Starlight Ranch, and Other Stories of Army Life on the Frontier

t there if one's object be to see the cadets. From early morn until l

world,-that which intervenes 'twixt supper and evening "call to quarters." That Miss Nannie McKay should make frequent and unfavorable comment on this state of affairs goes without saying; yet, had she b

and consequently out of much of the temptation he would otherwise have been in. Mrs. McKay had been able to see very little more of the young man, but she had the prayerful consolation that if

rits she spent her days. Regularly as the sun came around, before guard-mount in the morning and right after supper in the evening, she was sure to be on the south piazza of the old hotel, and when presently the cadet uniforms began to appear at the hedge, she, and others, would go tripping lightly down the path to meet the wearers, and then would follow the half-hour's walk and chat in which she found such infi

day, there was one young lady at the hotel who did not,-a young lady whom, b

best knew through cadet descriptions, there existed what they termed an "understanding," if not an engagement. Every day, when not prevented by duties, Mr. Lee would come stalking up from barracks, and presently away they would stroll together,-a singularly handsome pair, as every one admitted. One morning soon after the Stanleys' arrival he appeared in saddle on his stylish bay, accompanied by an orderly leading another horse, side-saddled; and then, as by common

ained, with suggestive nod of her curly head towards the pair just trotting out upon

s a mischievous little minx with ha

brother," answers Miss Nan, stoutly, although those readily flushing cheeks of hers promptly throw

rs. Several cadets have told me so. He always does, first, everyth

party and the centre of a wide circle of interest, sympathy, and anxiety in those girlish hearts, their loyalty is proof against opin

ou value quite as much as you do your br

ich she wishes she had left unsaid; and for two days now he has not sought her side as heretofore, though she knows he has been at the hotel to see hi

one," is the not

st in a man she will say things decidedly detrimental to his character solely for the purpose of having

t his classmates think, and too m

"Mr. Burton says he is the most popular tactical officer here, and many a cadet-good friends

uspicion," is the stout reply. "If he did that to any one else

f friends in the corps, and she is just as loyal and quite as pronounced in her views as her little adversary. They are

een in Mr. Lee's place or on officer-of-the-day duty they would have had to give Will that report you

friend of Will's would say such a thin

nd, and a war

veral, Kitty, and I don

don't believe it, you can ask Mr. Stanl

atter. Mr. Stanley had volunteered no such remark as that she so vehemently quoted. Asked point blank whether he considered as given "on suspicion" the report which Mrs. McKay and Nannie so resented, he replied that he did not; and, when further pressed, he said that Will alone was blamable in the ma

o Will. But Mr. Stanley was not to be seen: "Gone off with another girl," was the announcement made to her by Mr. Werrick, a youth who dearly loved a joke, and who saw no need of explaining that the other girl was his own sister. Sorely disappointed, yet hardly knowing why, she accepted her mother's invitation to go with her to the barracks where Will was promenading the area on what Mr. Werrick called "one of his perennial punishment tours." She went, of course; but the distant sight

ould it mean? Irresolute she stood there a moment, waiting for him to come forward; but though she saw that twice his eyes sought hers, he was still bending courteously and listening to the voluble words of the somewhat elderly dame who claimed his attention. Nan began to rebel against that woman from the bottom of her heart. What was she to do? Here was his card. In response she had come down to receive him. She meant to be very cool from the first moment; to provoke him to inquiry as to the cause of such unusual conduct, and then to upbraid him for his disloyalty to her brother. She certainly meant that he should

hely hails "Miss Mischief." "Who

e can frame an answer there is a rustle of skirts and a light foot-fall beh

Why, I've been waiting at least a quarte

tes ago. Was it not b

use I had promised Mr. Fearn that he should have ten minutes, and it

dodges past the party of cadets and girls now blocking the stairway and preventing flight to her room, hurries out the south door a

reated him kindly of late. She has been capricious and unjust on several occasions, but ther

will go and find out about the card," he says, and ble

s from the thickly lacing branches of the cedars on the river-bank below. A flawless mirror in its grand and reflected framework of cliff and crag and beetling precipice, the Hudson stretches away northward unruffled by the faintest cat's-paw of a breeze. Far beyond the huge

ars set their wa

ll, where laugh and chatter and flaring gas-light bid defiance to influences such as hold t

ing has gone agley. Could she but flee to her room and hide her flaming cheeks and cry her heart out, it would be relief inexpressible, but her retreat is cut off. She cannot escape. She cannot face those keen-eyed watchers in the hall-ways. Oh! it is almost madden

I cannot talk with you here-now, and there is so much I want to say." He bends over her pleadingly, but her eyes are fixed far away up the dark wooded valley beyond the whi

I must be excused from interf

y want to speak with you. Have you been quite kind to me of late

ght opportunity to inquire,"

k I have asked for a walk, and y

ven with the monogram of some cadet friend, that hangs as usual by its tiny golden chain. She wants to say that he has found

e been any matters you wished explained," she sa

rs, quietly; "but my sister wished to return c

ke him feel it in some way. This is not at all in accordance with the mental private rehearsals she has been having. There is still that direfu

friend of Willy's," she says

am," he ans

rself would have given him the report that so nearly 'found him on de

y is silen

ve volunteered no opinions on the subject. In answer to direct question I

u would have giv

uld have been compelled to do so. I could

gentle, but decidedly superior. Not at all what she wanted. Not at all eager to explain, argue, or implore. Not at all the tearful penitent

ue ribbon that I gave you-or that you took-last summer. I did not s

e controls the tremor in his voice. She does not see. Her eyes ar

ut it seems to me that such f

d instantly by a sinking heart. He makes no answer whatever. She dares not look up into his face to see t

ly to her room, and on the bureau finds a little box securely tied, sealed, and addressed to her in his well-k

I have that was yours to give, but even this must

our brother than you do now, and then, perhaps, will realize that you we

little packet as she did. She knew w

f ribbo