"Yes; Miss Blossom is tired. I shall look in in the morning," and he began to search about for his hat. "I am glad to have so good a report to carry back to Orme. The poor boy is inclined to take more blame than fairly belongs to him." "Tell him I am not hurt at all. He must come and see me to-morrow," said Blossom faintly from the sofa. "You must not be tiring yourself with too many visitors," Mrs. Stubbs interposed. Evidently the lieutenant was in disgrace with the sutler's widow. "For one little moment," pleaded Blos som. But her mother made no reply. She was stirring the fire noisily and setting the room in order. All the peaceful stillness that had hung over the place a moment before now flew up the chimney and away. It was not a paradise any longer, in which, as the young man had thought, one could linger forever. The bustle of every-day life had come back. It was only when he looked at Blossom, pale and sweet and languid in her white gown, with her cheek pressing the flaring roses, that the dream remained. He had no excuse to linger, but he could not go without a word from her. Would she be angry with him for his presumption? Dear child! Would she know that it was presuming? Somebody should take care of her. Oh, if "At least, I may tell the lieutenant you forgive him?" he said interrogatively, addressing Blossom, and stepping directly before the gaudy sofa. "There is nothing to forgive," she answered in a low voice, while the color flew over her cheeks. But she did not lift her eyes, or put out her hand when he bade her good-night. And had she forgiven him also? He could not tell, he said to himself. He would see her in the morning. And he found himself humming a gay song-he who had no voice for singing-as he strode across the paradeground to his quarters, where Orme was waiting for him. It had been a long half hour to the boy, whose face was fairly haggard with dread. "Will she die ?" he asked in a husky voice. The blood flew into Captain Elyot's face; the stem of the pipe snapped between his teeth. Had the gossip of the garrison fastened on him? "What do they say ?" he repeated. "I'll take it all, Orme." "I talk like a fool, but it's true all the same," Lieutenant Orme replied. "They say the old woman would rather see you with her daughter than me. That's the whole of it, Elyot, on my honor. Gossip, you know; but the Lord's truth. Of course she'd rather you went there than I; and so would Blossom. That's the worst of it," the boy added, with a choke in his voice, dropping his face into his hands. "You don't mean to say, boy Captain Elyot's voice was hoarse. He wheeled suddenly round in his chair, tossed his pipe into the fire and regarded his friend. "How could I help it?" said the lieutenant. "Such a dear little girl, and seeing her day after day! I've been there no end of times when you didn't know it.” "Yes; I suppose so." "And she seemed always glad to see me, and all that, you know, till sometimes I've thought "Yes, yes," Captain Elyot said brusquely. Had he not been going through this same course of reasoning to-night? "But have you said anything of this to You haven't been turning her head, her? Orme ?" "What do you mean? I'd ask her to marry me to-morrow if I dared. But it's no use." And the lieutenant fell back into despair again. "But I am thinking of myself," persisted the lieutenant. "Of course I know it is nothing to you, and I wouldn't have said that to any one else. But you have stood by me like like a trump ever since we came over the plains together, and I couldn't keep anything in my heart from you." "Don't gush," Captain Elyot said, shortly. "What can I do for you, boy?" "You might help me, if you would, since it is nothing to you. Now, if you "Please to consider yourself. I might help you, and so I will; anything in the world." He had succeeded in making his voice almost hearty and free. “If you'd—stay away.” "What?" "If you would stay away till I could try my chance." "Yes, to be sure;" Captain Elyot answered quietly, hardly knowing what he was saying. "Not entirely, of course. You'll have to take me round there at first, for Mrs. Stubbs will never let me into the house until she has forgotten this. Even when I have made my peace with her, you must show yourself occasionally, just to keep her in good humor; not staying long at a time, or saying too much to Miss Blossom." "No, oh no; I suppose you have considered this matter on every side." "I can't think of anything else." "As far as it concerns your own happiness. But have you given a thought to how this fancy-I beg your pardon-thisthis choice may strike-your father and mother?" All the vague doubts as to the wisdom of a connection with the Stubbs family took shape, and crowded upon Captain Elyot's mind now. He remembered old Colonel Orme, the lieutenant's father,—whom, with his elegant wife, he had met a year or two before. How would they look upon Blossom, and, above all, upon Mrs. Stubbs ? Surely it was his duty, if not to warn the lieutenant, at least to set this matter before him. I am afraid it was one of those times when duty is an unconscious satisfaction. "They might stand out at first, but they'd come round." Young Orme's doubts had faded when thrust into the light. "She is so sweet, who could resist her ?" Who, indeed! thought Captain Elyot, forgetting to respond aloud, and aware of nothing but that he was being galloped over rough-shod by this heedless boy. And the lieutenant thrust both hands into what would have been a mass of light curls but for a very close cut of the day before, as he stared with scowling brow at the rough deal table on which his elbows rested. "I suppose one couldn't kill her! Fancy my mother taking up Mrs. Stubbs! But don't distress yourself, old fellow. Perhaps we could pension her off. There'd be some way to arrange all that. There always is." And with this cheerful, young philosophy, the conference ended, as Captain Elyot announced his intention of retiring. Without some reminder of the lateness of the hour, Lieutenant Orme would have gone on till morning singing Blossom's praises and balancing his chances. His hopes grew with the sound of his own voice, and he went off at last entirely assured and happy. "You shall be best man," he exclaimed, thrusting his head in at the door, when he had apparently taken himself away. "And, see here, Elyot," appearing again, "I shall expect you to make it all right with the colonel." "Get to bed, will you!" roared Captain Elyot at this second interruption. "And mind, boy, I positively decline dwelling upon this subject more than twelve hours out of the twenty-four, vitally interesting though it is; and now off with you!" And he closed the door and turned the key in the lock. He had the room to himself, but still he was in no haste to retire. He paced back and forth, smoking one fierce pipe after another, until long after every sound about him was stilled. Once, in passing his open desk, a sealed letter, lying with face upturned, caught his eye. It was the one he had written and never sent to his Uncle Jeremy. He tore it up deliberately before he resumed his march. He was in no mood to-night to bind himself with chains of this old man's welding, though what did it matter what became of him now! The morning, pale and grayclad, peered into his room before, tired out at last, he went to bed. He acceded to all his friend had proposed. He took him around to Mrs. Stubbs's domicile, and assisted him to make his peace with that exacting female. Then he staid away faithfully for a fortnight. Even when his visits were resumed, they were at intervals growing longer as the weeks went by. He held firmly to his promise, as a soldier and man of honor should do, he said to Languor and discontent vanished like a puff of smoke. Anything was better than the mole-life they had been leading for the past three months. Even death is a cup men drink greedily enough with a froth of excitement on the top. And not an officer at the post-unless among the married men, with whom family considerations weighed heavily-but hoped he might be ordered to join the expedition. himself, when the light from Blossom's win- | swiftly; and discontent or indifference to dow tempted him in passing the house. everything-except the card-table, which The brightness seemed to have dropped out still held its votaries-was slowly creeping of his life at this time. It was like an into the garrison, when news came that disilluminated picture with the sun left out. turbances had broken out down in the But he kept faithfully to his promise. He Washita country, with a report that troops was haunted by Blossom's face as he had were to be sent from Fort Atchison at once seen it the night after her fall on the ice- to join General Johnston there. lying against the thornless roses, with its half-shut eyes, its drooping mouth, like a tired child. And again, he thrilled at the thought of the trembling hand he had kissed. She had made no effort to draw it away. She had flushed rosy red. Could he have mistaken the meaning of it all? She was a child, innocent, ignorant of herself, but with the heart of a woman. And had her heart not responded to his in that one instant? He asked himself this again and again,— more frequently perhaps than was quite consistent with the fealty he had sworn to his friend; for he had vowed within himself that he would put all thought of Blossom out of his mind. But the thought of those we love is like ghosts and spirits; bolts nor bars avail against them. And though he saw the girl but seldom now, and rarely without the lieutenant by his side to divide with him her smiles and blushes, the shadow of her innocent self never left him. The lieutenant, in the meanwhile, vibrated between assurance and despair; and, like a sieve, could hold neither hopes nor fears. Reduced to infinitesimal, tormenting particulars by this filtering, his visits to the Stubbses, -which he had managed to make almost daily again,-Blossom's friendly greeting, her timid ways, her growing charms, were all spread out by the boy before his friend. To listen was like rubbing an inflamed wound, and yet Captain Elyot could not turn his ear away. Unconsciously, while he argued aloud for his friend, or mechanically concurred in the lieutenant's hopes, he was arguing mentally in his own favor, and feeding little by little the flame he honestly intended to extinguish. At times he was tempted to throw up his commission, return to the states, and even submit himself to Uncle Jeremy's wishes. But the last was only the indifference of despair, and this state was never of long continuance. More often, the increasing fascination of Blossom's vicinity, even though he saw her so seldom now, held him to the fort. The winter was wearing away. There had been no excitement of action, and but little social gayety to make the long, dull days, or still duller evenings, pass more The choice fell upon two-Captain Luttrell, whose long service and good judgment in military affairs made him a competent leader, and Lieutenant Orme. "It's the best chance that could fall to me," said the boy, rushing in upon Captain Elyot to announce the news and talk it over. "If I dawdled the whole winter away here, I should be good for nothing by spring; and I want to be a soldier, first of all," he added, straightening his boyish form, while a faint blush of shy pride showed for a moment on his cheek. "That's right, old fellow!" said Captain Elyot, laying an affectionate hand upon the young man's shoulder. Then they were silent. Each knew of whom the other was thinking; but something choked the boy, and Captain Elyot could not bring himself to utter Blossom's name. He was ashamed to feel that his heart had leaped in him when he found that his friend was to go; that the way would be open for him now if he chose to walk in it. He fought it out with himself in that brief moment, while the lieutenant was declaring his ambition. He put self under his feet with a struggle; the boy should have his chance. "But all the same," he went on. "If you prefer to stay, I fancy I have a little influence at head-quarters, and could persuade the major to let me go in your place. rather rusty with lying by so long," he said carelessly. I'm "Yes, I thought of that," the boy replied coolly. "I knew you would, and I don't mind telling you that I was tempted at first to stay." A bright blush glowed all over the young face as he went on: "But you see, Elyot, I'd better go. I've thought sometimes that she looked on me as a boy; and I want to show her that I'm not afraid of any of it!" he burst out, and, throwing himself down into a chair, he covered his face and sobbed like a girl. 66 But Blossom did not tremble, nor did the pretty color leave her face. She had heard the news before he reached her, and opened the subject herself. "So you are going away!" she said; "and down into that dreadful country where 'What must you think of me?" he said, the Indians are murdering the women and after a moment. children!" "I think too well of you to want you sent off on a winter campaign like this," Captain Elyot replied under his breath. He was more moved by the boy's reliance upon him, and the confidence he felt himself but half to deserve, than he chose to show. "You'd better let me try for your place," he said aloud. "Nobody would be the wiser; and I'm used to it. It would only be play to me,"-though he knew full well that the only play would be cold and fighting, and perhaps death. "Come, say the word, and I'll go up to head-quarters at once." But the lieutenant refused. I "I should feel like a coward. Besides, I've been waiting for something like this. could speak to her perhaps if I knew I were going away. Suppose we go down there I now? She can't have heard it so soon. believe I would like to tell her myself." "Then you don't want me?" said Captain Elyot hastily, pleading an engagement and hurrying away from his friend. He believed that the lieutenant was about to try his fate, and he could not sit quietly and wait to know the result. He started off upon a solitary walk, conscious that renunciation leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. He had done his duty; he had behaved as a man of honor should do, but he was neither glad nor at peace with himself. But the lieutenant had no intention of declaring his feelings to Blossom at once unless some particularly fortunate chance should occur. He would tell her, first, that he was to go away, and watch the effect of these tidings upon her. He had read of girls who trembled and turned pale when their lovers were sent into danger and possible death. Would she thus unconsciously declare her tender interest in him? If she did, he would assure her that he should hold his life as something precious indeed, since she valued it. He burned with excitement as he hastened toward the sutler's quarters, while he planned all this scene in his mind, giving to it the happiest termination. It was too wonderful to be true! And yet it had been realized for others; might it not be for him ? She did shudder as she spoke, and her face may have paled, for there came to her a recollection, vivid and piercing, of that one time of horror in her own life not many months past. This was not the emotion Orme had hoped for. It had little to do with himself, the lieutenant felt, and his heart suddenly dragged like an anchor wrenched from its hold. But despair catches at straws. Might it not have been different if she had been alone? There sat Mrs. Stubbs, prim, black and silent, with some stiff, ugly knitting in her hand, casting a shadow over the whole bright room lying open to the winter sunlight. "I hope you'll think of us sometimes, Miss Blossom," said Orme, twirling his cap, and forgetting all the fine things he hoped to say. In spite of his efforts at self-command, the tears would rush into his eyes. Blossom did not see them. He could not have borne that humiliation; but she was struck by the dejected air of her friend and was truly distressed over his departure. "I shall think of you a great many times; every day, and-and more," she replied. Indeed, I shall miss you more than I can say." And there was a catch in the voice which suddenly ceased. I am not sure that a scene | would not have ensued but for Mrs. Stubbs's presence, though hardly of so tender a nature as the boy had pictured to himself. As it was, Mrs. Stubbs thought it time to interfere. She had not left the store and donned a clean apron at this hour of the day to have this young man make love to her daughter before her eyes. "You'll soon be coming back," she broke in, warming wonderfully, to all appearance, toward the young man, and speaking in a cheery voice, for which Blossom blessed her in her heart. All her hopeful words of encouragement were drowned in a sea of tears, welling behind her eyes at the moment. "It wont be long before you an' Blossom 'll be singing your pretty songs again, I'll warrant ye." "But not with my leave or consent," she added, to herself. There had been folly enough already, she thought, watching the boy's changing countenance, which any one might read. She blessed her stars that she had left her work and taken up her position in the parlor, anticipating some such visit as this. It had been inconvenient, and at the time seemed almost impossible. Officers of distinction from other posts were here on their way south. They were to leave with the detachment from Fort Atchison early the next morning, and the ladies, perhaps to banish dismal thoughts, had planned a ball for this night. The band were blowing themselves faint in preparation for so unusual an event. The store had been ransacked, and Mrs. Stubbs driven wild by the impossible demands upon her. And in the midst of it all, she had taken up her position in her own parlor as though she had nothing to do but complete the endless round of the ugly blue stocking in her hand. At this moment a summons came to her from the store. "Well, good luck t' ye, and you must tell us all about it when you come back," she said with a cheerful air of dismissal, rolling up her work and waiting for the young man to take his leave. And was it to end like this? Was he not to see Blossom again? The woman's rough, cheerful, parting words went on in his ears, and still he did not rise, or offer to make reply. He was struck dumb and motionless. It had all proved so different from his dream. At last, by an effort, he got upon his feet. Some suspicion of Mrs. | Stubbs's scheming had struggled in upon his mind and gave him strength. "But I shall see you again before we set off." Then like a ray of light out of the darkness a thought crossed his mind. "I shall see you tonight," he said hastily. "Surely, Miss Blossom, you will be at the ball ? ” Blossom looked to her mother, her face flushed and glowing with sudden heat. Oh, if she could, if it were possible that this unknown delight were in store for her! The boy did not notice how soon she had forgotten his going away. He was intent only upon his hope of seeing her once more; of having an opportunity to whisper one tender word in her ear. Mrs. Stubbs hesitated. But why should she deny the child the sight, the like of which would not occur again for a long time. And yet she shrank from putting herself forward, from thrusting herself into a company where she knew she would be unwelcome. Still if she refused might not this boy haunt the house and even obtain entrance in her absence. There was safety in a crowd. And then Captain Elyot would be there. He had absented himself of late, in a way that both puzzled and annoyed the woman. Were her schemes to be foiled after all? "Blossom could not go alone," she began, revolving the matter in her mind. "If I might—" suggested the lieutenant eagerly. But he checked himself, for he saw that he had made a mistake. "Come yourself, Mrs. Stubbs," he said, as cordially as he could, considering that he did not in the least desire her presence. "You'll enjoy looking on. Everybody is to be there." "We might look in for a while," the woman said doubtfully. "Do, Mrs. Stubbs, mind that you come now; I'll be on the watch for you. And I wont say good-bye or take any of your good wishes, since we are to meet again;" and the lieutenant went off in high spirits to report his success to his friend, sure, from the remembrance of Blossom's glowing face as he turned away from the door, that it needed but one undisturbed moment by her side to make him entirely happy. CHAPTER XIV. THE BALL. THE festivities were well under way before Mrs. Stubbs and Blossom approached the ball-room. The woman could fight, both for her daughter and herself, valiantly and victoriously, upon her own ground; but to appear here was like carrying the war into Africa. To put oneself deliberately into an unwelcome position can never be agreeable, even to the most calloused feelings; and Mrs. Stubbs's sensibilities had become more and more acute each day as she fancied herself browbeaten and "put upon," as she expressed it to herself. expressed it to herself. She was rich, rich; day and night this rang in her inner ears like a call to worship, yet no one came to bow down before her. She was astonished at the extent of her wealth. Stubbs had been a careful man, a man not given to boasting, even in the presence of his own wife; and though she knew that each visit to the states augmented the store laid by there against future need, she did not dream of its having reached the sum she found it to be when death revealed all of Stubbs's secrets. It seemed limitless to her, as she fingered notes and bonds and deeds. She regarded herself with awe as the possessor |