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T ij v It ; i in 1' r 1.1 f i i J 'i 1 f i 1 1 ! I J i! COVitT. l9t. ev P. FORT FRAYNE. By Capt. CHAELES KIKO, U. S. A. ICory right. M4, ly F. Tt-unytson Ntelj.l Au hour later, with strong skirmish lines out on every side of tbo captured village, with a score of Indian warriors sent to their last nccouut and the others scattered over tho faco cf the earth, the little battalion cf tho Twelfth is won dering if, after nil, tho fight were worth winning, for hero in their midst, his head on Leale's arm, his fading sight fixed on tho tear dimmed eyes of his faithful comrade, hero lies their beloved old colonel, his last messages murmured in that listening ear : "Leale old friend find find that poor girl my my son robbed aud ruined and deserted and be tho friend to her you've been to me and mine, God bless" And this while the regiment, obey ing its stern duty, goes on in pursuit this is the news Jack Ormsby has to break to the loving, breaking hearts .at Frayne, CHAPTER II L All this was but part and parcel of the 6tory of t he old Wyoming fort Long years had it served as refuge and resting place for tho emigrants in the days be fore tho Union Pacifio was built, when the overland stage route followed the Platto to the Sweetwater and then past the Devil's Gate : and Independence Hock, old landmarks of the Mormons, and on to tho baekbouoof the continent, Where the mountain streams, springing from rocky bed not long pistol shot apart, flowed rippling away, the one to tho Missouri and tho pulf of Mexico, tho other to tho Colorado and that cf California. Frayno was but a hnge stockade in the early days rf the civil war, but the govemiront found it im portant from a strategical point of view even after the railway spauncd the Rockies and the emigrant and the settlor no lender trud-eJ the weary trail that, bordering tho JSionx country, be came speed. !y a road cf fire and bloot second only in its terrors to the Smoky Hill route through "Heeding Kansas." Once it was the hoist of the Dakota, as it has been for generations of their enemies, the Absarak.v-, or Crows, that they had never shed tho blood of a white man. Settlers of the old clays used to tell how the Sirux had followed them for long, long marches, not to murder and pillage, but to restore to them items lost alorg the trail or ani mal strayed from their little herds. But there came an end to all this wln, jesistiug an unjust demand, the Sioux being ::redupou, retaliated. From the day of tho G rat tan massacre beyond old Laramie there had been no real peace with tho lords of the northwest. They are quiet only when subdued by force. They havo broken tho crust of their environment time and again and burst forth in the seething flamo of a volcano that is ever bubbling and boil ing beneath tho feet cf tho frontiersman to this day. And so Frayne was maintained as a military post for years, first as a stock ade, then as a subdepot of supplies, gar risoned by four companies of infantry and four of cavalry, the former to hold the fort, the latter to scour tho neigh boring country. Then, as time wore on and other pasts were built farther up in the Big Horn, Frayno's garrison dwin dled, but there stood upon its command ing bluff tho low rows of wooden bar racks, the parallel rows of double sets of broad piazzaed quarters whero dwelt the officer, tho loag, low, log riveted walls of the corrals and cavalry stables on tho flat below. Here, oddly enough, the Twelfth had spent a lively year or two before it went to Arizona. Hero it learned the Sioux country aud the Sioux so well that when, a few years back, the ghost dance craze swept over tho plains and mountains like the plague, the old regiment was hurried from its sunshiny stations in tho south and mus tered onco again, four troops at least, within tho very walls that long before had echoed to its trumpets. Here we found them in tho midst of tho Christ inas preparations that wero turned so suddenly into summons to tho field, and hero again, three years later still, head quarters and six troops now, tho proud old regiment is still at Frayne, and Fcnton, "vico Farrar, killed in action with hostilo Indians," holds tho com mand. A good soldier is Feuton, a bravo fel low, a triflo tough at times, like the simplo plains bred dragoon ho is, but a gentleman, with a geutlo heart in his breast for all the stern exterior. Wom en said of him that all ho needed to make him perfect was polish, and all he needed to give him polish was a wifo, for at 51 the grizzled colonel was a bachelor. But Feuton had had his ro mance in early youth, lie had loved with all his big heart, so said tradition, a New York belle and beauty whom ho knew in his cadet days, and who, so rumor said, preferred another, whom she married before the war, and many a garrison belle had si ace set her cap or Fen ton and found him faithful to his early love. Bat, though the ladies often speculated as to the Identity of the woman who had held the colonel's heart In bondago all these years and blocked the way for all successors, no "one of their number had ever heard her same or over knew the. truth. Que cflj- TIUNYSO MlllV. cer there was in. tho Twelfth who, like Fen toil himself, was a confirmed bach elor aud who was said to bo possessed of the jvholo 6tory, but there was no use asking Malcolm Leale to tell anybody's secrets, aud when Fcnton came to Frayno, promoted to the command so recently held by a man they all loved and honored, it was patent to everybody that he felt sorely, as though he were an usurper. Feuton was many long miles away with another battalion of tho Twelfth the day of tho tragic battle on tho Mini Pusa, and it was long mouths thereafter before ho appeared at regimental headquarters, and then he brought with him as his housekeeper his maiden sister Lucretia, and in Lucre tia Fcnton tho dreamiest, dowdiest, kindliest, quaintest middle aged prat tler that ever lived, moved and had her being in tho army the ladies of. the Twelfth found so much to make merry over that they well uigh forgot and for gave the unflatterirg indifference to feminine fascinations of her brother, the col one L When Feuton came, the Farrars, widowed mother aud devoted daughter, had been gone some weeks. Tho shock of her husband's death had well nigh shaken Mrs. Farrar's reason, and for months her condition was indeed de plorable. Tbo next summer tho Farrars spent at West Point. It was Will's first class camp, and Will was cadet captain of tho color company, and a capital young officer despite a boyish face aud manner, and then Jack Ormsby, who never before had "taken much stock in West Point" the battalion looked so small beside the Seventh, and tho band was such a miserable little affair after Cappa and his superb array Jack not only concluded that he must go up there every few days to pick up points on guard aud sentry duty and things of that kind, but Jack decided that Kitty, his precious sister, might as well go, too, and spend a fortnight, and she did, under tho wing of a matron from Goth am with daughters of her own, and Kit ty Ormsby, only 16 and as full of vivac ity, grace, sprightliness and winning ways as girl could be, pretty as a peach and brimming over with fun, coquetry and sweetness combined, played havoo in tho corps of cadets, and could any thing havo been moro fortunate? the victim most helplessly, hopelessly, ut teily gono was Cadet Captain Will Far rar. To tho consternation of the widow ed mother she saw her handsome soldier Loy led day after day more deeply iuto tho meshes led like a slave or like the piggy in tho nursery rhyme, with the ring in the end of his nose by this be witching, imperious, fascinating little creature, and thero was absolutely no help for it. Anywhere elso almost sho could havo whisked her boy under her wing and borno him away beyond range, but not at West Point. She had to learn tho lesson so many mothers learn with such bewilderment, often with such ill grace, that tho boy was no louger hers to do with as sho would, bat Undo Sam's, and Uncle Sam un feelingly said, "Stick to your camp duty with its drills and parades, roll calls, practical engineering, poutooninc aud spooning in stolen half hours, no matter what the consequence. " Mrs, Farrar couldn't carry Will away md couldn't order Kitty. About all she law of her boy was drilling with the battalion at a distance or dancing with Miss Ormsby close at hand, and, on the principle that misery Jovis company, she soon was comforted by a fellow suf ferer, for just in proportion as the moth er's heart was troubled by tho sight of her boy's infatuation for this pretty child, so was Jack Ormsby mado miser ablo by seeing tho attentions lavished by officers and cadets alike on Ellis Far rar. And yet the little blind god was do ing Jack far better work than ho ever dared to dream. Tho mother longed for Will, and no ono else could quite take his place. The lover longed for Ellis, and what earthly chanco has a "cit" lover at West Point, even though ho bo a swell aud a sergeant in the Seventh? It resulted that in tho hours when tho mother and Jack had to sit and look on they were brought constantly together, and then in theso hours of companion ship Mrs. Farrar began to seo moro and more how manful, honest, self reliant was the gallant follow who had fought by her husband's sido. Littlo by little sho learned to lean upon him, appeal to him, defer to hira and to seo in him, after all, a man in whom she could per haps confide even so precious a trust us her daughter's heart, and that summer at West Point won tho mother even if it did not win tho lady of his lovo. All that winter Ellis had continued her courso ut school, but was to come out iu May, and daring tho loug months from September sho was comfortod in the comfort her mother found iu tho companion that had been chosen for her, a gentle, refined and evidently well bred woman, who came upon tho rec ommendation of their rector, and who was introduced as Mrs. Daunton Hel en Dauntou, a woman with a sad his tory, as tho gravo old pastor fraukly , told them, but through no fault or foi ble of her own. She had been married, I but her husban'1 was unworthy of lief, had deserted LvT some years beforo, leaving her to struggle for hcrsolf. Dr. Morgan vouched for her integrity, and that was enough, By the timo F!!i wai to return to her ir.r . ' j ' " go Thoroughly eslaldLbca thero, so necessary to her mother, so devoted to her in every way, that for tho first time in her life, even while glad to mark tho steps of improvement in tho beloved in valid's health aud appearance, Ellis Farrar felt tho pangs of jealousy. And this was Will's graduation sum mer, and they had a lovely timd at tho seashore. Kitty was there, tuid Kitty was an accepted fact and nwro fo now. Will would be content nowhere without her and would have married her then and there but for his mother's gentle admonition and Kitty's positive refusal. Sho had boon reared from girl hood by a doting aunt, had boon petted and spoiled ut homo and at school and Ira CUac" 'Ulvcn save ua if it isn't really ifatther rmr yet had not a little fund of shrewd good sense in her bewilderingly pretty hoad. Sho wouldn't wear an engagement ring, wouldn't consent to call it an engage ment She owned, under pressure, that she meant to marry Will some day, but not in any hurry, and therefore, but for one thing, the mother's gentle heart would have been content. And that one thing was that Will had applied for and would hear of no other regiment in all the army than that at the head of which his father had died, the Twelfth cavalry, and jio one could understand, and ' Mrs. Farrar couldn't explain, how it was, why it was that that of all others was the one she had vainly hoped he .would not choose. He was wild with joy and en thusiasm when at last the order came, and, with beaming eyes and ringing voice, ho read aloud :" 'Twelfth regi ment of cavalry, Cadet Will Duncan Farrar, to be second lieutenant, vice Watson, promoted, Troop C Leale's troop, Queen Mother; blessed old Mal colm Leale. What more could I ask or you ask? What captain in all the lino can match him? And Kitty's uncle in command of the regiment and post! Just think of it, madre, dear, and you'll all come out, and we'll have grand Christmas times at Frayno, and wo'll hang father's pictnro over tho mantel and father's sword. I'll wire Leale this very minute and write my respects to Feuton. What's he like anyway, moth er? I can't remember him ut all, nor can Kitty." But Mrs. Farrar could not tell. It was years, too, since sho had seen him, "but ho was always a faithful friend of your father, Will, and he wrote mo a ) beautiiul, beautuui letter wucn wo came away." And so, late in September, the boy lieutenant left his mother's arms aud, followed by her prayers and tears and blessings, was borne nway westward to revisit scenes that wero once familiar as tho old barrack walls ut West Point. Then it required long days of travel over rough mountain roads to reach the railway far south of tho Medicine Bow. Now the swift express train landed him at tho station of tho frontier town that h-ad grown up on the suo of tho praino dog village he and his pony had often "stampeded" in tho old days. Ht-ro at the station, como to meet the son of their old commander, ignoring tho fact that the newcomer was but the plebe lieuten ant of tlio Twelfth, wero tho ruddy faced old colonel and Will's own troop leader, Captain Leale, both heartily, cordially bidding him welcomo and com menting not a littlo on his stalwart build and trying hard not to refer to the very downy mustache that adorned his boyish lip. Ami other aud younger offi cers were thero to welcome the lad to his new station, and hugo was Will's comfort when ho caught sight of Ser geant Stein, the veteran standard bear er of the regiment, and that superbly punctilious old soldier straightened up like a Norway pine and saluted with rigid precision and hoped tho lieutenant was well and his lady mother and Miss Farrar. "Thcro's nothing," thought Will, "liko tho discipline of the old regiment, after all," as tho orderly came to ask for the checks for the lieu tenant's baggage, and all went well until the luckless moment when tho colonel and Leale, with somo of tho eld ers, turned aside to look at a batch of recruits sent by the same train, and Farrar, chatting with some of his fellow youngsters, was stowing his bags in the waiting ambulance, and there in the driver Will recognized Saddler Dono van's freckle faced Mickey, with whom he had had many a hunt for rabbits in the old, old days, aud then an unctuous, caressing Irish voice fairly blubbered out, "Hiven save us if it isn't really Masther Will!" and there, corporal's chevrons on his brawny arms, was old Terry Rorko, looking wild to embrace him, and even as Will, half ashamed of bis own shyness, was shaking hands with this faithful old retainer of his father's household in years gone by, tho squad of recruits came marching past. The third man from the front heav ily bearded, with a bloated, ill groomod face and restlessly glancing eyes, gave a quick, furtive look at the new lieu tenant as be passed, then stumbled and 5 longed forward against his file leader, 'he squad was thrown Into momentary disarray. Tho sergoant, angered at the InULap at 6uch u time, strode quickly up to tho offender and savagely mut tered, "Keep your eyes to tho front, Graico, and you won't bo stumbling up decent men's backs." And tho lit tie de tachment went briskly on. "I thought I'd ectn that man be fore," said Lealo un instant later, "and cow I know it, and I know where." CHAPTER IV. Tho winter cume on early at old Fort Frayno. Even as early as mid-OctoUr tho ico was forming in tho shallow pools along tho Platte, und that eccen tric stream itself had dwindled away in volume until it seemed but the ghost of its former self. Ragiug and uufordable in June, swollen by the melting snows cf the Colorado peaks and tho torrents from the Medicine Bow, it spent its strength in the arid heat of a long, dry summer and when autumn came was mild as a mill stream as far us tho cyo could reach and fordable in a dozen places within rifle shot of tho post. Many a timo did old . Fcnton wish it wasn't Frayhe's reservation was big and generous ; but, unluckily, it never extended across the river. Squatters, smugglers and sharpers could not in trude upon its guarded limits along tho southern shore, and the nearest grog gCry that inevitable accompaniment of tho westward march of civilization was a long two miles away down tho right bank, but only a pistol shot across the stream. In his day Farrar had waged war against the rumsellers on the north shore and won, because then there were only soldiers and settlers and no lawyers outside the guardhouse within 90 miles of the post But with the tide of civilization came more settlers, and a cattle town, and lawyers in abundance, and with their coming the question at issue became no longer that of abstract right or wrong, but how a jury would decide it and a frontier jury always decides in favor of the squatter and against the soldier. Fenton strove to take pattern after Farrar and very nearly succeeded in landing himself in jail, as the outraged vender went down, to Lara mie, hired lawyers there, sworo out warrants of assault and appealed to his countrymen. The fact that no less than four . of the Twelfth within six months had died with their boots on, victims of the ready knives or revolvers of tho squatters across the stream, had no bear ing in the eyes of the law. Fenton had warned the divekceper a dozen times to no purpose, but when finally Sergeant Hannifin was set upon and murdered there one fine April evening within easy range, and almost within hearing of his comrades at Frayne, Fenton broke loose and said impetuous things, which reach ed tho ears of his men, who went and did things equally impetuous, to the demolition of the "shack" and tho de struction of its stock of spirits and gam bling paraphernalia, and it was proved to the satisfaction of tho jury that Fen ton did not interposo to stop the row until it had burned itself and the "shack" inside out. The people rallied to tho support of the saloon keeper he, at least, was a man aud a. brother, a voter, and, when ho couldn't lie out of it, a taxpayer. Tho officers at Frayne, on thot)ther band, in the opinion of the citizens of that section of Wyoming, were none of tho four, and Bunko Jim's new resort across tho Platte was a big improvement in point of size, though not in stock or sanctity, over its prede cessor. Jim ran u ferryboat for the ben efit erf customers from tho fort. It was forbidden to land on the reservation, but did so, nevertheless, when the sentry on tho bluff couldn't sec, and sometimes, it must bo owned, when he could. Tho boat was used when the water was high, tho fords when it was low, aud the ice when it was frozen, und it was u curious thing in winter to seo how quickly tho new fallen snow would bo seamed with paths leading by devious routes from tho barracks to tho liiore aud then across tho icebound pools straight to Bunko Jim's. Bowing, as becamo tho soldier of tho republic, to tho supremacy of tho civil law, Fenton swallowed tho lesson, though ho didn't tho whisky, but Jim had his full share of customers from the fort, and the greatest of these, it soon transpired, was the big recruit speedily known through out tho command as Tough Tom Graice. Joining tho regiment at the end of September, it was less than a month be fore he was as well though not as fa vorably known as the "rgeant major. Thero is more thn .vayof being r r ij.icuous in tho l service, and i had chosen tho worst. Even the .:ti who came with him from tho v. pot, the last lot to be shipped from that enco crowded garner of "food for powder," could tell nothing of his an tecedents, though they were full of grewsome details of his doings sinco en listment Ho was an expert at cards and billiards, said they for they had found it out to their sorrow and a demon when aroused by drink. Twice in drunken rago ho had assaulted compar atively inoffeusivo men, and only tho prompt and forcible intervention of comrades had prevented murder on tho spot whilo tho traditional habit of tho soldier of telling no tales had saved him from richly merited punishment Within the month of his arrival Graico had mado giant strides to notoriety. He was a powerful fellow, with fine com mand of language and an education far superior to that of the general run of noncommissioned officers, and it was among the younger Bet of theso he first achieved a certain standing. Professing to hold himself above tho private sol dier, proving himself an excellent rider and an expert in drill with carbino or saber, ho nevertheless declared it was his first enlistment and gave it to bo understood that a difficulty with tho sheriff, who nought to arrest him, had been the means of bringing him to the temporary refuge of the ranks. For the first few weeks, too, he drank but little, and wearing his uniform with the ease and grace of one long accus tomed to the buttons, and being erect and athletio in build, he prescntod a very creditable appearance. Tho bloat ed, bloodshot look be wore on his ar- HiOcst of all in Leavening ABSOLUTELY EUJRe rival, tho icsult of much surreptitious whisky en route, passed somewhat away, and it was only when one studied his faco that the traces of intemperance, added to tho 6ullen brows aud shifting, restless eyes, banished tho claim to genxl looks that were ut first accorded him. From tho first, however, the old ser geants und such veterans among the corporals as Terry Rorke loekcd askance at Trooper Graice. "Another guard houso lawyer, " said tho first sergeant of Lcalo'a troop, as ho disgustedly re ceived the adjutant's notification of Graice's assignment. "Another wan of thim jailbirds liko Mr. American Blood, tho newspaper pet," said Rorke, in high disdain. "We'll have a circus with him, too, as they had in the Elev enth, or I'm a Jew. Whero have I seen that sweet mug of his before?" he added reflectively, as he watched the newcomer surlily scrubbing at his kit, and tho newcomer, glancing sideways at the Irish corporal, seemed to read his thoughts, although too far away to hear his muttered wordi It was plain to every man in C troop that thero was apt to bo no love lost between Terence Rorke and "Tommy tho Tough." And there was another still who wore the simple dress of a private soldier, whose eyes, black, piercing and full of expression, were constantly following that new recruit, and that was the Sioux Indian, Crow Knife, a youth barely 19 years of age. He had been a boy scout before the days of the ghost dance craze, A valued and trusted ally of tho white soldiers, he had borne dispatches up to tho very moment when Kill Eagle's mad brained ultimatum drove his band into revolt and launched them on the warpath. . With them went Crow Knife's father and mother, and the boy rodo wildly in pursuit Ho was with them, striving to induce his mother to abandon tho vil lage, when the warriors made their de scent on the ranches of the Dry Fork, and later, when Farrar's fierce attack burst upon them like a thunderbolt through the snowclouds. Seizing his mother in his arms, the boy had shield ed and saved her when Leale's vengeful men rushed upon the nearest Indians, when unquestionably, yet unavoidably, some cquaws received theirdeath wounds in the furious fight that followed Far rar's assassination. Recognized aud res cued by his former friends, Crow Knife went back to Frayno when the brief but bloody campaign was ended and then was sent to tho Indian school at Car lisle, Returning in tho courso of three years, ho had been enlisted in what was left of tho Indian troop of the Twelfth, und was orn of the few of his tribe who really mad i success of soldiering. By tho 9 iLuibi f this eventful year Crow Knif ' ccir3des were rapidly being discharge ,nd returning to their blan kets und lodgo lifo at the reservation cr hanging about tho squalid cattle town across the river. Crow Knife, sticking to his cavalry duty and showing un looked for devotion to his officers, was regarded by tho Twelfth as an excep tional caso and was made much of ac cordingly. "What d'ye think of that fellow, Crow?' ' asked Corirul Rorko ono day as he watched tho expression in tho Indi an's faco. "Ye don't liko him any moro than I do. What's tho reason?" "Thero is a saying umoug my peo ple," was the answer in the slow, meas ured tones of one who thought in an other tongue, " 'Eyes that canuotmeet eyes guide hands that strike foul. ' Ho-th4t-stabfi-iu-the-dark is tho nanio wo give such as that man." "D'ye know him, Crow? Did ye never seo him?" persisted Terry. "Ever since tho day he came tho captain has had his eye on him, and bo have ye, and so have L I can't ask tho captain, but I can ye. Where havo yo seen him before?" But Crow Knife shook his head. "I cannot remember his face. It is his b..i k I seem to know. My people, say that way they see their enemies." And so Rorko could find no satisfac tory solution of tho ever vexing ques tion. Twico cr thrice ho accosted Graice and strove to draw him into talk, but tho newcomer seemed to shut np like an oyster in the presence of the Irish cor poral, a great contrast to the joviality he displayed when soliciting comrades to take a hand at cards. The recruits had hardly any money left Graice had won what little thero was on the way to Frayno, and now ho had wormed his way into the gambling set that is apt to bo found in every fort all comers who havo money being welcome and for a few weeks fortuno seemed tosmilo upon the neophyte. Ho knew, he protested, very littlo of any game, but played for fellowship and fun. Then ho kept sober when others drank, and so wou, and then carno accusations of foul play and a row, and the barracks game was broken np, only to be resumed at night in tho resort across the Platte, and thero whis ky was plenty, and so wero the players, and there Graice began to lapso into in temperate ways, and by tho timo the long, long nights of December camo his reputation as a "tough" was established throughout tho garrison. All but three or four cf tho most disioluto mr mhers of tho command had cat lexjso Loju him entirely, a matter ho regie t ted only bo causo pay day was at hand the soldiers would then have money in plenty for a fow short, feverish hours. The squatters and scttbrs had nono until the soldiers were "s. rapped" and so Graico and three or four Ishmaclitcs like unto him elf wero left to the concentration of brutality to be found in one another's society. Power. Latest U. S. Gov d For several duvs Tn .1 . been in the .-,r,u . .eW check roll call, from lICT night and from reveille, hihiflH up at sick call with ah! ana an tho ear marks of adrani Ho had been hauled m ffi mary court. Major Wano', ft after reporting at tho post aniuL?9 and no word cf plea for ri promise of betterment. WhiT?? for fines? He could win more n than they could stop iuTiW was out again doinc nem,, " . police cart about tho post tho Z availablo transportation ca" back from tho railwnv . rat opiiinut; oou m uio major 'gbarV.,.; dropped tho ax wit', a J. 'W turned a sickly yellow for when he heard tho busy touT! domes ics next door proclabi 2 arriva of Lieutenant Farrar'. i and sister The sentry oa dutyZ and get to work armin. fn rw . Lealo was passing rapidy np the walk v., iaiu was a man whoa eyes wero ever about himandthw ears seemed never to lose a sound, Z the .captain meroly glanced kw - tho soldier with his brace of maloon! ' tents and hurried on. It was Lealo who opened the door of the stanch Concord and assisted the ladies to alight Mrs. Farrar, Ellis ( j wie x lurare naa returned to the forti ana a stranger, a gentlewoman evident ly, yet one who seemed to shrink ova accepting aid or attention and when Deautnui mue eyes ever followed Hn Farrar, ."My friend, Mrs. Daunton; ay older friend, Captain Lealo, of hau you have heard so much," were the! words in which these two were mide known to each other, while Will the servants were tumbling out bags and rugs and wraps, even as anothet and similar vehicle was being unloaded in front of tho colonel's. Lealo dined en fainillo at the Famn' that evening, Will proudly presiding, as becamo tho head of tho house and the foot of the table, and beaming upon his mother, who sat facing him and rejoic ing in his happiness. Very bright and cozy were the prettily furnishod quar ters,' for, with boundless enthusiasm, tho ladies of the garrison had aided the young gentleman in making them it- i of their honored old colonel and his fair daughter, and rigl.t after dinner the visitors began to arrive, welcoming, army fashion, the old friends long en deared to all the other members of the garrison, men and women both, and, while Mrs. Farrar and Ellis had hosts of questions to ask and answer, Captain Lealo found himself interested in en tertaining tho stranger, to whoa all this blitho and cheery intercourse, all ! the cordial, hospitable, hoiuihke amiT( ! ways, wero eo odd aud new. It was ' i tattoo when ho ro.o to leave aud met poor Will without Will, who bd twice gono up to Feutou'a Loping to steal u word or two with Kitty, only to find that such portion tf post sowtjas was not gathered about Ins mother ai.d sister wai congregated at the colonel s and then, fatigued Ly the journey and showing plainly tho effect of the excitement of her arrival, JlrFamr was induced to se-ek her roou, while Ellis remained in tho parlor to chat with others still coming in i.ilid tkm welcomo home, and net until lu.'fi tlUf 10 wero the lights turned down in M 5, and not until even luur aid thry gleam no lonjier from the big Louse on tho ctj of t.io 1 IcJtT. to pf. coNTiyrKn l WOMEN IN FRANCE. ThtyAre No Only tlie Stronger bnt th Better Half la That Country. Women are the stronger as well as the better half of France. They do every thing but build houses. The best inspect or in the French custom bouse is i w mam She is in the Havre office, andiM has a nose that can detect dutiable withoutopeningalock. She to amiable and slow to anger, but v w the foreigner or countryman wo f yokes her ire. , . There is no sadder ppcetacle in tM w public of France than thowom polishers, who doze under the riiedi the markets and quay, one eye lml J t'other fixed on tho bootbox oter way, patiently waiting for trade. Wg ask 6 cents and accept 2 cents for W unwomanly work. in At Thiers, the blackest to Frnncn. tho women sit OUIsihw" . i, tne women mk 4..,-ris- grimy iittio maci 'i . & uachin ri nnli'sl sor blades ana poiiMn tB. t... nrnS I sor naneiies. iiiom , , tba 10,000 littlo mill wheels is bker tho Chicago river, and n tne v uj never burn without belching twn and their devoted Mclmg iN are sometimes Malay and Mongolian, hut seldom Cancan Notlong ago a collcj" down to Thiers to tench winter.- The promiso of bO puj y temptation, but cn reacnw - lnrf of soot begrimed and jmflM smithies she rouna u- t3t paid $5 a month, and tho tcac expected to furnish the fad ft tor. Philadelphia Timcfl Whether sweet peas fully planted in antunm depen on the latitude.aaya Gardsa. fi she found 1