She
would soon be mistress of her own little fortune, and, at her mother's
death, of an independence. Go to him she would, and on wings of the
wind, and go she did. The cab released her at the gate to her home, and
went back with a double fare that set the driver to thinking. She sped
through the house, and out the rear doors, much to the amaze of cook and
others who were in consultation in the kitchen. She flew down a winding
flight of stairs to the level below, and her fairy feet went tripping
over the pavement of a plebeian street. A quick turn, and she was at a
little second-rate stable, whose proprietor knew her and started from
his chair.

"What's wrong to-day, Miss Nina?"

"I want the roan mare and light buggy again,--quick as you can. Your own
price at the old terms, Mr. Graves,--silence."

He nodded, called to a subordinate, and in five minutes handed her into
the frail vehicle. An impatient chirrup and flap of the reins, and the
roan shot forth into the dusty road, leaving old Graves shaking his head
at the door.

"I've known her ever since she was weaned," he muttered, "and she's a
wild bird, if ever there was one, but she's never been the like o' this
till last month."

And the roan mare was covered with foam and sweat when Nina Beaubien
drove into the bustling fort, barely an hour after her receipt of
Jerrold's telegram. A few officers were gathered in front of
head-quarters, and there were curious looks from face to face as she was
recognized. Mr. Rollins was on the walk, giving some instructions to a
sergeant of his company, and never saw her until the buggy reined up
close behind him and, turning suddenly, he met her face to face as she
sprang lightly to the ground. The young fellow reddened to his eyes, and
would have recoiled, but she was mistress of the situation. She well
knew she had but to command and he would obey, or, at the most, if she
could no longer command she had only to implore, and he would be
powerless to withstand her entreaty.

"I am glad _you_ are here, Mr. Rollins. You can help me.--Sergeant,
will you kindly hitch my horse at that post?--Now," she added, in low,
hurried tone, "come with me to Mr. Jerrold's."

Rollins was too stupefied to answer. Silently he placed himself by her
side, and together they passed the group at the office. Miss Beaubien
nodded with something of her old archness and coquetry to the
cap-raising party, but never hesitated. Together they passed along