is
marquee, and had his colonels come and stand attention and listen to his
homilies on the military art, which differed from anything they had
previously conceived upon the subject. It was this unschooled, unskilled
brigadier who turned down Ray's appeal to march his regiment five miles
over to the seashore. The colonel of over thirty years' practical
experience was being lectured by the general who had none. The
unterrified Kentucky rank and file took to guying their civilian
star-bearer. There were presently demonstrations that Ray could neither
foresee nor prevent. The general thought he could and should, and so
informed him, and likewise the division commander. Ray demanded
investigation. The division commander sought to smooth matters over, and
failed. Ray resigned in disgust, sought orders to his own regiment, and
found himself once again at the head of his squadron of regular troopers
in the midst of scenes he loved. But his soul longed for action. He was
offered a lieutenant-colonelcy of one of the national regiments of
volunteers, but that was a step down, not up. It would have placed him
under a colonel ten years younger than himself, and he said he preferred
the gold leaves in the regulars to the silver in the volunteers, which
ended for the present his prospects. Maidie's wedding, too, had
something to do with the decision. But now that was over with, and here
were he and Marion occupying delightful quarters at old Fort
Minneconjou, with every prospect of soon being sent to the Philippines,
where their colonel was commanding a division in the field, leaving
Major Ray to look after the post, its men, and its military morals. Here
it was, in the bracing air of the Dakotas and within range of the bold
foothills and remoter pine-crested heights of the Sagamore, that they
opened their hearts and doors to Mrs. Billy's niece, Priscilla Sanford,
and affairs at Minneconjou, stagnant a while after the departure of the
----d Infantry, once more became alive with interest, for Miss 'Cilla,
as has been said, was a woman with a mission and, as perhaps should be
said, with some thirty years to her credit, rather more than she had
dollars.

Time had been when, with abundant means and few cares, Miss Sanford
busied herself in local charities and became a social power in her
community. But with loss of money came lack of appreciation. She who had
long managed the Mission kindergarten, and mainly financed it, was
presently s