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lovely。 I only wish〃she stopped； for Peter had somewhat
hurriedly taken the Indian boy from her arms and restored it to the
frightened mother。 A singular change came over her face； and she
glanced at him quickly。 But she resumed； with a heightened color；
〃I like it ever so much better here than down at the fort。 And
ever so much better than New York。 I don't wonder that you like
them so much； Peter； and are so devoted to them。 Don't be angry；
dear； because I let them have my things； I'm sure I never cared
particularly for them； and I think it would be such fun to dress as
they do。〃 Peter remembered keenly his sudden shock at her
precipitate change to bright colors after leaving her novitiate at
the Sacred Heart。 〃I do hope；〃 she went on eagerly； 〃that we are
going to stay a long time here。〃
〃We are leaving to…morrow；〃 he said curtly。 〃I find I have urgent
business at the fort。〃
And they did leave。 None too soon； thought Peter and the Indian
agent； as they glanced at the faces of the dusky chiefs who had
gathered around the cabin。 Luckily the presence of their cavalry
escort rendered any outbreak impossible； and the stoical
taciturnity of the race kept Peter from any verbal insult。 But
Mrs。 Lascelles noticed their lowering dissatisfaction； and her eyes
flashed。 〃I wonder you don't punish them；〃 she said simply。
For a few days after their return she did not allude to her visit；
and Peter was beginning to think that her late impressions were as
volatile as they were childlike。 He devoted himself to his
government report； and while he kept up his communications with the
reservation and the agent； for the present domiciled himself at the
fort。
Colonel Bryce； the commandant though doubtful of civilians； was not
slow to appreciate the difference of playing host to a man of
Atherly's wealth and position and even found in Peter's reserve and
melancholy an agreeable relief to the somewhat boisterous and
material recreations of garrison life； and a gentle check upon the
younger officers。 For； while Peter did not gamble or drink； there
was yet an unobtrusive and gentle dignity in his abstention that
relieved him from the attitude of a prig or an 〃example。〃 Mrs。
Lascelles was popular with the officers； and accepted more
tolerantly by the wives； since they recognized her harmlessness。
Once or twice she was found apparently interested in the
gesticulations of a few 〃friendlies〃 who had penetrated the parade
ground of the fort to barter beads and wampum。 The colonel was
obliged at last to caution her against this； as it was found that in
her inexperience she had given them certain articles that were
contraband of the rules； and finally to stop them from an intrusion
which was becoming more frequent and annoying。 Left thus to
herself； she relieved her isolation by walks beyond the precincts of
the garrison； where she frequently met those 〃friendly〃 wanderers；
chiefly squaws and children。 Here she was again cautioned by the
commander；
〃Don't put too much faith in those creatures； Mrs。 Lascelles。〃
Jenny elevated her black brows and threw up her arched nose like a
charger。 〃I'm not afraid of old women and children；〃 she said
loftily。
〃But I am；〃 said the colonel gravely。 〃It's a horrible thing to
think of； but these feeble old women and innocent children are
always selected to torture the prisoners taken by the braves； and；
by Jove； they seem to like it。〃
Thus restricted； Mrs。 Lascelles fell back upon the attentions of
Lieutenant Forsyth； whose gallantry was always as fresh as his
smart cadet…like tunics； and they took some rides together。
Whether it was military caution or the feminine discretion of the
colonel's wife；to the quiet amusement of the other officers；a
trooper was added to the riding party by the order of the colonel；
and thereafter it consisted of three。 One night； however； the
riders did not appear at dinner； and there was considerable
uneasiness mingled with some gossip throughout the garrison。 It
was already midnight before they arrived； and then with horses
blown and trembling with exhaustion； and the whole party bearing
every sign of fatigue and disturbance。 The colonel said a few
sharp； decisive words to the subaltern； who； pale and reticent；
plucked at his little moustache； but took the whole blame upon
himself。 HE and Mrs。 Lascelles had； he said； outridden the trooper
and got lost； it was late when Cassidy （the trooper） found them；
but it was no fault of HIS； and they had to ride at the top of
their speed to cover the ground between them and the fort。 It was
noticed that Mrs。 Lascelles scarcely spoke to Forsyth； and turned
abruptly away from the colonel's interrogations and went to her
room。
Peter； absorbed in his report； scarcely noticed the incident； nor
the singular restraint that seemed to fall upon the little military
household for a day or two afterwards。 He had accepted the
lieutenant's story without comment or question； he knew his own
sister too well to believe that she had lent herself to a
flirtation with Forsyth； indeed； he had rather pitied the young
officer when he remembered Lascelles' experience in his early
courtship。 But he was somewhat astonished one afternoon to find
the trooper Cassidy alone in his office。
〃Oi thought Oi'd make bould to have a word wid ye； sorr；〃 he said；
recovering from a stiff salute with his fingers nipping the cord of
his trousers。 〃It's not for meeself； sorr； although the ould man
was harrd on me； nor for the leddy； your sister； but for the sake
of the leftenant； sorr； who the ould man was harrdest on of all。
Oi was of the parrty that rode with your sister。〃
〃Yes； yes； I remember； I heard the story；〃 said Peter。 〃She and
Mr。 Forsyth got lost。〃
〃Axin' your pardin； sorr； she didn't。 Mr。 Forsyth loid。 Loid like
an officer and a jintlemanas he is； God bless himto save a
leddy； more betoken your sister； sorr。 They never got lost； sorr。
We was all three together from the toime we shtarted till we got
back； and it's the love av God that we ever got back at all。 And
it's breaking me hearrt； sorr； to see HIM goin' round with the
black looks of everybody upon him； and he a…twirlin' his moustache
and purtending not to mind。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said Peter； uneasily。
〃Oi mane to be tellin' you what happened； sorr；〃 said Cassidy
stoutly。 〃When we shtarted out Oi fell three files to the rear； as
became me； so as not to be in the way o' their colloguing； but
sorra a bit o' stragglin' was there； and Oi kept them afore me all
the toime。 When we got to Post Oak Bottom the leddy p'ints her
whip off to the roight； and sez she： 'It's a fine bit of turf
there； Misther Forsyth；' invitin' like； and with that she gallops
away to the right。 The leftenant follys her； and Oi closed up the
rear。 So we rides away innoshent like amongst the trees； me
thinkin' only it wor a mighty queer plac