Betty at Fort Blizzard

from the C. O. giving the order in detail from the War Department; Broussard was to make the next steamer sailing from San Francisco. He

ot on the habitable globe, and least of all did he want to go to the island possessions. But he said no word of complaint, took, with perfe

give his costly rugs and lamps and glass and china to the Lawrences-they were originally used to that sort of thing and Broussard was in no fear of the Colonel's mis

y to cock-fighting. The chaplain, seeing the grand piano was about to be thrown away on anybody who could take it, managed to secure it for the men's reading-room. The thing which perplexed Broussard most was, what to do with Gamechick. He longed to give the horse to Anita but dared not. However, fate befriended him in this matter and Anita got Gamechick by other means. When Colonel Fortescue came home f

and horses and game chickens, and all thos

o load themselves up with that kind of thing act just alike. As soon as they are ordered s

n't help loving the horse that might have killed me and did not. Daddy, if I give u

s Broussard to own Gamechick, but Anita ha

ear," replied the

odest allowance for a couple of years to b

k. The horse has a pedigree longer than mine, and I have often noticed th

Colonel, good naturedly. "Broussard's h

buy a good horse for a song of any man, least of all one of his own subalterns. When Broussard got the Colone

ran, "which, together with your fine horsemanship, sa

to sell him to her father. Broussard felt sure that Anita would ride Gamechick and there was much solid comfort in that, for an officer's charger, which carr

in the midst of his disordered sitting-room settled himself for his last cigar before turning in for the night. At that moment he heard a tap at the door, and opening it, Lawrence was standing on the thre

the private soldier and the officer. He sat down heavily, without

going," sa

eplied B

ld be no more Broussard to help him pay the post trader's bills and

t was a very expensive cigar, as Broussard's things were all expensive

hat," he said, "but the truth is, I can't stand tobacco

looked closely at Lawrence, whose face

re bills at the post tr

g her. They want her to leave me, and offer to provide for her and the boy. The work is killing her-you see how pale and thin she is-and the boy hasn't the chance he ought to have. They are worth more than a b

edge, Broussard knew that some disclosure, poignant and even vital to himself, was then to be made by Lawrence. It c

name of our mother, for you and I, Victor

lsively. Broussard's lighted cigar dropp

, my mother's son by her first marriage, died wh

's mercies that she thought me dead when I was living a life that would have been worse than death to her. Look you, I have disobeyed and defied and disgr

helming thoughts that were crashing through Broussard's brain, but one thing

on, for my mother's sake. I was always puzzled at your knowledge of my parents, but I w

married your father, I was fourteen years old. She gave me the wedding ring my father had given her;

he initials and the date he had seen in the family record. Then, handing the ring back,

ike my mother, and the

me-a face that had always appealed to him so strongly, and so strangely. Yes, it was the call of the bloo

overing himself a little. "I can't urge her to leave me, but I think

," replied

would never do, after the Colonel's warning,

to pay any calls except to the C. O.," said Broussard, after a moment. "But I will see

cried Lawrence. "Don't tell it, for the sake

nce, his respect and sympathy for Mrs. Lawrence suddenly changed into the love of a b

the two men, which wa

et a discharge

keep me in. However, I've kept soberer and acted straighter since I've been an enlisted man than for a long

I'll look out for your wife and child. The boy shall have

ed as brothers do, and felt their mot

was at breakfast, a note was handed to him

ted me to talk with his wife about a family matter in which he feels he can not advise her. Can y

scribbled on the

use at ten o'clock and I wi

put her hand on his shoulder. There was, however, no gainsaying the C. O., and at ten o'clock Broussard rang the bell at the

Colonel's

entrance. As she and Broussard met in the sunny hall, brimming with the morning light

head, usually with a graceful droop, was erect; she radiated silent displeasure. Then Broussard and Mrs. Lawrence entered the office

plain that she was not strong. Broussard,

r, after this, that you and he have a bro

Mrs. Lawrence's eyes and

ight. I can't express what I feel-but the bo

you have a chance of going back to your own people and that you are breaking

t ask me why I love him so. I couldn't explain it to you to save my life, but I will say that since the day we were married-I ran away to marry him-he has never spoke

od hu

elling and admiring the constancy, the self-delu

nto her face, "But my resolution is made. What you said about helping the boy only

move Mrs. Lawrence. Besides, he had spoken to her from a profound sense of justice; in his heart, the t

was settled inevitably. Broussard took

o me and there will be more. Lawrence feels, as I do, that for the sake of ou

ce. Her woman's pride was cut to the qui

suggestion

e. In the hall Broussard left cards for Colonel and Mrs. Fortescue and Anita. Kettle, having heard that Broussard was leaving, came out of the

ispered, "doan' you be skeered of Mr. Conway-he treat Miss '

Conway's plan was best. But he gave Ke

come back, Kett

s own mind. Anita had seen just enough to p

lding Gamechick by the bridle, del

ck. "You did me the best turn any creature, man or beast, ever

ard's words were a farewell. He turned his large, intelligen

Never will I, your fai

wn the broad stone steps to where Gamechick was standing like a bronze horse, the best-trained and best-mannered and best-bred cavalry charger at Fort Blizzard. Anita put her arm about his neck and rubbed her cheek against his satin coat, Gamechick receiving her caresses w

last glimpse Brouss

er arm about Ga

ild, for anything created, than love for a woman! No man gets out of that business without complications, and when the woman is half

frozen Northwest, across the sapphire seas, and into