebly hailed him from the window 
 
 ri . .i"" '^M? ^'' rheumatism from further pedestrianism) obtained 
 a lilt to the village. ' 
 
 [This patriarch is a portrait of a real old codger who used to pester 
 Hawthorne a the Ways.de in the early yeai^ of the civil war, coming 
 up day after day with a fresh batch of rumors and commentaries. In 
 the references to Septimius's ancestry there are often reminiscences of 
 traditions handed down in Hawthorne's own family.— Compare the 
 above passage with that in " Septimius," page 284.] 
 
 When again left alone, Septimius took forth the envelope, and held 
 it a moment in his hand, looking at the hole through which the deadly 
 bullet had gone, a.u at the l.fe-blood which besmeared the package, L 
 
 w«. , V ij"j X' ".'" '^"' °V" """ '^''-'" "estroyea 111 tiie opening it. 
 He unfo ded the package, and, though the twilight was now darkening 
 into the low-browed room, pored into it,— into its strange old mvstery, 
 so l,ewildering even to look at; and indeed the darkening twilight wa^ 
 precisely the fit medium in which to study that bewitehS, mysterious, 
 
420 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ^* ELIXIR OF LlfE." 
 
 Hi: ;» 
 
 
 hjllet-penetrottHl, l)loo(1-8tuinc<l inunuwrrint, tho Hecreta of which might 
 be ex|»ecte(l to fade under the liglit of noon or any glimpse of tho 
 natural sun, and only to Rhino out in lurid light, phosphorescent, glim- 
 mering, when other nieuuH of seeing and interpretation were with- 
 drawn. Soon, however, it grew so dark that the light of the summer 
 moon, which was nearly at the full, succeeded to the twilight, and 
 Septimiug held the old pages in it, straining his young eyes to distin- 
 guinh one of the scraggy, untraceable, crabbe<l letters from another ; 
 but in vain, the whole hue of the page being of so dark a yellow, and 
 of the letters so reddish a brown, and sometimes faded quite out, that 
 the moonshine that often had served well enough to read a pritited page, 
 at hours when Aunt Nashoba deemed him snug in bed, now saw little 
 more than an indistinguishable confusion. He, having neither lamp 
 nor candle, of which the 'rict economy of the house was very sparing, 
 lighted with flint and steel one of a heap of pitch-pine knots which he 
 had hea{)ed up in the chimney-corner with a view to one of those 
 thoughtful illuminations which students often feci, impelling them to 
 rise at midnight and take a sip out of their books, — as ywople of an 
 unhealthy thirst cannot wait till day to sip wine or brandy. With a 
 succession of these flaming, flickering, smoking, brilliant, yet obscure 
 torches, he pored over the manuscript, holding the torch in one hand, 
 and sometimes dropping its hot, melted pitch over the page, burning 
 his own fingers, trying to make his way through the mysterious old 
 Gothic record, like one who should wander through old intricate vaults 
 of a weird building with tfie same kind of smoky and bewildering 
 light. It seemed to have more efficacy, indeed, than a steadier light; 
 for just as the last of his torches expired he caught a glimpse of the 
 same sentence, which he now saw did not follow in regular succession 
 of words, but was sprinkled about, as it were, over one of the pages, so 
 as only to be legible, like a constellation in the sky, when you chanced 
 to bring those words into the proper relation with one another. It was 
 to this effect: " Plant the seed in a grave, and then wait patiently for 
 what shall spring up," — and then again, — " wondrous rich and full of 
 juice." Then the pine torch flickered and went out, and Septimius, 
 not well satisfied with what he had achieved, but willing to rest upon it 
 and see if the mysterious fragment would develop any meaning, put 
 the manuscript in his desk and went to beil. 
 
 [Htje follows the introduction of a new and important character, 
 Sibyl Dacy. She appears also iij " Septimius," but the portrayal there 
 is quieter and less pronounced.] 
 
 Septimius was on the hill-top, one afternoon towards sunset, tread- 
 ing to and fro over the now well-worn path, and letting the wind 
 breathe in among his thoughts and blow the more unsubstantial of 
 them away, when, as he reached the eastern extremity of his sentinel- 
 waik, and turned to retrace his steps westward, he saw a feminine 
 figure approaching him. At first he thought it might be Rose, and 
 was, to say the truth, a little offended at her intruding ; for there was 
 a quality in poor Septimius that kept him in the middle of a circle 
 
 these 
 
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ''ELIXIR OF LIFE. 
 
 421 
 
 which delicate natures ooiild not step into, and which duller ones, if 
 they attemptec! it, found vacant of him who seemeti to be there. But 
 this figure turne<l out to be that of a girl slighter and slenderer than 
 Rose, and, as Septimius thought on a nearer view, by no means so 
 pretty or so pleasing. Such as she was, however, she continued to ad- 
 vance, and so did Septimius, until, as chance ordered it, they met close 
 by that little spot of ground where Francis Norton lay under the sods, 
 with Septiraius's poor attempt to set a Mower-pateh over him, — N.B. 
 Septimius and the girl first pass each othei' without speakinr/, then, step 
 by stej), mutually turn back ; and she pauses by the grave, — she glancing 
 askance. The girl should throw out uncertain hints, as if she knew what 
 had happened. — The strange girl stooped down, apparently attracted by 
 these flowers. After examining them a little, she began to pull them 
 up, one after another, and fling them away. 
 
 " You seem not to like my flowers," said Septimius; "yet I have 
 taken some pains to set them out and make them grow on this thirstv 
 hill-top." ^ 
 
 In truth, he was incline<l to be offended ; for his sombre fancy had 
 indulged itself much here in thinking that Fnineis Norton would 
 reappear in these flowers, giving a partly human life to them, putting 
 his own characteristics into them, deepening their colors, and betoken- 
 ing, by some rich and delicate odor, forgiveness of the dee<l that had 
 laid him there; holding forth a flower, perhaps, for him to give to the 
 woman he should love. Septimius had no ill will against the young 
 man he slew, and had indeed come to think (such was his egotism) that 
 it was not amiss, having done his errand so well, that Francis Norton 
 had here lain down to rest. 
 
 " Nay, do not pull up any more I" he exclaimed, as the girl still 
 weeded up the flowers. 
 
 " Pooh ! what do you know of the flowers that ought to grow 
 here ?" answered she, in a pettish kind of way. " They are not the 
 right ones !" 
 
 '* They are the prettiest to be found in our woods and fields," said 
 Septimius ; " and besides, fair lady, if I choose to set violets, wood- 
 anemones, asters, golden-rod, or even buttercups, on the spot, I fancy, 
 by your leave, it concerns no one but myself." 
 
 The girl looked up and laughed, in rather a flighty way, insomuch 
 that Septimius began to suspect that the oddities of her behavior were 
 to be accounted for by a touch of insanity : a pitiful thing, if it were 
 so ; for he now saw that her face, though pale and lacking fulness, was 
 pretty, and had a singular capacity of vivid expression, her intelligence 
 seeming to glow not merely through her eyes but her whole face. 
 And yet, full of meaning as her face looked, he could not in the least 
 tell what it meant. 
 
 " Concern only you !" she exclaimed, still laughing. " Why, I have 
 come on purpose to find the place ! And I tell you the right flower is 
 not here." 
 
 And again she bent down, and plucked a leaf or two, and looked 
 closely at their shape, and rubbed them between her fingers, to express 
 any odorous juice that might be in them, but again said, in a disoon- 
 VoL. XL v.— 28 
 
 i 
 
422 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ''ELIXIR OF LIFE.'' 
 
 ,■.? 
 
 I I 
 
 ,.l! 
 
 
 
 solate sort of way, like a pouting child, " It is not here. I wonder 
 whether it will spring up ! and when I" 
 
 " What flower are you looking for ?" asked Septimius. 
 
 " It has no name," answered the girl ; " or, if it has one, it is a 
 very long, learned name, and I have forgotten it." 
 
 " Is the flower beautiful ?" asked Septimius. 
 
 " That is as you happen to fancy it," said the girl. " Well, it 
 is not here; but I will look for it again. Perhaps it is not time 
 yet." 
 
 She sat a little while without speaking, but drooping over the flowers, 
 looking faint, as if she were going to sink down ; and Septimius, 
 stooping down to see what was the matter, found that tears were flowing 
 out of her eyes. Then there came sobs ; and suddenly she burst into 
 a passionate fit of sorrow and weeping, a sort of flurry and hurricane, 
 which astonished Septimius, who could make nothing of it nor knew 
 how to allay it. It was, fortunately, of very short duration, and before 
 it was well over the strange girl began to laugh, or rather giggle, 
 turning her mobile facq upon hira with such an expression that he 
 knew less than ever what to noake of her ; though I suppose that those 
 accustomed to the freaks of nervous and hysterical women would have 
 seen nothing very odd in it. 
 
 " I was thinking how to comfort you," said Septimius ; " but there 
 seems little need." 
 
 " Oh, not a bit," said tiie girl. « I am in excellent spirits, as you 
 see, and was only crying a little by way of watering the spot where 
 the flower is to grow. Different things require different modes of 
 cultivation." 
 
 " And I suppose these smiles and this bright expression are to serve 
 by way of sunshine," said Septimius, trying to enter into her mood, 
 though he knew not what to make of it. " It will be a rare flower, 
 when it grows. What will it be like?" 
 
 Without answering, the girl arose, and seemed preparing to go 
 away. But Septimius, not willing to lose sight of her without gaining 
 some hold upon her, and thinking, too, that she might be one of those 
 strange anomalous vagrants who often turn up at a country house, and 
 appear to be wandering wide and wild, without any hold upon the 
 community, — beggars, insane people, idiots, adventurers of all kinds, 
 castaways, people from the most outlandish and remote places. East 
 Indians, religion-crazed preachers, missionaries, jugglers, outlaws of 
 themselves, wildly running away from the recollection of murder, 
 mind-murderers, sharpers,— all such people, who have somehow broken 
 the chain which circumstances twine to confine almost all individuals in 
 one place and circle of associates,-— broken it and roamed wildly at 
 large, yet serving in their wild way to tie together by slender ligaments 
 distant parts of the world and places that have no other connection, — 
 thinking this, Septimius, partly from humanity and compassion and 
 partly from curiosity (which seldom stirred in him, but was now 
 awake),— partly, too, because there was a certain magnetism in the 
 girrs action upon him,— put out his hand to detain her. 
 " Are you going far ?" he said. 
 
to go 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S "ELIXIR OF LIFE." 423 
 
 She avoided his touch with a shudder. "Far? No" said she 
 Home, to be sure ! What strange questions you ask !" ' 
 4- I .? ,^^^ ^P' y uncertain seemed her mood, she might go no 
 farther than the quiet brook which flowed hotween Septimius's fertile 
 held and that of a neighbor; and there she might be found drowned 
 in the shallow poo that it formed,-a death that forlorn maidens seem 
 to attect,— especially when the water has its summer warmth in it 
 
 Your home is nigh, then ?" said Septiraius. 
 ^^ "lou may stand on the brow of the hill, if you like » she said, 
 and see ray home; but do not try to touch me again. Perhaps vou 
 may find me not a thing of flesh and blood." ^ 
 
 _ " If so,'; remarke<l Septiraius, "you raay as well vanish into the 
 air; otherwise, I give you fair warning, I shall follow you, be it far 
 or near, till I see you in charge of your friends." 
 
 " You are perfectly welcome," said the girl, 'pettishly ; « only I fear 
 you will have a long ramble, like a farmer who chases Puck or a will- 
 
 rubsttnT^" "*' ^"""^ *^'"^^ ^^'^' "^"^ ^ ^"^ ""^ *^^ ^™® 
 
 " Will you ever come back ?" asked Septiraius. 
 
 u il? Jj^'^^lf' ^l^ *''^g'^^' ^oo^"^g ^ack and laughing. "I 
 shall haunt that hill-top." 6 6-^ 
 
 [Septiraius sees her enter Eobert's house, and afterwards he asks 
 Rose about hen She tells him that the girl is one Sibyl Dacy, a rela- 
 tive of sorae English gentleman, not a combatant, now in Boston. 
 Mer health being very delicate, means have been used to induce her to 
 come into the country, and Robert, having to bring a message hither 
 
 u"lr tS^T' ^'^^. 'i '°. ''^^•'S^ ^ accompany her, and his mother, 
 old Mrs. Heyburn, had taken her to board. " I think," adds Rose 
 
 she has had an experience of some kind, and has a kind of sibvllic 
 wisdom and a sort of sacredness of sorrow. If she will let me be her 
 friend, I gladly will be."] 
 
 By dint of continued poring over the musty manuscript, Septiraius 
 began, after a while, to see sorae reasonable prospect of attaining to 
 the niterpretation of it, frora beginning to end. So uncouth and shape- 
 less did the characters appear, they reserabled undefined germs of 
 thought as they exist in the mind before clothing themselves in defi- 
 nite terms ; yet Septiraius sometimes was sensible of a splendor in 
 these undeciphered sentences, like that of the dim star-dust in the 
 remote sky which a telescope of sufficient power resolves into vast 
 globes of light. The document proved to be written in a singular 
 mixture of Latin (not of the purest style) and ancient English, with 
 an occasional scrap of Greek. Invariably, too, when the author 
 seemed on the verge of some utterance that would illuminate his 
 wnoie suDjeei ami make all the seeming obscurities that Septiraius had 
 hitherto puzzled over blaze out to vivid meaning, and wreathe them- 
 selves together from beginning to end by a chain of light, its golden 
 links all in a flame, tnere came in an interval of cryptic writing, a 
 touch of dense, impenetrable darkness, on the other side of wWch 
 
424 
 
 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S ''ELIXIR OF LIFE.' 
 
 
 i. { 
 
 p-'S;i 
 
 appeared a disconnected radiance which could not be brought into 
 relation with what had gone before. 
 
 Leaving, for the present, the cryptic passages apart, the young 
 student wrote out fair, in the stiff and broad chirography of his own 
 day, as much as he found it possible to decipher. The result was not 
 in the least like what he had expected ; nor, had he been in a natural 
 frame of mind, could he have thought that these things, however true 
 many of them were, were either so novel or so momentous that the 
 passage of them from one possessor to another need have required so 
 much machinery or been accompanied by the precious sacrifice of a 
 human life. But Septimius's mind was not in a healthy state ; and 
 the great war, in which the whole country was so desperately engaged, 
 had an influence on him, modified by the morbidness and extravagance 
 of his own character. For he, like all others, drank of the prevalent 
 passion and excitement, drained the cup that was offered to everybody's 
 lips, and was intoxicated in his own peculiar way. He walked so 
 much the more wildly in his own course because the people were rush- 
 ing so enthusiastically in another. In times of revolution, or what- 
 ever public disturbance, even the calmest person is to some degree in 
 an exaggerated and unnatural state, probably without suspecting it : 
 there is enthusiasm, there is madness, in the atmosphere. The deco- 
 rous rule of common life is suspended ; absurdities come in and stalk 
 unnoticed. Madmen walk abroad unrecognized ; heroic virtue marches 
 among us, with majestic step; vices, too, and great crimes, creep darkly, 
 or stalk abroad ; woman, likewise, catches the wild influence, and 
 sometimes, flinging aside the fireside virtues as of little worth, is capable 
 of crimes that men shudder at, of virtues and valor that he can never 
 imitate, of deeds and thoughts that she would, a little time ago, have 
 died to anticipate. The disenfranchised soul exults in losing its stand- 
 point ; old laws are annulled ; anything may come to pass ; miracles 
 are on the same ground as the commonest occurrences. So, in respect 
 to Septimius, his common sense, of which he had no small portion, had 
 no such fair play with his wilder characteristics as it might Imve had 
 in quiet and ordinary times, — when, besides, there were the throes 
 attending the birth of a new epoch in the world ; and among seething 
 opinions and systems, and overturned and deposed principles, Septimius 
 had li )thing fixed and recognized with which to compare his own pur- 
 suit and recognize its absurdity. Thus much we say, that this wild 
 young thinker may not look too ridiculous in the errors to which a 
 solitary pursuit led him. 
 
 [Compare the above passage with " Septimius," pp. 298, 299. j 
 
 So he continued to brood over his musty manuscript, to hide it 
 under lock and key as if it were a murder-secret, and to pick out from 
 its heap of moss-grown ideas such nuggets of what he fancied to be 
 gold as he could contrive to shape into an aspect of definite meaning. 
 We have in our possession a few portions of it, as transcribed by Sep- 
 timius, and mean to present them to the reader, whom doubtless, after 
 all that we have said about the manuscript, they will surprise as much 
 
FROM BEYOND THE SEA. 
 
 425 
 
 as they did Septimius; though we can hardly hoj>e that they will be 
 
 received, as by him, as golden nuggets from a mine of thought, further 
 
 digging into which would reveal inestimable treasure. They took the 
 
 aspect of certain rules of life, precipitated from the rich solution of the 
 
 essay, and crystallized into diamonds ; and whereas many of these rules 
 
 had a mean aspect in themselves, and seemed to concern low matters of 
 
 dietetic, Septimius took it for granted that this more obvious meaning 
 
 was of comparatively no importance, and that they had a symbolic 
 
 value, which he should by and by discover. These were but golden 
 
 beads, strung on something more valuable than themselves ; and what 
 
 that precious string might be, the discovery of the cipher would reveal. 
 
 .Julian Hawthorne. 
 (To be continued.) 
 
 FROM BEYOND THE SEA. 
 
 THINK not, because the changing floods divide 
 My face from thine, that memory grows cold. 
 Dost fear the Past ends as a tale is told, 
 Or, while we journey, keeps not by our side ? 
 
 Each thing we suffer, be it joy or pain, 
 Leaves us its image in a lasting mould : 
 
 It may have passed unmarked, — it shall remain 
 Long as our very selves together hold. 
 
 So, though we seem, to the light outward gaze, 
 Only to be enduring life's command, 
 Only to squander harnessed heart and hand 
 
 In a dull dynasty of useful days, — 
 
 E'en then our soul turn§ in the lull of strife 
 
 To look upon some secret inward seal 
 
 Stamped long ago, an earnest to reveal 
 The thin far landscape of an idler life. 
 
 I cannot count these images in me, 
 
 For Time hath not yet bid me know them all ; 
 Yet from their ranks how fair a one of thee 
 
 Comes like a blessing, when on thee I call I 
 
 And when perchance long days shall cast a pall 
 
 Over my crraver self, 1 11 cross the sea 
 Upon the golden wings of gayer thought, 
 Setting the prose of day by day at naught. 
 
 And in thy vision once again be free. 
 
 Owen Witter. 
 
 m 
 
426 
 
 WESTERN MORTOAQES. 
 
 L } 
 
 U' 
 
 
 WESTERN MORTGAGES. 
 mHERE is no form of security in vogue to-day concerning which 
 
 «nn.?"/Il! ""f ^''?^ ""^^^ ¥ ^^""^ *'^«se, and among their number 
 some of the shrewdest and best-informed financiers of the day who 
 regard these mortgages as the safest and most stable securities VS^ 
 
 hP litH/''."''''''- 1!,1 ""'t''- ""^ ""'"''^y «h«««« ^'n which to invest 
 ^e little fund provided by the insurance on her husband's life or ?n 
 which a guardian may put the little all of his helpless charge ' whi^ 
 on the her hand there is a large portion of this communi y t at 
 
 STeve^tjhl.^^"^^ ^' '"'"^ '''^^''y -- -"— -y -Ht 
 
 f...^l"' «^"f ^«'; }\he''e'n these so^Ued Western mortgages differ 
 from those with which we are all so familiar, and in the p?Sess we 
 niay be enabkd not only to discover the grounds for this greTt ^ian^e 
 A opinion but also to form an intelligent judgment If their real 
 merits, to discern wherein they are strong, undefwhat circum tanct 
 hey are weak, and finally to compreliend Sle great and impor^nt uS 
 they are well calculated to subserve. p^xutut uses 
 
 It should be distinctly understood that what are technically termed - 
 Western mortgages are not merely mortgages on WesteTn proSrtv 
 ^distinguished from mortgages made oiflLds in the Ea.SranS 
 Middle States, but are a part of an entirely new and distinct system 
 of lUNjtment, a system which, while borrowing all the demente o^ . 
 strength and safety involved in the very nature of all goS mort- 
 g^es, lias added thereto many improvements born of much^exper^^^ 
 all looking to the greater safety and convenience of the investor ' 
 
 In order to arrive at a full comprehension of this system 'let us 
 start on common ground, and consider first the nature S TiLe of a 
 
 a'cclSd to. ° '" "'""" ''" "^^ ^^^"^'^^^^ fromVhose we ar^ 
 It will help us to consider the subject more logically to understand 
 just wnat elements enter into the constitution of a good mortJalf A 
 mortpge is defined to be " a grant or conveyance of an "ta e^o? proo 
 
 Z/.'^^'ff't ^'' '^^ 'Tr'y «^ ^'^'' ^°d to become voi^ on^pay 
 ment of it." From this definition it may be plainly seen ti,n7 thZa 
 are three absolute essentials to a good mortgage.^ ^ ' 
 
 First, as it is a grant or conveyance of an estate or property this 
 grant or conv^-auce must be made in an apt and sufficreTtay aiid 
 with the use of proper technical forms. ^' 
 
 Second, in order that a good and sufficient title should m^^ in th. 
 mortgagee, sucii a title must be clearly deduced and shown to be in ihe 
 grantor or mort^gor at the time of making the mortgage ; and! 
 
 Ihird, as this grant or conveyance is made as aemrity for a debt 
 It IB a question of vital importance to determine accurately whether 
 
WESTERN MORTGAGES. 
 
 427 
 
 which 
 
 thii 
 
 IS 
 
 the property pledged possesses sufficient intrinsic value to adequately 
 secure it. 
 
 But there is still one other quality or condition necessary to a per- 
 fectly good mortgage, not coraproheuded in the above definition, and 
 that is, it must be what is termed a Jirst mortgage, and to insure this 
 requires — 
 
 Fourth, evidence that it is the first lien or charge on the specific 
 piece of property given as security, and that consequently there are no 
 prior mortgages, conveyances, judgments, or liens of any kind whatso- 
 ever, in any way affecting the premises in question. 
 
 In order that the first and second of these requirements may receive 
 proper attention, the services of a careful, precise, and skilful lawyer 
 must be obtained, one familiar with this abstract branch of the law, 
 and accustomed to the patient research necessary to deduce, from the 
 records and papers produced, the evidences of a good and sufficient title. 
 
 To properly determine the third essential a very different order of 
 talent is required : the property offered as security must be examined 
 by one familiar with the value of lands whether in city or country, 
 and, in the case of buildings, one who can accurately determine the 
 value- of these in any particular locality, making proper allowance for 
 the cost of labor and material. 
 
 Finally,, in order to make sure of the fourth essential, the joint ser- 
 vices of a lawyer and certain public officials, the keepers of the public 
 records, including the Recorder or Register of Deeds, and the clerks 
 of the several courts, are required. 
 
 In short, therefore, in order to secure an ordinarily good firat mort- 
 gage, all of these four essentials or requirements must exist together; 
 that is to say, the papers must be properly prepared, the title cor- 
 rectly examined, the value of the intended seciu-ity determined with 
 precision, and the final search for liens carefully and intelligently 
 ordered by the lawyer and made by the officials. ' A failure in any one 
 of these respects would result in the obtaining or placing of a bad 
 mortgage. 
 
 While, perhaps, there is no place in the world where "convey- 
 ancing" has been done more skilfully and carefully than in the city of 
 Philadelphia, while its land-lawyers have been famous the world over, 
 yet it is within the exjierience'of all, that most serious losses have 
 occurred to investors from a failure in one or more of the above 
 requirements. Thus, mortgages have been declared to be void, or have 
 been postponed to later encumbrances, because of defect or insufficiency 
 in form, or by reason of defective acknowledgment -^ the most emi- 
 nent lawyers have made mistakes of judgment as to questions of title 
 or lien ;' Trust Companies have been surcharged for negligence in al- 
 lowing themselves to be imposed upon as to the value of the security 
 offered ;' and officials have failed to certify judgments and mortgages, 
 
 » See the following cases : Corpman v. Baccastow, 84 Pa. State Reports, p. 863 : 
 Myers v. Boyd, 96 Pa. State Beports, p. 427 ; Sankoy v. Hawley, 118 Pa. State 
 Reports, p. 80. r i ./ j, 
 
 » See case of Watson v. Muirlieid, reported in 57 Pa. State Reports, p. 161. 
 » See report of Barton's Estate in 11 Weekly Notes of Cases, p. 561. 
 
428 
 
 WESTERN MORTGAGES. 
 
 r I 
 
 lii 
 
 
 and have not been held liable on their bonds because the error was not 
 discovered and suit brought until some time after the false certificate 
 was issued -^ and in all of these cases the holder of the moHgage suffered 
 the loss. Again, there have been cases where parties have suffered loss 
 who have erred in no one of these particulars, but, through error, one 
 morfgage has been marked satisfied of record instead of another." And 
 finally, m addition to all these, there have been still other losses re- 
 sulting to unfortunate investors by the imposition on them of forced 
 mortgages. * 
 
 While these errors and wrongs and consequent losses have been com- 
 paratively few in number, still in the great multitude of transactions 
 they would creep in from time to time, and people who could ill afford 
 It have been the sufferers, until finally, as a means of meeting a great 
 public necessity, the Title Insurance Companies have been form5, to 
 insure people against possible loss by reason of mistake or failure in 
 any or all of the requirements first, second, and fourth above enumer- 
 ated ; and these companies have added a very great element of security 
 m these respects. But, important as this improvement has been, no 
 such company has ever undertaken to insure against loss that might 
 result from failure to observe the third essential above mentioned,— 
 that 18, against loss resulting from insufficiency in value of the intended 
 security. Thus, a ten-thousand-dollar mortgage might be given on a 
 thousand-dollar property, and one of these companies give its usual 
 policy of insurance, and the unfortunate mortgagee lose nine-tenths of 
 his money, because the papers were all right, the title correct, and no 
 hens were lefl uncertified, and the Title Company was not responsible 
 as to the question of value. Important as all the other requirements 
 are, one who is thoroughly familiar with this whole business would be 
 coTipelled to admit that the greatest, the most real, constant, and press- 
 nig danger in the case of all ordinary mortgages has not been guarded 
 against yet, and that all people who have to do with this class of 
 securities, Trust Companies, guardians, executors, and private trustees, 
 are buying mortgages on outlying properties in thecity of Philadelphia 
 (and this is true of all the large Eastern cities) that are utterly lacking 
 m this most essential requirement,— viz., adequate value or security,— a 
 condition of things which has continued for a long time without hope 
 of betterment, because of the enormous amount of capital constantly 
 seeking investment, and the comparative dearth of securities compelling 
 investors to accept the best they can get. Another panic like that of 
 1873, which for a time seemed to destroy all value in real estate, would 
 bring about a condition of things more deplorable than that which then 
 existed from a similar cause, because the evil is now more wide-spread. 
 To recur again to common experience with the ordinary mort^ 
 gages, there are a number of other little matters that it is important to 
 consider. Thus, if a mortgage has been well and securely placed in 
 the first instance, still there are manv innidpnfja ahnni th'^a A>ir/^..:fa «,^j« 
 
 ^' —« — «*. .,2.... %t«T\/Jll,^J XlIVfU.C 
 
 p. 47 
 
 » See case of Owen v. "Western Saving Fund, reported in 97 Pa. State Eeports, 
 • See case of Binney v. Brown, reported in 116 Pa. State Reports, p. 169. 
 
WESTERN MORTGAGES. 
 
 429 
 
 of investment that require attention and sometimes occasion consider- 
 able trouble, anxiety, and loss. There is uncertainty as to just when 
 the mterest will be paid, and much vexatious delay, often riultine in 
 a threateneii suit in foreclosure, merely to bring the interest. This 
 involves tiie employment of attorneys, and the necessary outlays for 
 their services. Questions of insurance, taxes, and other municipal liens 
 are constantly arising and demanding attention, and often occasioning 
 loss. Thus, while a mortgage which was a first lien could not be dis- 
 charged by a sale or proceedings under any subsequent claim for taxes 
 or municipal hens, yet if a sheriff's sale became necessary to enforce 
 collection of the mortgage debt, the amount due for all subsequent 
 taxes and other municipal claims must first be deducted from the pro- 
 ceeds ol sale, and, where the margin of security was narrow, this often 
 entailed serious loss. But perhaps one of the most annoying circum- 
 sances about this method of investment that formerly obtained, and 
 still exists, was and is the great difficulty of investifig at once the pre- 
 cise sum constituting the fund for investment, and if this fund was 
 ot unusual size a portion of the same was almost invariably left unin- 
 Sm' /iinnn^ interest. Suppose the sum was $1750, $4500, 
 Kma^' ^^ f 11,000, the probabilities would be that only $1600, $4000 
 $6000 or $10,000 would be invested, and this after some delay, while 
 the odd amounts would be left either at very small interest or without 
 any. 
 
 It is a little digression at this point, but it may be well to say in 
 passing, that one of the immediate uses to which the Western mort- 
 gage system could be well applied is the investment of these many 
 small balances held by our Trust Companies and other fiduciaries, ^ 
 securities can always be obtained in either large or small amounts 
 
 Having seen some of the drawbacks to what were unquestionably 
 the most favored investments, let us now consider how this new system 
 ot Western mortgages came into vogue, and how it was gradually im- 
 proved so as to obviate these difficulties which have been pointed out. 
 And first the old law of supply and demand came into play. The 
 demand for capital to be secured by firs^class moitgrres being far less 
 in all Che Eastern centres than the supply, the first result was a rapid 
 decline in the rates of interest demanded and paid in those centres for 
 the use of capital. But when, in spite of this decline in rates, an 
 adequate supply of securities could not be obtained, prudent investora 
 began to look about for opportunities to invest their capital where it 
 was more in demand, and where they could not only obtain better 
 rates, but, what was of more consequence, where they could insist upon 
 the pledge o more r.cequate security. During all this time the \V^t 
 was gradually growing up, the cry to the young men to "Go West I" 
 had gone forth, and the brightest and most enterprising of the youth 
 of all sections of the older East had gone to this land of promise. 
 i«ey caiiea upon tiieir parents and friends for help to improve their 
 farms or to increase their business, and gave mortgages to secure 
 the advances. Money was so valuable in the West, and would com- 
 man*^ such large returns, that they were enabled to pay liberally and 
 punctually for the use of this capital. The kno 'edge of this mode 
 
 .-0 
 
430 
 
 WESTEItN MORTaAORS. 
 
 1 
 
 
 of investment gradually spread, and finally a regular businees of send- 
 ing capital from the East to the West grew up. Many honorable firms 
 engaged exclusively in this new calling, such firms being generally 
 composed of a good Western man, who was well acquainted in his 
 section with those who wanted money, and a corresjwnding Eastern 
 man, equally well acquainted with those who hi.d capital to spare. 
 This business was done honestly and carefully. The investors were 
 almost invariably acquainted with and thoroughly tru8te<l those who 
 loaned out their money, and the result was that this business grew with 
 great rapidity and was phenomenally successful. The great insurance 
 companies and other corporations that needal the income of invested 
 funds for the prosecution of their business soon turned their eyes in 
 this direction, and built up the great cities of the West by their large 
 advances of capital that went into the ereotion of fine buildings, and 
 finally, when the great and universal failure to supply the demand for 
 securities in the Eastern centres that h&n liecn Hpoken of above occurred, 
 then the investing public generally tyned their eyes westward for 
 relief, and in a comparatively short time the business that was already 
 in existence in a limited way took upon itself new conditions to 
 adapt it to the demands made upon it, and the modern system of 
 Western mortgages was born. Most of the men engaged in the busi- 
 ness had acquired a plentiful stock of experience : they understood all its 
 phases, were familiar with Western values, and for their own protec- 
 tion always insisted upon the most ample margin of security. Titles 
 were very simple, running back in a few removes to the United States 
 government ; the system of dividing the public domain into regular 
 rectangular sections of one mile square, and the subdivision of these 
 into quarters, which quarters were again quartered, all in perfect rec- 
 tangles of forty acres each, all helped to simplify matters, by making 
 mistakes of description almost impossible. The result was that this 
 vast business, extending into the millions, was done so carefully and 
 successfully that, while these earlier loans were all unguaranteed, yet 
 practically no losses of either principal or interest occurred. But 
 when, about seven to ten years ago, this great accession of business 
 came, many Eastern people who were entirely unacquainted with the 
 Western loaning agents began to invest their money, and it was soon 
 seen that the confidence of these investors would have to be obtained 
 in other ways than by the personal acquaintance which formerly pre- 
 vailed. Lai^ amounts of capital were then aggregated into corpo- 
 rations formed for the express purpose of carrying on the investing 
 business, and, instead of the former guarantees based on personal 
 knowledge and established character, corporate guarantees, backed up 
 by a large capital, were given to the investor. Instead of giving one 
 single bond with a promise to pay the principal at the expiration of a 
 given time, with interest at the rate agreed upon in regular semi-annual 
 instalments, a principal note with ten or more smaller interest notes or 
 coupons, maturing respectively every six months, was given, and when 
 the payment of these at maturity was guaranteed by the investing cor- 
 poration, this old original form of a security, with all the virtue and 
 strength that attached to the old form of bond and mortgage, b^»me 
 
WESTERN MORTGAGES. 
 &r'""^ "" ^"'P"^ ^"-^' -'^^^ "" t»>« -cHente pertainiug to such 
 
 they grew and deveTor>^tad,il v n n'" '"^^'^ '" *'"'^ ^^^''k, and 
 pro^rtions and a^Sf ^^^ J^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ enormous 
 
 alK>ut themselves tlie most eomn^S fr''^\ -^'•e>' ^>ave gathered 
 to imss on questionrof t?'les aT f.l ^^"^ *^ ^''^I'^''^ P«P«« ^"d 
 perienced eLmi„e.!s as to fe v^C^^^ trustworthy and ex- 
 
 security, and caS and nnin Jni' ^^l ^?''f^ ^"^ '«»^« off'e'^ a.s 
 
 taxes, insurant ete and the eSf^I? '"'?/.' ^^''^ "^'' "" '?"^''«"« «f 
 when due. Win. tttrtSri ]'''' "?T^ ""^^ *'^« P"°«'P«' 
 
 mortgage on a specific uitn^P of n.^ «* security, a bond secured by first 
 
 the Sern TiS ^Ees dFd ^''•^' '^ "°' "^ '.'^ """'^ ^«^^«* 
 the raortgajre wa^ S^ I f '""'^'''V g"f ""tc-e the title, and that 
 
 tlo,and dTdfwha f nel'L^one b^f '"'.J^'VH"^ ^''^^-»'^» 
 the investor that the vahie of iT. m2 7*' ^'"'^ absolutely assured 
 secure the debt, and they Ulvnror.f,^'^ property was adequate to 
 of subsequent tex^ Sidnal lf.1 ' """ against all loss by\eason 
 what had neveTS^n aS;// S '"'"T""' ^*^' ^» ^^'''^' ^^^V <^''d 
 to do now, wiXa lar^ p^op^orl^^^^^ "^ ^«™P«"^ would dare 
 
 current in the East- rherS^Z^f.! if ''"^'^ mortgages that pa.ss 
 maturity, and tKe'pavLft Tt !f ^ t»,e payment of the interest at 
 reasona&etime geneS^ - -'thin a 
 
 necessary, the interest in .noh^SI. f iL ^^-^J '^ foreclosure became 
 inv^to/WtherXt'c^l b^le^^^^^^^^ ^ the 
 
 didLtStltqSlXX^^^^^^ 7^« -vestor 
 
 correct, the valuelleq^^J^tleX'^^^^^^^^^ *"*>« 
 
 longer any wa t ne for infprpsf • fi,n «^ ^^ fi ^ * ■'^"^'^® ^as no 
 in any hink the lay Jhejwt J dt rnXoT. '^^^^^P^^^d be deposited 
 
 by reason of its^fomXrHXtl ^"^ W, memioned above, but, 
 bond, with all its attendaTt advn^.»„ ' ^ P™f «>"y bolds a coupon 
 tions in v,l„. ™5 ?."r°'.'?.r?"'='8^' •>?' w«>i»ut the usual fluotV». 
 
 f«eIy-.ak;n-a^„;iKrfor;r^^;:',:;r °' "'^ P^P^-l^^eter, 
 
 on;,-V' ;';rdete:Si"lrfo "i^ith'^^f Tt "'"""' " ™'^ "^^'^"^ ' 
 
 .ith,b,vkueof theoLrtofa:^.t,ftX%XSsf^^^^^^^ 
 
432 
 
 WESTERN MORTGAGES. 
 
 ''A 
 
 It, i- 
 
 methods of business, the amount of its capital, and the availability of 
 its assets, is able to give liim a gocxl and sufficient guarantee. That 
 there are such cou?panies, is sliown by the fact that hundreds of millions 
 of dollars have been thus invested, without the loss of a dollar of prin- 
 cipal or interest; and each year the cxuru<nations of these companies made 
 by the Bank Commissioners of the Eastern States, whose savings-banks 
 buy so largely of these loans, and which therefore insist upon these 
 examinations, make this sole duty of the investor a comparatively 
 simple and easy one. It is also one of the incidents of this system, 
 growing out of the fact that all good companies keep constantly on 
 hand a large assortment of loans of all sizes, that an investor can at 
 once, and without any loss of time or interest, invest any sum, either 
 large or small. 
 
 In regard to this system of investment, it has been truly said that 
 human ingenuity has been exhausted ir devising ways and means to 
 conduct the business wisely and safely, and in tiirowing every possible 
 safeguard about the investor, with the result of producing a class of 
 securities which, whether considered on the score of their availability, 
 their intrinsic worth, their great safety, or their sure and ample return 
 of income, are the very perfection ob- investments. 
 
 Those who have had the good fortune to obuun the better class of 
 securities thus described, who have had their dealitgs only with honor- 
 able and reliable companies, who have thus been saved all trouble and 
 anxiety and have at the same time received a gooJ income at regular 
 intervals, are they who speak so highly of Western mortgages and hold 
 them in such great esteem. 
 
 But there is another side to this question. It is a matter of common 
 experience that whenever any production has attained a high state of 
 perfection, and has given general satisfaction, then numberless cheap 
 imitations instantly spring up. How many manufacturers could tell of 
 years of patient and intelligent labor in the development, we will say, 
 of a particular fabric, only to find as soon as they had overcome all the 
 difficulties, and produced an article which gave universal satisfaction, that 
 the market was flooded with cheap and flimsy imitations ! It has been 
 so with Western mortgages. When, after years of slow and steady 
 growth, the community awakened to the realization that here was a 
 relief to those needing good and safe investments, — when, by wise, care- 
 ful, and successful dealings long continued, the pioneer companies had 
 gained the public confidence, — numberless individuals and companies, 
 most of them without experience and ill equipi^ed for the work, some 
 of them intending fraud from the beginning, started spurious imitations. 
 As the borrower and lender are so far separated, and as in the case of 
 farm loans, especially, it is impossible for the Eastern investor to make 
 a personal examination of the property loaned upon, infinite opportuni- 
 ties for fraud and accident are presented, and it will only be nusessary io 
 recall what has been before indicated as the requirements of a good mort- 
 
 suit ifrom a failure properly to prepare the papers or to examine the title 
 and search for prior liens, and above all, for here is the greatest danger, 
 from the omission to examine each particular property loaned upon, and 
 
WESTERN MORTOAOES. 
 
 433 
 
 by means of competent and disinterested examiners to fix the value of 
 the security. The fact is, that by reason of the incompetency, and, in 
 many instances, the downright dishonesty, of some of the individuals 
 and companies engaged in thi.s business, investors have been wofully 
 taken advantage of. This danger increanod as the confideiK^o of the 
 community in this class of investments grew, and when weak and ill- 
 conducted companies have failed to meet their guarantees and pay the 
 interest due their patrons, the entire system has been condemned by 
 those who were either unfriendly to it or ignorant of its benefits. Those 
 who have investigatetl the matter for themselves, however, well know 
 that the companies referred to have failed, not because of any inherent 
 weakness in the system itself, but because of the reckless practices of 
 the companies concerned, which were brought to light in the investitra- 
 tions which followed their default. 
 
 In spite of the name by which this system is designated, it should 
 be understood that it is by no means necessarily confined to the West. 
 In point of fact, in that favored section of our country the greatest 
 opportunity was first found for the investment of large sums of money 
 ajid, commencing with Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, those engaged in\ 
 this business have successively loaned to the inhabitantsof these States 
 and by the liberal outlay of money have literal! v caused them to " blos- 
 som like the rose." The Mississippi and the Missouri, and finally the 
 Kocky Mountains, have since been crossed, first by the hardy pitnieer 
 and next by the judicious lender of raonev, until now ti.is business 
 has reached all the way to the Pacific coast, and especially in the new 
 State of Washington, and about the waters of Puget Sound, among 
 the bright and enterprising people who have forced their way to that 
 distant and beautiful land, a most favored field of investment is now 
 found. 
 
 The most careless observer could not fail to see the wonderful bene- 
 fits that have been wrought by this system. Cities have grown up as 
 if by magic, immense tracts of land have been improved, and to-day 
 some of the most universally prosperous people to be found on any 
 portion of the earth's surface are located in those States where this 
 system has attained its greatest perfection. And in the future this 
 system will continue to grow, and will extend its beneficent action to 
 every part of our common country where it is not restrained by unwise 
 laws or discouraged by an indolent and careless community. There 
 are some States in the West where investing companies will not 
 lend a dollar, because of the existence of laws which, or-'ginallv in- 
 tended for the benefit of the farmer, have been found to operate most 
 seriously against him. If a community attempts to hedge itself by 
 laws forbidding the payment of honest debts, those who have suc- 
 ceeded m obtaining money under circumstances which practically 
 amount to false pretences may derive some temporary advantat^e, 
 
 which. nnwPVPr will Ko mnra <K..»i «>fl(^«4. U„ aU- 1 -O -,.. Ti 1 Pt 
 
 --.._._., _, i.„„ii '^-tic^;!, u'jf luc iUSS Ul LTUaiC WniOn 
 
 such loose practices necessarily produce. It is perhaps worthy of 
 notice that in some of the States, but particularly in Nebraska, the 
 wiser heads have realized the truth of what has just been said, and 
 when an attempt was made to pass stay laws and other unwise pro- 
 
 ifl 
 
434 
 
 WESTERN MORTOAOES. 
 
 Visions looking to the prevention of the colletrtion of debts, these were 
 frowiiecl down It was pointed out that the State could nit affbnl to 
 des roy its cre<lit forever for the pur|K«e of l>enefitlng a few incoraiw- 
 tent, Jazy, or dishonest jK'opIo, who were unwilling to meet their obli- 
 gations, and the laws that were intr<Hl..ced in the Legislature the last 
 session attempting to change the existing statutes on this subject, in 
 relation to the collection of interest, etc., were defeated. 
 
 Some attempt has been made to extend the benefit of this system 
 to the South. Virginia especially, with its new industrial life, has 
 ^rnestly endeavored to divert some of this aipital to its development, 
 but as yet with little succt-ss, IxK^ause of the old taint of rem, Jiation 
 mid possibly because of the recent attempts that have been made in 
 South Carolina and Georgia to repudiate obligations of this kind, and 
 to prevent their collection. ' 
 
 In conclusion, let us consider for a few moments some of the bene- 
 fatj which have accrued from this system, in addition to those that have 
 been indicated m what has gone before. The very greatest benefit has 
 been the wide and uniform circulation of capital. Money has often 
 ,been compared to the blood. Both of them are great circulating 
 mediums carrying life jv.th them wherever they go. If the circula- 
 tion of the blood should be impeded, and certain ,>ortions of the body 
 should become gorged with it, disease and death would result. What- 
 ever tends to restore this circulation is therefore a great boon ; and 
 this IS equa y true of money in the body politic. A grave danger, 
 which has threatened the country at many times in the past, is the 
 great glut of this commodity in certain sections and the grJat lack of 
 
 lna"fn tjZ: J^'" ^u H""^^ i" ^^'^ '^^7 P«^'*'« evils correspond, 
 ing to those tha would result in the naturaf body fror,, u similar con- 
 dition of the blood; and whatever tends to restore the circulation 
 of mon«y, and to remove the engorged condition ot" one section and 
 nourish the impoverished condition o? others, is likewise agreat lM)on. 
 This is just the work that has been performed by tt.is system of West- 
 ern mortgages. Whereas in the West, within a very few years one 
 per cent, a month, and from that to three per cent., has been the'cus- 
 rSn'^^? P interest, now in some of the principal cities, such as 
 
 ruT!.\® •• ■^""'' ^"'''''^' ''"^^ ^^^"««« ^''^y> l«a"8 liave been made on 
 the best business real estate as low as five per cent., while the rate of 
 interest m such cities as New York and Philadelphia, which had got 
 down to three i>er ce.it., has gone back quite firmly io the same rate 
 
 There IS another benefit which should not be overlooked, and that is, 
 that tins steady flow of money has prevented usury. When there was 
 infinitely more demand than there was supply, those needing money 
 were compelled to pay any rate necessary to obtain what they wanted 
 Since, however, by means of these great companies, sufficient confi^ 
 dence has been en. ted to enable the Eastern capitalist to lend to the 
 W^tern borrower, the tipply has equalled tlie demand, and the 
 
 u^'ul' ~j "•.' , ' ^""«3^V'"4^=**^* "p"" II iie IS honest, if 
 
 he has a good security, h. ^n get ins money at reasonable rates. 
 
 s« fu T4®"1 "^^ " ''^^ ""'*'' ^^"*"y g««<^ ^-esults in the North, 
 South, and East, as li as in the West, and the inference is irresist' 
 
A HIST TO NOVELISTS. 
 
 436 
 
 ible that, before nmiiy years huve eluiwiwl \h «*,..^..„ • * -n . 
 
 William Mc George, Jr. 
 
 A HINT TO NOVELISTS. 
 knowledge of ll,e world or „Tv' ,^ r ',"'"8""".°."' ""fervalion, 
 
 reaJer, might, be confounded mi a ve vT/kml f de 1 .'''t' °," ,"" 
 already been utilized aln !:„,t|y I !Sui,,,l "™''' "^' ' "'"'^'' '•"« 
 
 .Jdt&i'ie.rftttt:iif^^ 
 
 histonan wish^ to dl a tale iust a» .'l ' ? ™»?':"f ^™ /-^Ity- The 
 able or willing ,„ inv nJoneVbr hhnse f Lt^U^ ,^7> ''"V"' •If'"^ 
 from pa.t r«„V dresses these inSm 'up aS^nlin^^Tl,"! ""f""'' 
 
 .•» .ofor» a n,:? e^nS^.'I^; o^^heTa .Stt^t Itll^ "l^fl' 
 of this is Mr. Froude's'story of Henry^'^''- ^ '"""'""• "««»"« 
 
 .»yg.o:;ilfoftutt'^^^::;^^^i;^i"--«>./™po-bieby 
 
 b ood-thir»^v monster R,.t l? „ • ?"' ^. '"''''' "'=" » «"sua^, 
 
 wise, virtalLranTn wL-nSeS prinS'^nl^g bv I":?,'" 5f "•"">" 
 this precnception all through Ts story Mr Fmndft ^ "''''f '"5 '" 
 work which is as novel as an^y that ^oTj III ^T^IITJ^^:^ " 
 
436 
 
 A HINT TO NOVELISTS. 
 
 Again, as an instance of how the conception we form of a man's 
 character will affect our way of recounting the incidents of his life, let 
 me take Mr. Carlyle's description of the flight of Louis XVI. and 
 Marie Antoinette from Paris. Having conceived Louis to have been a 
 man of an indolent, careless, lethargic disposition, and his wife as being 
 of somewhat the same nature, Carlyle tells how they travelled at a 
 snail's pace when they ought to have been hurrying along with all 
 speed. The interest of the narrative is intense. The reader feels 
 inclined to shout to the king, who is calmly walking by the side of 
 horses that ought to have been galloping as fast as their legs could carry 
 them. There is in reading the story the sense of a nightmare in which 
 we are hardly able to move while some dreadful thing is pursuing us. 
 We identify ourselves with the royal fugitives and shudder at their 
 dilatoriness and delays. No doubt as a statement of what actually did 
 occur Mr. Carlyle's tale has been proved to be utterly incorrect. What 
 I wish, however, to draw attention to is that it perfectly answers that 
 which is the final cause of every book, — viz., to interest the reader. 
 Of course people who are trying to escape death would not be likely 
 to dawdle along at the rate of two or three miles an hour if they had 
 the means of travelling more quickly. Of course not. Mr. Carlyle, 
 however, represents this as being what his heroes did, and the great 
 merit of his story is that it is told in such a way as to make the reader 
 believe they did it. Thus a story which is commonplace when related 
 by other people becomes one of thrilling interest when told by Mr. 
 Carlyle, and serves as an excellent example of how a new story may be 
 extracted from old incidents. 
 
 We see, then, how historians manage to interest their readera. 
 Taking their materials from records of the past, they cast, so to speak, 
 these materials in new theories, and thus bring them out in novel and, 
 sometimes, perfectly unrecognizable forms, — one of the results being a 
 good deal of innocent, perplexed amusement to those who take history 
 au sirieux. 
 
 ^ Now, why, I ask, cannot fictionists of the higher order do the same 
 thing by drawing on the records of their predecessors? What most 
 novelists are so much in want of is a supply of incidents. Why, I 
 would say to them, not take the incidents, together with the localities, 
 names, and relative positions of the characters, from some good novel 
 the copyright of which has expired, and then rewrite the story, follow- 
 ing the elder novelist through all his incidents, or as many of them as 
 you conveniently can, but relating these incidents as they' would have 
 happened if your people, and not your predecessor's, had been moving 
 about among them ? In this way, while all the trouble of invention 
 would be taken off your hands, you would be perfectly certain to pro- 
 duce a new story, and, as the quality of the incidents is guaranteed by 
 experience, the story itself would probably be a good one. Such is my 
 suggestion to novelists : that, instead of trying to invent a number of 
 incidents so connijcted as to form a story (which, not to speak of the 
 trouble it involves, is generally a task they are unequal to), they should 
 leave the invention to their predecessors and simply retell the old stories 
 as they would have to be retold if it were suddenly discovered that the 
 
A HINT TO NOVELISTS. .«- 
 
 manufac ure ends, as a rule, in producing a worthless a W 
 
 To clothe my theory in circumstances, accordino- fn T nvA iri i > 
 maxim, let me suppose that I were rewriting" Vn •. i? • ^F'"^?" ^ 
 
 done, unless I werf coSl^ to^ Z t'^^^ ^^y'^^^Sthey had not 
 to call them. »/ » peopie— or puppets," as he was wont 
 
 of J™r;fS:fp'rir;:^rc?a:;tr '■'"«•*' "''f""--? -«-'« 
 
 er.l-mtad^'^"^rr'~" ''^'''^'■"""•"ed, phiUothropic, generous, .od lib- • 
 
 tho„?hTfS;„Tp3„fdr„a™ '^''"'''"'^^ ""i «»"^-«» yo-e man. of . 
 Old SedlOT,— a stock fcchange Wtlcher. 
 Bawdon Crawley.-an utterly unprincipled blacklet 
 
 A.neSi'feutrhSeS"'^'/'"""^^^^^ --"^ i" >o™ with 
 the death of George olborne ' ""'' '"' ' «l»-J«Wn» flirtation up to 
 
 SfataT«'rt;;'-trffivs^^^^^ 
 
 character ; altomther a wonj J ,v^"*?'^ "§'''".«' "I'M-heade. 
 Amelia sXy.!!:a°n7;a '^^^±^^ ^^'^.'^f^f'^ 
 
 Amelia sSley -an artful Z?„i "Kngish magistrate, 
 acter i, e,.ent Jly^pi."eLjflu"?t1'^^^^^^^^^ '""^- «« Oar- 
 
 of f»;nro"'tn^a"far;Sh'if,'j';ir^^ and fond 
 
 a way as of nL» ty to fo™ a ^^„ "^ """I''' P^"''^™' '^^''™ i- s"<=h 
 
 veryjmero.ti„rraie' ^/have7or„rifJ ^tlllV •-••■^''""'■?.^' " 
 
 neariy all, the chano-pq whir.h *u • .-—,"' "^'""-"^ ^''' '""'«ite ail, or 
 
 werei b^ re^lf 3,he tvfpre^fr' tT-T'"* '""''" '' " 
 
 ri. 
 
438 
 
 A HINT TO NOVELISTS. 
 
 Balient features in which my history of Vanity Fair would differ from 
 Mr. Thackeray's. 
 
 Thus, the cliaracters of George Osborne, Josh Sedley, and Rebecca 
 Sharp being as I have assumed above, it will, I think, clearly follow 
 that both George and Josh fell in love with Rebecca, and that she 
 rejected both of them, actuated by a high-minde<l sense of loyalty to 
 Amelia in the case of George, and by a sense of what was due to her 
 host and hostess, owing to her own humble position, in the case of 
 Josh. A natural corollary is that George and Josh quarrelled about 
 her, and this gives the clue to a new rendering of the scene at Vaux- 
 hall. 
 
 Again, the characters of George Osborne and his father being as I 
 have supposed, Mr. Thackeray's commonplace account of their quarrel 
 become^ impossible, and a new and romantic reason of their estrange- 
 ment is both suggested and rendered almost as probable as it is unex- 
 pected. Assuming them to be such men as I have indicated, it seems 
 to follow logically that they quarrelled because Mr. Osborne thought 
 his son wanUd tojiU Amelia. 
 
 The misunderstanding between the high-minded parent and his 
 equally high-minded offspring would appear to have come about in 
 this way. 
 
 George had been engaged to Amelia when he was but a boy. In 
 his more mature years he discerned the weakness of her character, and 
 surrendered his affections to Rebecca. Amelia would have been glad 
 to part with him, as she wanted to marry Dobbin. But Mr. Osborne, 
 senior, was a client of her father's, and partly for that reason, partly 
 on account of the wealth George would inherit, her father insisted on 
 her keeping George to his engagement. Old Osborne was shocked at 
 what he regarded as a breach of faith on the part of his son, and 
 insisted on his marrying Amelia. George, being a dutiful young man, 
 obeyed, but, unfortunately, not until his father, in a fit of passion at 
 what he regarded as his perfidy, had disinherited him. As well-bred 
 gentlemen, the father and son did not wish the real cause of their quarrel 
 to be known. It would not do, of course, to let the world know that 
 George was being forced to marry Amelia. Consequently, if it 
 were only out of regard to her feelings, they assigned as the cause 
 of their difference the commonplace explanation which has deceived 
 Mr. Thackeray. It was owing to a chivalrous and delicate desire 
 to give color to this false version of the matter, and thus to screen 
 even from Amelia herself the true state of her husband's feelings 
 when he married her, that Mr. Osborne abstained for some little time 
 after George's death from recognizing his widow and her child. The 
 dispute between Osborne and Sedley was due,, of course, to some of 
 Sedley's rascally Stock Exchange transactions, which had become so bad 
 of late as to make it impossible for a respectable man like Osborne to 
 contiuue the acquaintance. Dobbin's conduct in urging Greorge to 
 marry Amelia was worthy of lago, and has completely deceived Mr. 
 Thackeray. Dobbin did so because he thought that George would 
 refuse, were it only through a spirit of mere opposition. 
 
 When Amelia heard of her husband's death she was secretly 
 
A HINT TO NOVELISTS. 
 
 pleased, as she thought she could 
 
 439 
 
 Bobbi 
 
 r"—---} — -- ".YUKui- aiic uouiu marry Dobbin forthwith • but he 
 
 rLr.T' "°'vn''.?^^u"^"^ '>"d «^^«"^^ tl^« settTemeit which 
 he knew to be inevitable if she continued unmarried 
 
 nf M^ n ^^'^^'^"•f «« «f Rebecca we have only to paint the character 
 of M ss Crawley a shade or two darker than Mr. Thackeray has done 
 and the marriage of Captain Crawley and Miss Sharp wlH come ouJ 
 :n a new light, and one that sheds a dramatic interest upon the who^e 
 subsequent history of that most gifted and engaging young ]ad3' 
 
 Raying got tired of Rawdon, Miss CrawV wLted a^n excuse for 
 disowning h.m so as to leave her money to Pitt. AccordbSy she 
 encouraged Rebecca to marry Rawdon, and then, wh^rthey were 
 married, pretended to disapprove of what had been brought alurbv 
 her own instigation. In the hope of reforming her Sand nno^ 
 Rebecca induced Lord Steyne, a mL kind-hearted and rtuous ioC 
 man to get him an appointment in the Colonies. Of course whThe 
 found himself safely provided for, Rawdpn, like the cu^ he was 
 turned ^u ms faithful wife and true friend. ' 
 
 ;• e end Amelia would justly lead a wretched life constantly 
 bu :.. ^y her brutal husband; whilst there would be sfmeZ^ n 
 tense y pathetic in the virtuous, care-worn Rebecca, with a trTe womaK 
 charity, nursing her old lover through his last illness 
 
 • A- .T 7f^t *^ ""iT^^*^ " ^""""'^y ^»^r" on some such lines as I have 
 
 indicated all the o d incidents would, I think, undergo a process of 
 
 natura transformat on, and rearrange themselves a perMyCw and 
 
 Son? Sh^^- ^ l'ff'«:*'^^t'"ent," such as historiarL uTed to 
 
 Osbltp;^^^^ 
 
 seems to be so happy as when he is making mischief among h^ S 
 acte^, represents this as though it were I slight on Sia No'" 
 what on earth, I ask, did Mr. Thackeray expect George olornetodo^ 
 Did he expect him to ask his own wife to dance 7a ball ^To^ 
 mind,_the whole matter is as innocent and as clear as a pike ^t^ff 
 Like the we l-bred gentleman he was, George Osborne askecfRebP^a 
 to dance, whilst Amelia danced with Rawdon CrTX or ^^m^^ 
 nay very likely-sat sulking because the odious DobKas^t^ 
 
 TterTatn^nt ^^"'^' ^^^" '^ '''^' ^' P^-^-^ ^^-If ^ tS 
 
 «1I nf .r'""''^'!"?!"""' f ^^^ ^^^^^ '"«^ents of the story, or nearlv 
 all of them could be made to tally with any new concepS we chose 
 to form of the characters, and any wholly impracticabfrincidente if 
 torn .f'r'f'-''' '""S ^ ^'^^^^ ^^^'^ «^ denied;-~accord?ng to the cus- 
 
 J-airohild Family, for example, representing that esUmable houae- 
 
 ill 
 
440 
 
 A DEBUTANTE. 
 
 hold as composed of agnostic radicals, and with substituted disquisitions 
 on social science, Darwinism, and the theory of evolution, ought to 
 give as much pleasure to the present rising generation as Mrs. Sher- 
 wood's excellent I \i now almost forgotten story did to its less enlight- 
 ened predecessors. 
 
 In conclusion, I would wish to say strongly that fictionists proper 
 ought not to finvl any more difficulty in whitewashing such characters 
 as Becky Sharp and Lord Steyne than pseudo-fietionists have experi- 
 enced in applying the same process to Henry VIII., Bloody Mary, and 
 
 liberius, who has lately been made to conduct himself very properly, 
 
 at least fbr a king in history. Novels or children's tales which are 
 written on these principles ought always, of course, to bear their 
 original titles. Thus, as each succeeding attempt to tell the story of 
 the English people is called History of England, whether the author 
 be l.ume or Maca lay or Froude or Freeman, so each attempt to tell 
 the story of, for example, the Osbornes, Se<lleys, and Crawleys ought to 
 be cal ed "Vanity Fair," whether the author be Thackeray (who first 
 took the job in hand) or Brown or Jones or Eobinson. 
 
 W. H. ^acpooU. 
 
 A DEBUTANTE, 
 
 FROM very weariness 
 She slept, yet breathed, in dreams, the fragrance of Success, 
 Sweeter to her desires than cooling showers, 
 Than perfumes hived in flowers. 
 Or than those songs which, ere the night is done, 
 Break forth in rapturous worship of the sun. 
 » The longed-for prize 
 
 H6r own, again she heard delighted plaudits rise. 
 Again her conquest read'in beaming eyes. 
 And scanned each upturned face, and missed— but one ! 
 
 " O love," she dreaming sighed. 
 In joy grown sudden sad, and lonely in her pride, — 
 " O love, dost thou, of all the world, not care 
 These triumphs dear to share ? 
 Dost thou, who sued in griefs to bear a part. 
 Who lightened discontent, and soothed with heavenly art, 
 And still forbore to blame. 
 Remove, when all besides with praises speak my name?" 
 Distinct, yet as from far, the answer came : 
 " Love still demands an undivided heart !" 
 
 Florence Earle Ooatea. 
 
A DEAi: MAN'S DIARX. 
 
 441 
 
 A DEAD MAN'S DIARY. 
 
 WRITTEN AFTER HIS DECEASE. 
 
 CHAPTER 17. 
 
 THE WRITER TAKES THE READER INTO HIS CONFIDENCE. 
 
 When the first rough draft of this diary was Iving on my study 
 table there called to see me, at a time when I chanced to be out^ 
 a certam novelist who is an old and intimate friend of mine. He 
 was shown into the study to await my coming, and, on my return I 
 found him amusing himself with theseVpevs.^' Of ihe r'Jity o ^y 
 death-expenences which he persistently refused to regard L other 
 than dreams) I had never been able to convince him, and I was not 
 ZT.t'^r\' r>'?' ff *^^ -'^^^versation turned upon the 
 sceptical tone."' '"^ '"'^' ^' '"^""'"^ *' ""'^ booklet in his usual 
 
 "My deav fellow," he said, laying one hand upon 'the offendincr 
 manuscript "I haven't the slightest intention of disputing the tiuth 
 
 Id •T''^'!' "J ■! ^'""n^ *^^* y«"^ ^'i^^T has a certain un- 
 rit^eth^i"^^^^^ ^""' ''^* •^^"^"^^^' ^ ^-'^ *^-k fiction is 
 
 th^ u."g^^^^^ 'r '""'" ' '''P'"' ' " ^"' "'^* '^^^ y^^' '' '^y ^^-"-^ 
 
 dJi"'"'' ^"^ ^"!^-e^*^^' "ioi;e evidently in earnest ; " that you haven't 
 scored as you might have done, but have let slip what opportunities 
 you had for tiirmng out something original. 'Letters fVom Hell' 
 
 tlTmlat /L ^^/^ "^f * '"'P""* *^ ^^ ^^^^'•^^d ^>fch imitating, 
 
 though that needn't trouble you much), was confessedly a work ?f 
 
 pure imagination, and I shouldn't be surprised if the fact help-^d 
 
 somewhat to lessen the interest of the volume. Now your book has 
 
 ilTn7!.Vtw'''•n^Pn^•^^^^^^ possibility to sustain the delu- 
 
 sion and a that will tell m its favour. The public likes-just as 
 Dick Swivellers Marchioness did-to 'make believe' in the reilitv of 
 that which IS meant to interest it; and books or plays can't be too 
 hfe-hke or reabsuc nowadays. You have ' made believe' until you 
 
 1 cu V t^.uk t^ver i-iappcnea, out that isn't my business. What I 
 complain of is this : -that although you have a story to tell with 
 sufficient shadow of probability or possibility, .s I have said, to make 
 
 LenfnhlJ".^'^'^ *' ^''^ "P '^^ delusion, you have fai^led most 
 lamentably to turn your opportunities to account. Take your death 
 Vol. XLV.— 29* 
 
442 
 
 A DEAD MAN'S DIARY. 
 
 scene, for instance. Any practical writer of ordinary ability could 
 imagine the sensations of dying, and could draw a far more powerful 
 picture of them than you have done, who profess to have actually 
 experienced those sensations personall}'. Then what you have to say 
 about Heaven and Hell, and all the rest of it, is curious, and some 
 may think it not uninteresting, but you haven't given us any idea of 
 what the places are like after all. Why didn't you draw on your 
 imagination, man ? Why didn't you go in for the grim, and grey, 
 and ghastly ? Why didn't you revel in the weird (never mind Mr. 
 Lang's abuse of the word), or conjure up blissful dreams of the blest 
 and of Paradise ? I know a dozeu men who could have made twice as 
 much capital, and far more saleable copy, out of that idea of yours 
 about a man dying, or nearly so, and then coming back to relate 
 what he has seen, as it appears from the standpoint of frail mortality; 
 and I tell you frankly that I don't think you have scored as you 
 ought to have done." 
 
 " But what has all this," says the reader, " to do with your diary ? 
 We are ^yilling to hear what you have to tell about your experiences, 
 but we didn't bargain for an article setting forth the opinion of your 
 friends on the subject, and we can't luelp thinking that the introduc- 
 tion of this chapter is somewhat uncalled lor." 
 
 Well, perhaps it is so, but it is because the ooaversation g'ven 
 above touches upon some points concerning which I am anxious that 
 the reader should come to a right understanding before he enters 
 upon my aftor-death experience, that I have inserted it here, and 
 if a very few minutes' indulgence be granted me, I will say what 
 1 have to say as briefly as possible. I could, I am sure, by drawing 
 a little on my imagination, have written a far more striking descrip- 
 tion of the sensations of death, than that which I have given in the 
 preceding chapter, for of such description, in the sense of " working- 
 up a situation," there is absolutely none. All that I have tried to do 
 IS to relate my story with a resolute avoidance of anything akin to the 
 sensational. If aught of the sensational there be in the narrative, it 
 IS because the thing is sensational in itself, and not because I have 
 attempted to make it so. As George Eliot says, it is far easier to 
 draw a griffin, with wings and claws filled in according to our own 
 fancy, than to correctly limn the outlines of a lion ; and to keep to 
 the truth has been the hardest part of my task. 
 
 When the mental picture or impression left on my mind is but an 
 imp.erfect one, I have not attempted as I might easily, and perhaps 
 pardonably have done, to fill in the missing outline from my imagina- 
 tion, but have given the picture or impression for what it is worth, 
 and have left it so. My memory is, generally speaking, an excellent 
 one, and durmg the first few hours of consciousness after the return 
 of vitality, the recollection of that which I had seen was as fresh as 
 are the events of yesterday. Within a week, however, I found that 
 
 the CrPfl.f.ftr T>ni4. nf if liorJ ^yz-ww^ f^-nrr- ry\a ""A J-1-i-i-i - V '*• ■ j. 
 
 u'~u'~' — ' " o^""^ iiom me, aua tnai, ah my enoris to 
 recall the mental pictures were unavailing. I have sometimes 
 wondered if it can be possible t1)at when my presence was missed 
 Irom the realms into which I had so untimely wandered, some angelic 
 
A DKAD MAX'S DIARY. 
 
 443 
 
 ^-^^^^:^^ -^ the 
 
 been one such as it is not often g en to man to wdte '?;,^ t'' 
 however seemed then and for 1 \^L.\- c ®* "^"^ subject 
 
 turned to account for' Xf'' and ea^ch'T.f^^^ 
 have elapsed since I died Sik^n vvftl •. ^^ ^^^^'^^ ^^''^^^ ^^i^h 
 tions that remained to mo and now tw} l' «°"^e part of the recollec- 
 my task, I have but Wurred and bmkpn ' ""^ • "" *^'^'^^ '^^ ^^^^^ 
 place of a life-like picture '" remmiscences to offer in 
 
 These reminiscences vacrue disconnPf.fori o«.i c 
 are, I have given for what they a^wor^f If anv ,t!'?'^*^•^,"^*^^^^ 
 have overrated the value of m v Ivrvl • any reader thmk that I 
 
 verify the promise >W ^wl icTi sS '°^ 'Y' ^ ^^^1^^"^^ '^ 
 the failure is due, not t? t int^ffll '/°i^ ^^'"'^ ^'"^ t^^t 
 striking in my exp;r^en4s but fn ,^ ' K^-f^ '^^^* '^ ^^^^^^^ ^^d 
 
 seen, and to^my^ncrmpetencv o 7a fin ^^'*^ *"/''""" ^^^* ^ ^^^^ 
 subject. ^ ^rapetency to do fittmg justice to my singular 
 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ''^'^'^^ ''I^.JIT ^''^'''' AWAKENING IN HELL AND OF THE 
 SHAMEFUL SIN WHICH BKOUGHT ME THITHER. 
 
 The expense of spirit in a waste of shame 
 
 Is hist in action ; and till action, hist 
 Is perjured, nuirderous, hloody, full of blame, 
 
 bavage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust : 
 Jinjoyed no sooner but despised 8trai"ht • 
 Past reason hunted, and no sooner^hacl, 
 I'ast reason hated, as a swallow'd bait, 
 
 On purpose laid to make the taker mad ; 
 Mad m pursuit, and in possession so ; 
 
 Had, having, and in quest to have, 'extreme ; 
 A bliss m proof, and, proved, a very woe ; 
 
 Before, a joy proposed ; liehind a dream : 
 All this the world well knows ; yet none knows well 
 lo shun the heaven that leads men to this hell. 
 
 Shakespeare's 129th Sonnet. 
 
 me aa if weeks, moX vea?X I .1 5"^ !™ ''^y'' " ^'^^^^ *» 
 the ho„. when i nJ^Q.^'Z^^l^^'^nLtTtT "^ ''""'' '"'f 
 
444 
 
 A DEAD MAX'S DIARY. 
 
 c.i^-i T w ^''" *''*^ ^ ^ >y ^■^3'ino, I felt my life slowly but 
 nfHi7v.'Tv!",^ away until at last there came a time-the moment 
 of death, I believe it to have been-when the outward and deathward- 
 setting tide seeined to reach its climax, and when upon the inward- 
 setting flood of that fuller existence into which I had died, I felt myself 
 swept shoreward and lifeward again. I know that there are some 
 who will say that the turning point which I have called the moment 
 of death, was nothing more or less than the moment which marked 
 
 llL«'w A ^ ^'^""^^t' vT^ ^^^ '^^"''^ ^' ^i*a^i*y. but tliis theory, 
 plausible and even probable, as it seems, leaves the strangest part 
 
 ot my experience unexplained, and I cannot entertain it; neither I 
 think, will the reader, when he has heara me out 
 
 Whether my death was succeeded by a season of slunber. in which 
 certain appointed and divinely-ordered dreams were caused to be 
 dreamed by me or whether God caused the hands on the dial of 
 1 im. be put back for a space in order that I might see the past 
 
 ?h J mo fi^y A • "^^f ^rH"7 «<^r know, but I distinctly remember 
 t at tue first thing of whicn I was conscious after my dissolution was 
 that the events of my past life were rising before me. Yes, it ^Z 
 my past life, which I saw m that awful moment, my past life s tanding 
 
 ^1 of ^nr ""tf ^''^ ^"tolerable horror, an abomination in thf 
 sight ot God, and of my own conscience 
 
 The hands on the dial of Time went back half a score, a score, and 
 finally a score and a half of years, and once more I was a young man of 
 twenty-one. The chambers in which I was then livin- were situated 
 in one of the well-known Inns off Holborn, and trhoTiseke^er of 
 the wing where I was quartered was a widow, who, with her daughter 
 Dorothy, a girl of seventeen, resided on the premises * 
 
 As it was Dorothy's part to wait upon the occupants of the 
 chambers, she had occasion t come to my room several times in 
 the day and I could not help noticing her loveliness, which bdeed 
 reminded me strangely .f my favourite Greuze picture When I first 
 knew her she seemed maidenly and modest, but was vain beyond a 
 question and her manner to those of the opposite sex who 
 happened to be young and good-looking, was shy and self-consciC 
 with occasional dashes of an artless W even childish coquetr^ 
 
 SvT'-T^^T^'"^^"^- ^^ '^''' girl I ^^« irresistiMy anJ 
 fatally fascmated. I was young, susceptible, and singularity Tm- 
 pres.ionable to female beauty, whilst the loneliness and th? monotony 
 of the life I was leading were in themselves elements of considerable 
 danger. To make matters worse, it was only too eviS that 
 Dorothy was not indifferent to my admiration, L she took eve^ 
 opportunity to place herself inmy way. Knowingas I did that hlZ 
 but the fascination of form and feature which attracted me and that 
 nothing but mischief was likely to come of such a passioi.T st ove 
 my hardest to steel myself against her, but Fate seemed adverse 
 
 _ •;;:-^'""^r -re^iu^ whiiu X was sitting m my study, waiting for a 
 friend, there burst over London the most fearful thunderstorm whTch 
 i ZirT'.''''''^-T ^^l ligl^t^i-g^as so vivid and theXS 
 60 terrific, that even I, who am by no means nervous about such 
 
A DEAD MAX'S DlAltY. 
 
 4^5 
 
 in the 
 
 I went to the dior, howevTi I found tJ nf w' "^^ ^"\"^ f ^"^^'^^ When 
 that .she was white JtHeir 2 LpmVr ""T""^ h«, but Dorothy, and 
 sir," she sobbed. " mothe W 1,7? "^ ^'""^ ^'''^ ^^ ^^^^- " Oh, 
 andl'msofrightenenmtlcan'f i r' "^°""" ^^^^ '^ but you 
 tne be here tiR she re urns I'H L v^.t^ '"-^f '^^ , ^^' ^^^'l^ onl/le 
 writintf." ieiurns, ill oe very quiet and not disturb your 
 
 "'ff glance to res^t on her but i ci^d^"^ T '""-'^h '' ^ ''''^^'^- 
 now. and I remember thnfL u , "°* ^^«"* looking at her 
 
 "her boscn'.Tnt tig b So ''.l^ ^rfhf 111" ■™" ''--«"^' 
 
 of her presence as she stonri W^l /^ ^^^^ consciousness 
 
 -ildly, that it was yrcould do toXrf '"' .T ^T' ^'^'^"^S so 
 
 too late; but on t^s fccLbriTpi W.'^'"'' *''',^ 
 out a timely warning and thLtwll^n. ^^\ '-'^^ "^^^^^tor speak 
 effort I nerved myself to „v a J. . ""^-^^^-tain tongue. By a great 
 Dorothy would tS me Sdis"; n"! Tl'^h^']"^ though I Lew 
 had better go downsL^sand wl^t th.1 ?" ' lu""^"^ her coldly that she 
 had scarcelj time to S mvTrn. a Tf '^^'' 'r^^''' '^^^ ^^rds 
 heard them), before tC/ vX S t i^ a Wfi"^f '^^^^^ '^' ^^"^^ ^^'^' 
 almost instantaneously \ipoTabHndfn!T.^^ thunder-peal, following 
 that blazed forth hot and red likp h.S^ f ""^ lightning-a flash 
 blighting and blasting our hVes wth Ttf fltT.*'^' *V°f '' ^'^^' 
 better for both of us aS 1 have off I .• !t ^ ?'^ ^* ^^^d been 
 struck us dead as w^ Ttood thorP ? ^^^"?f/hought, if that flash had 
 
 fear, and callingme by my Ime-mv^S^^^ "^ '^ P"^^'^° ^-^ 
 
 none could misfnterpretrDorotTv flS t '^ ^^^^^-"1 a tone that 
 next moment I found myself nri.rA/'"'^ f ^""^ ^^^' ''^^ t^e 
 and almost savage ^xuUat on Ld f pi? '\ *" '"^ ^"''^^•^ '''^^' ^ fierce 
 kisses that I lovfd ^er ' '^^'"« ^^'' '""^^^^ ^ «^«»'e of burning 
 
 whtScSht^i:!:^^^^^^^^ ^^r ^ °p^-"^^ ^f d-- 
 
 time to tell me hi rS2 Ih\t .tf /"^'^ 
 
 so. And th^n she si pped fro ' r^ ""'^ ''''' f "^. ^^'^ ^^^^ys done 
 tumbled hair and flaS cLeks to'^^irhp ' ''^"^ ^PP^^ away with 
 reached the door to look back wi'il ""'^^''^ *"'"'"^ ^« ^^e 
 
 innocently and unsusnecL'lv .n^^lr^/^f u^^^^^^ ^^f ^9 say- 
 room directly over mine was hpv nwn'^' f'^i .''"^■"' ^■^*^— tnat the 
 at night list^ening t^ my re,^^^^^^ '^''? ^^^ ^^^^« 
 
 what could keep me up Vlate ^ ^ ''"'^ ^'^' ^^^ wondering 
 
 tho'iUlhaS.tl'^^^^^^^^^ ^,^ -/ heart as I listened-the 
 
 s di sne ^v oiiia not refuse me admittance to her room should 1 
 
44C 
 
 A DEAD MAy\S JJJAJIV. 
 
 Reek her there that night-she could have had no suspicion, for it was a 
 thonglit of which, at any other time, I should have deemed myself 
 incapable. I remember that I did not fling the hateful suggestion 
 trom me asl should have done an hour earlier, although/passion- 
 niaddened as I was, I recoiled from it, and vowed that I would never 
 entertain it. But I brooded over tho horrible idea, and sketched out 
 l.oweasily it might be acted upon, were I the foul thing to do h, which I 
 still declared to mvself I was not. Had I arisen in trembli.ig honor, 
 and thrust the vile conception froiM me, as I would have thrust a 
 poisouom reptile, she and I might even then have been saved, but I 
 let it enter and take up its abo<]o in my lieart, and from thence- 
 torward I strove to drive it forth in vain. 
 
 Oh ! in God's name, in the name of Love and Truth and Purity 
 Avhen any such evil or impme thought as much as casts the shadow 
 ot Its approac ung presence on your soul, then in all the strenc^th of 
 your manhood and your honour, arise and thrust it out, ere it be too 
 late! Argue not, delay not, listen not, but hurl the loathsome 
 whisper from you as though it were some poisonous serpent, and bid 
 It De gone for ever ! 
 
 From the moment that I gave jiudienco to that messenger of 
 Satan, hell and its furies laid hold on me. Sometimes I seemed to 
 be gaming ground, sometimes I seemed to be recoverinc^ my balance 
 of mind. ^'IwUl do the right!" I cried, "I will ^of ll^^guUty of' 
 this accursed thing ! but even as I strove to fix my feeble purpose 
 to the sticking point, some moral screw seemed to give way within 
 woind purpose ebbing away like life-blood from a fatal 
 
 At last the struggle seemed to cease, and there was borne in upon 
 me a sense of peace, deep, and sweet, and restful. I know now that 
 It was but exhaustion consequent upon the strain I had endured 
 that it was nothing more than the inevitable re-action from the 
 high soul-tension to which I had been subjected. To me however 
 It seemed as the very peace of God and as a sign from heaven, and 
 lulled into a false security, I let my thoughts wander back to dwell 
 ogam upon the temptation. Need I tell the remainder of my 
 story ? ^ Need I say that my passion had but simulated defeat, 
 as passion often does, m order that it might turn in an unguarded 
 moment, and rend me with redoubled fury? The next moment I 
 saw nny last gasping eftort to will what was right and true sink 
 amid the tempestuous sea of sinful wishes, as a drowning man sinks 
 after he has risen for the third time; and deliberately thrustino- 
 away, in the very doggedness of despair, the invisible hand which yet 
 strove to stay me, I arose and sought the room that I had prayed I 
 n-.ght never enter. F'ciytu i 
 
 * * . * .* ^ ^ 
 
 You may wonder perhaps how it is that I am ahl^ f.n r^^cali ^.^ vi'"^"v 
 tiie circumstances of an event which happened many years 'a^o 
 
 Jwf "I? T^'^ ,*.^ •''^^^'' ^^^ y«" «^^°' ^« I ^^ve*" seen, the 
 ghost of your dead self rise up to cry for vengeance against you, and 
 to condemn you before the judgment seat of God, and of your own 
 
A DEAT) MAX'S DIAHY. 
 
 447 
 
 l7TLvl::X%r. "^ ,""^ «'''T« ^^ "«" ; tin. was my 
 
 it, an.l as it appeared wh^ X', r .1 '""i ^^u^^^'"* ^'^^ ^« ^lod saw 
 which I ha,l sTlon. 'ont ive 1 hfl " ^""^^'^""^^ ^^^«"'«^« ^^'i^'' 
 'SSlnlo.)ks„njchro?otcSp f. fl T'^/'r '""'•"1 nakedness, 
 
 who do it," ^Z T -uX J^ ''"I'Jr'''' ^"'!^ ^^ ^^' than to those 
 "A convict, o7a nL w o dHnk. '^ "^^" '^^•■'^"" *'^'-'»-" 
 
 horrible whin w see him bu o 1 imTeiri .^'"''^'"^ •"' '^^ ««" ^"'^ 
 and like us. We wonder vXt k nTn/ ''!'"' T'*' "^"'' *« "«- 
 just we ourselves- It^L•V.^^'^*:"■'^ *^^^ '•^' ^"^ he is 
 wondered. I had read oaen of • ^^'u *'"' ^ ^'^ **»«"^ht and 
 the newspaper, andTlrt",; t ^1^1 I th u^ron""" "' 
 of cannibals, n no wmv ima(T,r?in,.- t\ZT ^ not ght of lepers or 
 
 render sucli words a mhS o"m^ tT ^,'"**'^"^ "'^^^^^ ^^»''' 
 calling? my crime '^.XX '' in n. J''"'^ accustomed myself to 
 
 regarded ^one who ^.itLCxZ'T ^'^^"S^^t^"'^"^ I shotdd have 
 in breeding- ; and ow \iZ^\ ^"? ' "? ^' T^^'^^ "^ ^i^'»i'=''^<y and 
 "Seducer ''to all Eteraityl ^''^' ^''^"''^'^ as "Murderer '' and 
 
 mltfS •'the'?:^.r^ho\:s Jh"''""'' /"• ^-^^"^^^^ - -^ral 
 only to tand sil^by siS^ithlm XTS tTeT^a lifrT '' '] 
 
 boiily life at^the hands of tb! murderer "" "'"^"' ^^'^ '^^ ^^^" *'- 
 ofJLVroSwttLt:;^:;;^!^^ --tterable horror 
 
 which I had striven to palliatrmy sin L t?self f vf "'""'T ^V^'' 
 
 of the sexes," I had often said when str vinS f,V ^i ^ ^^^^^^oix 
 conscience, "Bah i it is but n vnbi IV "^- * ^1^*^'^''° ^" ""easy 
 
 woman I I'ove to Vive witi me and sheZd V'^T^^- I '^^' '^'^ 
 Yonder is a man who follo^v^ ihe same nvP../ /' '5"/'°"'^ ^^ ^^P'^^^' 
 motive, and because a pLst has mumu rod « f """"^ ^7''}^'' •^^'"^' 
 over the contract, he and his mrt or « f^f J^'' TI^' ^^ ^^"^•ti^" 
 
 oce into the other" ■""tteiiiig ot a raaa can transfoim the 
 
 otheraonthfeea ha.^ Lw,Sr?o°il.n^ T- '" "''1* ™™y 
 »ke," I would say to Cm "belare r' Sn 1^'^ ,, " ^'" <^«'» 
 
 .■ou>e. stai. on thotoS™^ htth!^ h^f/ 4X7^^ ^-:, t« 
 
448 
 
 A DKAD MAX'S LIARY. 
 
 it is I believe at this moment the one and only thing which still 
 keeps Hell Hell, and Satan Satan. 
 
 Must I write further of the torture-throes of that awfnl moment, 
 when I first saw my sin in its true light? God only knows how- 
 even low I shudder anil shrink at the more thought of it. but I 
 have told you of my crime, and it is right that I should speak also 
 of my pimishmont. I rerncuber that when the realization of what 
 I was, and what I had done, was first boriio in upon mo, I fell to 
 the ground and writhed in convulsive agony. The tortures of a 
 material hell,— of a thousand material hells,— I would have endured 
 with joyfulness could such torture have drowned for one moment 
 the thought-agony that tore me. Nay, more physical suffering- 
 physical suffering meted out to mo as punishment, and in which 
 though it were powerless to expiate, I could at least , irticipato by 
 enduring— I would have welcomed with <leliriou8 gladness, but of 
 such relief or diversion of thought there was none. From the mere 
 meiitio« of annihilation— the personal annihilation of soul and body, 
 of thought and sensation— I had ever slirunk with abject loathing 
 and dread ; but to annihilation, had such been then within my reach 
 I would have fought my way through a thousand devils. But in 
 hell there is no escape through annihilation ; suicide, the last refuf^o 
 of tyrannous and cowardly despair, is of none avail, *' 
 
 " And death once dead there's no more dying then." 
 
 What had to be endured I found must be endured, and that unto 
 the uttermost, for m all horrid hell there was no nook or cranny 
 into which I could creep to hide myself from the hideous spectres of 
 the past. I remember that I rose up in my despair, and stretching 
 vain hands to the impotent heavens, shrieked out as only one can 
 shriek who is torn by hell-torture, and despair. I fell to the ground 
 and writhed and foamed in convulsive and bloody agony But 
 not thus could I rid myself of the sights of hell, nor could mere 
 physical pain wipe out from my brain the picture of the ruin I had 
 wrought. 
 
 And then— but no, I am sick, I am ill, I am fainting, I cannot 
 1 cannot write more. * 
 
 (To he cmtiaucd.) 
 
 PROOFS. 
 
 "Is there a Heaven ?" I wondered. Then we met ;— 
 There was no need to say the words again. 
 
 XX ri--xi : j:iii ; iuvt?, 1 iuuiuou, Dor fflaj forget. 
 Beside thy grave its fierce eternal pain. 
 
 H. D. Loiory. 
 
HJ/0 AHA CHRISTIAN MIXISTERfi? 
 
 440 
 
 WHO ARK CHMISTIAN MhMSTEMS i 
 
 T"thlptrem!rf r^'^'r ?!'"r*^y^«/'^e ^ey to the solution of 
 
 WHmr rth?Htfll. ■'"*'*''' ^ "'^^' ""^' '' "^^ ^^^hout a decisive 
 (m3 on the still n.oro momentous (|.ie8tion of the effieiencv of 
 
 G^d''te ^^T\"" "; -^tablishing and ixtending the "Kin^dZ of 
 
 it wrid no Ion.f^r; • - ™''''^^ "" technicality of ecclesiastics 
 
 wo ou-ht tS mis it I ; ?• V ' ""^ "^ '^^'S'""« organizations 
 it hftT IL n/ . ^.. ' ^"^ ^"^ ''"'^ '"°»'o urgent themes. But 
 ^ has the closest rclati- '. ..u the everyday lifS of men o tho 
 
 lTes""d to tho""' r'."" V'r T"'^'"' '-^- tLt\wa;'th " 
 
 1 n^r .-^ applications of the Christianity of Christ Jesus to 
 
 he amelioration o the social condition of the world. And the cfore 
 
 n ent of iho"^/ '" ^^7 A '"''^-^ ^''' ^" '^^^' "^^^ -"^ S^eatS r^d u t.' 
 
 Sff vhic^Tn'tl ^.^'r^^«\S«?«ties to the new circumstance of 
 
 Zu^rZ^t:^^^^^^^ "^^-^^ ^^™ -- dooming on 
 
 Ihe Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, Dr. Ellicott savs in a m^^nf 
 
 address to the clergy and laity of his diicese in S 1 4Te to an effort 
 
 until tin f- T'^ -^^^ ''"^ practical discussion of the subiect 
 until the time when it may be, God mav so far draw the skies of 
 the chasm together that the bridge may at last bTmado '' Tn n 
 
 or tno cleigy of the Scandinavian Church. A recentlv U^unA 
 
 ftLndTAndX <? "^f r^l^ ^^^^^"^*-- - necestr^Tm n "S 
 Churches ''Fv r^'*^ administration of the " Sacraments of the 
 
 j^piscopai ordination, be the pastor as inspired and j?iftod »^ Pnnl 
 
 of the call if r W„T?!K""f "'""'?? 0'«'»'"»ente, and the conviction 
 the call oi the Holy Ghost, are all secondary to valid ordination.f 
 
 of sfZtu. '*"*"• ^" ''"''"'"'■ =y ^"-f " «"-»"1. 1-L-B., B.A., ncv 
 
450 
 
 WHO ARE CHRISTIAN MINISTERS? 
 
 But cheering and prophetic changes are in sight. Dr. Perowne 
 the Dean ot Peterborough, in a paper* enriched not less with' 
 sweet reasonableness and Christian justice than with learnino- and 
 ability says of the Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Congregational and Baptist 
 Churches : I dare not for one moment accept the position that these 
 churches are not churches at all, that their ministers are not lawful 
 ministers, and their sacraments are not valid sacraments." And 
 more recently Dr. Donald, speaking for himself and Dr. Phillipps 
 tJrooks at the installation of the successors of Henry Ward Beecher 
 said he greeted Dr. Abbot and Mr. Bliss " as Ministers of the Lord Jesus 
 a7 m every respect spiritually competent to preach the Word of God 
 and to administer the two sacraments which belong to the Church " ' 
 But valuable as are such individual acts and judgments, the most 
 signihcant circumstance is the new light being cast on the origins 
 and early forms of the Christian Ministry by the rigorous applica- 
 tion ot historical science to the facts of early Church History 
 in a historical temper.f There has been an enormous massing of 
 historical material during the last twenty years; and a precise and 
 thorough investigation has been given to that material by such com- 
 petent scholars as Lightfoot and Hatdh. Zahn and Harnack ; tendin- 
 partly, to fill up "the chasm" that separates the Churches with the 
 debris ot ecclesiastical theories; and still more, to bring the sides of 
 the chasm so close together that our successors will have no need for 
 r L!u^?^ bridge, but will be able to grasp hands in the clearer 
 light that reveals the truth of a great historical situation in its ruling- 
 motive, total movement, and true perspective. Harnack says, " Th? 
 knowledge of to-day is richer in historical points of view," and on few 
 subjects IS this more manifest than concerning the character and 
 conditions of the ministry for teaching and for administration of the 
 nrst Christian communities. 
 
 ^Aw.,?^"'^.^ ^^^ "^"'''* "^* anticipate immediate extensive changes. 
 
 ^othmg is so mournful," says George Meredith, "as the way in 
 which a theory wi 1 hold the wis ;" but false theories are at last 
 eaten through and destroyed by the acid of historical scientiiic 
 enquiry Lux Mimdi" is a .witness in point. The Essay by the 
 Editor, the Rev. C. Gore, M.A., Principal of Pusey House, offbrs such 
 surprising evidence of capitulation to modern criticism in reference 
 to the integrity and authority of Catholic tradition, to the Old Testa- 
 ment and Inspiration, that we may justly expect important changes 
 in the next edition of his " Church and the Ministry." 
 
 It IS admitted tbnt the earliest datum in church organization is the 
 <listinction between the preaching of the gospel and the care of the 
 neeay., Ihat cleavage cortainly remains for a considerable period. 
 It appears m the " Apostle^,, prophets and teachers " of the Corinthians 
 and the JJidaut/, who are not restricted to any locality but minister 
 freely amongst tne churches, whilst presbyters, bishops, and deacons 
 
 * Lippiiicott's Ma^.., Jan. 1890, p. 153. 
 
 t Hatch. Bampton Lectures, p. 2. 
 
 t Harnack, Expositor, May, J877, p. 324. 
 
WHO ARE CintlSTIAN MINISTERS? 451 
 
 are responsible for the care of the poor, tlie direction of discinlino 
 the organization of hospitality, keeping 'the churcrrolls and the 
 tZttTi T'«°"^\f T^t^P' ^^'^'^^^' -t ^ 1^^'ter da e, those of 
 fndtacw'* "' ''^'' '^"'"-^^ *^^^ ^^"^^- of apostles, prophett 
 
 «l,f* ^«„ Jia.2ardous to say what will be the final finding of the scholar- 
 ship of this age but there is certainly a strong set iS the current if 
 evidence towards the conclusion, that for the first half century of the 
 history of the Churches, "there was (1) liberty of proplLyina" as 
 in the Church at Corinth (I. Corinthians, c. y.1) ■ (rthat Sje? 
 
 eTh'orrtd^Lustoffic"^^*"' the churches to ^prU'taTh td 
 exnoit and that (3) officers were selected, as superintendents for the 
 
 SattnnrS"'"* V^' ''''''^r ^"^ ^°^- the management of con! 
 giegational affairs. Sermons, if vve may apply th? word to the 
 
 st?e o7short*t """^^^\" '' f?'^* date,' , e^e"^ fn the ruLent^y 
 
 tion lapt feeling and rich Christian ideas; whilst what we should 
 
 Smittee'o ""d'^"^^'.*'"i^'"^-?^^^^^ ^^^ thrdirectln o " a 
 ^ZTi^tJ' ^^'^^°"« V^^d a chief or chiefs who were called 
 
 or^«Son!'' n ^r'^Tl-'' >^™»;f»tly Jewish, and "overseers" 
 or bishops m those distinctively Gentile. Episcopacy as we see 
 
 tL cLrr''"" r "^^^^^'^l^^^l' ^'^ ^o place in^heist cen ury S 
 
 the KWdom'f f'n "^rii I' "'* ''^^'''''^ ^"^°°g«t t^^« ^^rly ideals of 
 the Kingdom of God, but appears at length as Sne of the expedients 
 
 an a^Sit^T;J"*r^r^^ by Church leaders just as a commandei of 
 an aimy adjusts his forces to the changing conditions of the field 
 
 thpi/''-rT'! \' '^'''' ^''' century Societies, if conformit^^ 
 their ministry be taken as the test, are not the Roman Catholic 
 organisations around us, nor yet the Anglican, nor evrthe Prcsbv- 
 terian or Congregational, but the Friends, whise ministers are stfu 
 regarded as "prophets," and are not fixed to onelSty butviS 
 
 no\e7r?h Z>Yr^^"'"^f^^ T' '^'^'^ -d eS, whoTe 
 Tr^A I f"V^ °^ ^°^' ^^^^«t the administration of discipline 
 
 T.;::^!u::Lt:SiZt'' '' ''^' society „„derthediL^l" 
 
 That spiritual conception of the Christian Ministry reigns amonjrsfc 
 
 dealT?nX N ' 't^ ^''^^^^'T^ Christian coLunions (fu 
 deal IS in the New TestameLt and in the writings referring to the 
 Christian organizations of the first century. No dSubt in the^no. 
 to he age " the conditions of things were fluid." But it is undeniSe" 
 that "the dispensation of the Spirit " was characteristically one 0? 
 *Cf. Dr Sanday. E,pos{tor, Feb., 1887, p. 109. Eomans, xvi 7 is 
 sufficient evidence that the word apostle is not restricted to the we Iv;' ihe 
 Me uses both apostle and ^^rophet in a wider sense, and speaks ob hops and 
 deacons as still occupying a secondarv place a« con pn../..S t nf e^ ^^^ 
 ttrS" " trr'' *'T'^"' ^^^ y"^"^-^-^' ^^^^opsTn-d dt onrtrtVof 
 tLv tnrf ' T f "'' "''f '"^ ^°' ^°^''*«»«' ^^"^ t^'"«^f"l and approv^P^fri 
 S h^m^t^ forT *'" """I '' *'" P^°P^^*^ andteachers.''Tro;efo: 
 
452 
 
 WHO ARE CHRISTIAN MIXISTIJRS? 
 
 Liberty was the divine mark of the new era. The marvellous 
 influx of spiritual power would not brook restra nt It XmaS 
 
 heTCke w fhZTd " ''"^™ r^'"' ^^ *^^ Holy Ghtrfnl 
 tney spake with boldness and much assurance. Spiritual oualifiea- 
 
 iearm^htS"' if all-inclusive. Whoever^ould C or 
 assodatrd wffh / ^^\' ^'?"f 'P^"*"^l ^"^^ intellectual abilities. 
 
 One "tdev ' 1- ;S' ^u '^'''f^'^i ^^^^^^e. Caste was not known, 
 hi if nrwf '^^Sf^^' *'ie order of regenerate souls; and all were 
 
 abihf'v " a""''!, ^'^""^ *° ^'^'^'' ^■"^^^^' ^^d preach as thev Imd 
 fdeas^o'f Ohf S?f. •! ^T. ?.'^- ^'^^ '^^'^^^ *^«*^fy *° *he facts and 
 of a Hvini I • *^ •'''^*'- ^^'^' e-^Penence of the power and grace 
 nrprJof^ Saviour ; and m essence and elements these were the 
 pieiogatives of every Christian. " Prophets " were men gifted with a 
 genius for spiritual ideas and susceptible of quick and f? 1 re ;le 
 
 Si and t\?'" T '^V^^?P"■i* «*■ p°^^' t^e Spirit that wroug^ht in 
 all. and the "Teachers" were those who were endowed with 
 
 :SeTL'"heTSXr" " '^'^''*' '^"^ -^^ ^^^^' ^^^^"^^ ^^^ 
 
 thP^nnl'y4'"''''''''*'r5' ""^^ recognition are and wore the three, and 
 the only three qualifications for the discharge of the highest ministry 
 of the Churches of Jesus Christ. Whoever has the power of 
 
 7^^'T^ *^' I y *^^^^^ "^ ^°d " *« «^e°' ^"d "«es that power in 
 single-hearted obedience to the call of God to serve his generation by 
 
 nPpl^^^^T ^""^ '° '''"'■^' *^^ confidence of his Christian brethren, 
 needs nothing more to make his ministry " valid," and can receive 
 nothing more excepting the all-fructifying blessing of God. 
 
 i^ut what IS this poiuer for ministry ? May it not involve the C(mi. 
 J^T- *^\^^^^e °^ ? ^^jid ordination " by the " potentate-bisliop," 
 ApostlesT' ''''^''' ^'^*' "' "^^r'^'^e^ succession from the 
 
 fn "^r ^"'K.^^^^^'ers to +^at question may be given. First the claim 
 to aposlohcity is discredited and gone beyond all recoverv. The 
 monarchical constitution of the Church cannot be traced back to the 
 Apostles. Up to 140 A.D. there was no monarchical episcopate. 
 IgTiatius knows nothmg of any bishop save the one who has charge of 
 
 theA oST^*'"'"'*^'''^ "^'''''' ''''"'^''^r' ^'^^^""^^ ^^ successors of 
 Add to this a brief statement of what is required in a Christian 
 minister. Before all things he must be a man, "a man of God." 
 iNot an elegant plausibility or make-b-lieve, not a reciter or per- 
 tormer; but a living mass of genuine i.u.nhood, averse to cant and 
 
 * (^n Harnack, Expog., Jan., 1886, p. IG. 
 
 t "No one ought to acknowledge the genuineness of the third Epistle of John, 
 with Its unmeasured railing at the man who loves the primacy, and hold that thd 
 monarchical episcopate was of apostolic authority." Dr. Sanday, Expos., April, 
 
WHO ARE CHRISTIAN MINISTERS? 
 
 453 
 
 insincerity baldness and externalisra, the destructive parasites tha^ 
 insincer ty, ra spiritual genuineness is the first sign ot a 
 
 infest aU ;^^li|^^^^^^^^^^ depth is the second, spiritual heat the t urd, and 
 divine call spmtu^.1 de^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ i^ the 
 
 Wmmmm 
 
 l^rfttheSTo hS^^^^^ tf:Su?sJ who is the power of 
 
 l^- vf .1. nnwpr of theiis fusing their indifference and giving a 
 his life the power ot theirs, ms .^ ^^^^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ 
 
 • ;o7m «niHtual ideas and for interpreting the spiritual lite in 
 a genius foi f i^,f ^f.l^^^^^^ and the Churches will recognize 
 
 ht SftTlnd S wUl s^rvTrgL^ration through the ministration 
 ^ thf LdcI acco7d ng to the will of God. So the Christian mmistry 
 
 ofan ecclesiastical caste but a senicea^e deepest, most 
 
 Divine V»V^'=' :J™ *1-X h and Conscience, with^iration 
 
 "?^^^tiShe?o"es'tha feed the spiritual life, with themes that 
 and duty, with the torcestnai re r ^^ ^^^ ^^ ,j 
 
 TrL^d :! th^ ^l^Aii^y of the future, but surpasses all 
 ^« the tme interpreter of the seen and unseen universe, as the 
 Se''enge"of Jorg-eness, the helper in righteousness, and the herald 
 
 ''^TCs'as^^Rlnan reminds us, the question of the ministry is really 
 thrrearqSon What is the essential element in the Church ? 
 T^ if the clemy? Or is it the regenerated and inspired soul? 
 Is It the c^igyj ^ «clerffv" everything, and therefore treats 
 ^:ScrsuTess on as vi^aTInd fundamental to the ministry ; and 
 
 r+tp^es of a ''sacred order" gravitate towards the same cone u- 
 f on Tor i that aF The questfon is deeper still. . It is a quesUou 
 ^f the real nature of religion. Is it spiritual and inward ; a ife ot 
 love and eTv ce of Godlnd men, or is it external, mechanical and 
 salramentln The conception of religion shapes and moulds the 
 
 • w Tf thP ministrv We go back therefore to the broad and simple 
 
 fe hing'oV^r7^^^^^^^^ 
 
 t.-^ +«ii „c. that Hfp is onlv lived according to Gods ideal ot it, wneu 
 
 ":a%*fteetra£ and does makf, the fullest and finest use 
 
 of every " Uent " he has for the service of his fellows. 
 
 Johi Clifford. 
 
4i>4 ♦ 
 
 »^# 
 
 LO VK. 
 
 '# 
 
 As of old the wildered dove, 
 Wandering over waters dark, 
 Finding neither fount nor grove, 
 fought shelter in her home, the' ark, 
 
 So, my little one, my love. 
 Turns my restless heart to thee, 
 Weary whereso'er she rove 
 O'er the inhospitable sea. 
 
 Time hath linked us heart to heart 
 With links of mutual memory, 
 Of gentle power, if aught would part, 
 Jlo bind us close until we die. 
 
 If the world arise to sever, 
 Steals a tiny spirit hand. 
 Glides to reunite us ever 
 From the holy silent land. 
 
 Find the birthplac3 of sweet Love ; 
 All our fairest gifts may go. 
 Yet will He immortal prove. 
 Fairest of all gods we know ! 
 
 Find his nest within the grove 
 Of mystic manifold delight ; 
 Though all the summer leaves remove. 
 He will abide through winter's night/ 
 Unsearchable the ways of Love ! 
 Though all the singing choir be gone. 
 Love Himself will linger on. 
 
 Discover hidden paths of Love ; 
 Explain the common miracle ! 
 Dear abundant treasure-trove. 
 Celestial springs in earthly well. 
 In human vase Heaven's oenomel ! 
 
 i 
 
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