ratulate me on the
adjutancy I felt. Then I heard of some unjustifiable though,
perhaps, natural things he said. However, let that slide. I
wish you were adjutant again, that's all. Very probably the
others do too. The colonel telegraphed to all officers on
leave, and every blessed one responded inside of twenty-four
hours, 'Coming first train, you bet,' or words to that effect.
It makes one proud of the old --th. Gleason hasn't chirped, but
then he is somewhere in central Iowa buying. They say Ray's
brother-in-law is one of the largest horse-dealers, and
Stannard clamps his mug and looks ugly when it is spoken of. He
knows something about him, and was a good deal stampeded when
he heard Ray was being wined and dined by him at Kansas City.
But, be it understood, I don't think Ray has any suspicion of
Stannard's objection to the man. And now, Jack, I'll wind up
this rigmarole. It is long after taps, and the men are still at
work packing. I've been interrupted time and again, and this is
all incoherency. If you decide to join, let it not be said for
an instant that the faintest urging came from us. Address your
next to Russell. The colonel forbade my telegraphing you lest
it might sound like a hint. My compliments to Mrs. Truscott,
and tell her I saw her old friend Ranger off for the wars two
nights ago; likewise that young imp of the devil,--the Kid.
Tanner's old troop isn't what it was in his day.

"Yours always faithfully,
"BILLINGS."

Long before he had finished reading she had bowed her head upon her
hands, but there came no sound. At last he laid the letter down, and
then bent over her.

"Grace,--darling!"

Slowly she lifted her eyes and looked up in his face. All the light, all
the joy and gladness had fled. Her lips moved as though to question, but
a hard, dry lump seemed to have formed in her throat; she could not
speak. His strong hands trembled as they gently raised her from the
lowly attitude in which she had been crouching at his knee. He would
have drawn her to his breast again, but she put her little hands upon
his shoulder and held herself back. Twice she essayed to speak before
the words came,--

"Jack, God knows I have tried to be ready for this. But is there _no_
way? I never thought to stand between you and your duty--your honor. I
would