hither just before sunset on Christmas
eve our young soldier was piloted by Schuchardt and Ennis, making the
trip afoot across the rearward space, yet being remanded to a huge easy
chair and partial bandages immediately on his arrival.

"Black Bill," with his incomplete report, had gone back to Omaha to
further mystify the adjutant-general and to eat his Christmas dinner.
The order for the court-martial hung fire until the preliminary
investigation could be concluded. Fort Cushing set itself to enjoy the
sweet festival as best it might, while such a problem remained unsolved.
Veterinary Surgeon Mayhew had taken seven days' leave, an eastbound
train, and at three P.M. the day before Christmas came a telegram from
---- Arnold, Esq., of Standish Bay, Massachusetts, announcing that he
would leave forthwith for the West, bringing his sister with him. The
Sumters told Mrs. Stannard, and she told Bob Lanier.

It has been said that this young gentleman was an outspoken fellow, with
a hit-or-miss way of saying things when once his mind was made up, and
by this time it would seem he had made up his mind.

"Mrs. Stannard, if you think a girl could stand the sight of such a Guy
Fawkes as this, I would give much to speak ten minutes to Miss Miriam
Arnold."

"You're _not_ a Guy Fawkes," said Mrs. Stannard, with fluttering heart.
"You've lost something of your mustache and eyebrows, but very little of
your good looks. Only----"

"Only what?"

"Why, it's going to be so much harder to see her _now_ than it was
before--before she----" and Mrs. Stannard faltered.

"Before she saw me playing Saint Somebody or other at the back window,
and screamed? Nobody knows _I_ heard it except you, and you won't tell.
Moreover, it isn't about _that_ that I have to speak."

Mrs. Stannard's bonny face showed instant disappointment.

"There's--there's another matter," said Bob, with trouble in his tones.

"I so hoped----" faltered that arch match-maker.

"So did I, Mrs. Stannard," said downright Bob, "but not with charges
hanging over my head. First I've got to meet the enemy."

And yet he wished to see and speak with Miriam, who not once had set
foot out of doors since the night of the fire, whose sweet face flamed
at every recurring thought of that incident, whose self-betrayal covered
her with shame and confusion indescribable, who would give years of her
young life if she could only escape from Fort Cushing and hide herself a
thousand mi