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“Indeed, Miss Miriam, I’m not to be disposed of so summarily,” he promptly answers. “I’ll see you safely to the hotel. You’ll excuse me, colonel?”

“Certainly, certainly, Lee. I suppose I’ll see you later,” responds the veteran. They leave him at the Mess and resume their way, and Lee takes the vacated seat by her side. There is something he longs to say to her,–something that has been quivering on his lips and throbbing at his heart for many a long day. She is a queenly woman,–this dark-eyed, stately army girl. It is only two years since, her school-days finished, she has returned to her father’s roof on the far frontier and resumed the gay garrison life that so charmed her when a child. Then a loving mother had been her guide, but during her long sojourn at school the blow had fallen that so wrenched her father’s heart and left her motherless. Since her graduation she alone has been the joy of the old soldier’s home, and sunshine and beauty have again gladdened his life. She would be less than woman did she not know that here now was another soldier, brave, courteous, and gentle, who longed to win her from that home to his own,–to call her by the sacred name of wife. She knew how her father trusted and Phil looked up to him. She knew that down in her own heart of hearts there was pleading for him even now, but as yet no word has been spoken. She is not the girl to signal, “speak, and the prize is yours.” He has looked in vain for a symptom that bids him hope for more than loyal friendship.

But to-night as they reach the brightly-lighted piazza at Craney’s it is she who bids him stay.

“Don’t go just yet,” she falters.

“I feared you were tired and wished to go to your room,” he answers, gently.

“Would you mind asking if there are letters for me?” she says. It is anything to gain time, and he goes at her behest, but–oh, luckless fate!–’tis a false move.

She sees him stride away through the groups on the piazza; sees the commandant meet him with one of his assistants; sees that there is earnest consultation in low tone, and that then the others hasten down the steps and disappear in the darkness. She hears him say, “I’ll follow in a moment, sir,” and something tells her that what she dreads has come to pass. Presently he returns to her with the information that there are no letters; then raises his cap, and, in the old Southern and cadet fashion, extends his hand.

“You are not going, Mr. Lee?” again she falters.

“I have to, Miss Stanley.”

Slowly she puts forth her hand and lays it in his.

“I–I wish you did not have to go. Tell me,” she says, impulsively, imploringly, “are you going to inspect?”

He bows his head.

“It is already ordered, Miss Miriam,” he says; “I must go at once. Good-night.”

Dazed and distressed she turns at once, and is confronted by a pallid little maid with wild, blue eyes.

“Oh, Miss Stanley!” is the wail that greets her. “I could not help hearing, and–if it should be Willy!”

“Come with me, Nannie,” she whispers, as her arm enfolds her. “Come to my room.”

Meantime, there has been a breeze at the barracks. A batch of yearlings, by way of celebrating their release from plebedom, have hit on a time-honored scheme. Just about the same moment that disclosed to the eyes of Lieutenant Lee the class ring gleaming on the finger of that nattily-dressed young civilian, his comrade, the dozing officer in charge, was started to his feet by a thunder-clap, a vivid flash that lighted up the whole area of barracks, and an explosion that rattled the plaster in the guard-house chimneys. One thing the commandant wouldn’t stand was disorder after “taps,” and, in accordance with strict instructions, Lieutenant Lawrence sent a drummer-boy at once to find the colonel and tell him what had taken place, while he himself stirred up the cadet officer of the day and began an investigation. Half the corps by this time were up and chuckling with glee at their darkened windows; and as these subdued but still audible demonstrations of sympathy and satisfaction did not cease on his arrival, the colonel promptly sent for his entire force of assistants to conduct the inspection already ordered. Already one or two “bull’s-eyes” were flitting out from the officers’ angle.