Part 80 (1/2)

”Yet, here is one----”

”A silly fancy that will pa.s.s with her. Lord! Do you think a gentleman accountable to every pretty chit of a girl he notices on his way through life?”

”Some dare believe so.”

He stared at me, then laughed.

”You are different to other men, of course,” he said gaily. ”We all understand that. So let it go----”

”One moment, Boyd. There is a matter I must speak of--because friends.h.i.+p and loyalty to a childhood friend both warrant it. Can you tell me why Lana Helmer is unhappy?”

A dark red flush surged up to the roots of his hair, and the muscles in his jaw tightened. He remained a moment mute and motionless, staring at me. But if my question, for the first moment, had enraged him, that quickly died out; and into his eyes there came a haggard look such as I had never seen there.

He said slowly:

”Were you not the man you are, Loskiel, I had answered in a manner you might scarcely relish. Now, I answer you that if Lana is unhappy I am more so. And that our unhappiness is totally unnecessary--if she would but listen to what I say to her.”

”And what is it that you say to her?” I inquired as coolly as though his answer might not very easily be a slap with his fringed sleeve across my face.

”I have asked her to marry me,” he said. ”Do you understand why I tell you this?”

I shook my head.

”To avoid killing you at twenty paces across the river.... I had rather tell you than do that.”

”So that you have told me,” said I, ”the reason for your telling matters nothing. And my business with you ends with your answer....

Only--she is my friend, Boyd--a playmate of pleasant days. And if you can efface that wretchedness from her face--brighten the quenched sparkle of her eyes, paint her cheeks with rose again--do it, in G.o.d's name, and make of me a friend for life.”

”Shall I tell you what has gone amiss--from the very first there at Otsego?”

”No--that concerns not me----”

”Yes, I shall tell you! It's that she knew about--the wench here--Dolly Glenn.”

”Is that why she refuses you and elects to remain unhappy?” I said incredulously.

”Yes--I can say no more.... You are right, Loskiel, and such men as I are wrong--utterly and wretchedly wrong. Sooner or later comes the bolt of lightning. h.e.l.l! To think that wench should hurl it!”

”But what bolt had she to hurl?” said I, astonished.

He reddened, bit his lip savagely, made as though to speak, then, with a violent gesture, turned away.

A few moments later a cannon shot sounded. It was the signal for striking tents and packing up; and in every regiment hurry and confusion reigned and the whole camp swarmed with busy soldiery.

But toward evening orders came to unpack and pitch tents again; and whether it had been an exercise to test the quickness of our army for marching, or whether some accident postponed the advance, I do not know.

All that evening, being on duty with my Indians to watch the cattle-guard, I did not see Lois.

The next day I was ordered to take the Indians a mile or two toward Chemung and lie there till relieved; so we went very early and remained near the creek on observation, seeing nothing, until evening, when the relief came with Hanierri and three Stockbridges. These gave us an account that another soldier had been shot in camp by the accidental discharge of a musket, and that the Light Troops had marched out of their old encampment and had pitched tents one hundred rods in advance.