Bayard was always doing the devoted to some woman,--a young one
preferred?" asked her next-door neighbor, who had just dropped in for a
moment's chat.

"Mrs. Miller certainly told me so; it was his reputation in the East,
and very possibly he is attracted now by such an undeniably stylish and
handsome girl. She can't be so very young, either. Look at those lines
under her eyes."

"Yes, and when she turns her head her neck shows it; the throat is
getting stringy. Here comes the doctor from the office now. I warrant
he passes every other woman and goes straight to her."

"Then it will be 'good-by, Mr. Mayhew,' to her present escort, I
warrant you in return. Fanny Forrest has no use for subalterns except
as fun to pass away the time."

"Yet she made eyes at Mr. McLean all that first day she was at the
Millers'. I think that is really the reason Mrs. Miller cannot bear
her. She won't speak of her if she can help it. Now watch the doctor."

There were perhaps half a dozen ladies in the party at the moment, and
all eyes were fastened on the tall and distinguished form of Dr. Bayard
as he strode across the parade, his handsome, portly figure showing to
excellent advantage in his snug-fitting uniform. They saw him bare his
head and bow with courtier-like grace to Miss Forrest and again to her
escort as he stopped and extended his hand. Then, after a few words, he
again bowed as gracefully as before and passed on in the direction of
the hospital.

"Certainly the most elegant man in manner and bearing we have seen at
Laramie for I don't know when," said Mrs. Gordon. "I don't wonder
Nellie worships him."

"She thinks her father simply perfect," was Mrs. Wells's reply. "I
dread to think what it will cost her when disillusion comes, as come it
must. Why! Who is that he is talking with now?"

At the north-west corner of the quadrangle, just beyond "Bedlam," the
doctor had encountered a stoutly-built man who wore an overcoat of
handsome beaver fur thrown wide open over the chest in deference to the
spring-like mildness of the morning, and who carried a travelling-bag
of leather in one hand. After a moment of apparently cordial chat the
two men walked rapidly southward along the gravel path, all eyes from
all the piazzas upon them as they came, and, passing one or two groups
of ladies, entered the gateway at the doctor's quarters, where Nellie
Bayard with "the Gordon girls" happened to be seated on the veranda.
Mrs. Gordon an