Under Fire

by Charles King

  CHAPTER XVII.

  Long remembered at Fort Scott was the evening that followed Mr. Davies'sdeparture for the agency. Infantry and cavalry both, the garrison tookit much to heart that the detail should have devolved, of all men, uponhim. Not because he was comparatively young and inexperienced; notbecause he was just back from long leave that had been necessitated bylong and serious illness, but solely and entirely because he had butrecently married a wife, and therefore shouldn't have been expected togo,--should not have been torn from her side. The women opened the ball,but the men were not slow in taking the floor. What Davies himself mightthink no one knew, because Davies would not say. He received the orderof the post commander without a word, went home to his wife and sentBarnickel to ask Captain Cranston to come to him as soon as possible.Devers retired to his quarters and was not again seen until afterstables, when, scrupulously avoiding those of the other troops, hevisited his own lines, having previously sent his orderly to Mr.Hastings to notify that gentleman that he should not require him toattend stables this week, which was to have been Mr. Davies's, but wouldexpect him to superintend roll-calls. The temporary commanding officerof the garrison and of the cavalry battalion appeared, therefore, insolitary state in his capacity as captain of Troop "A." Officers whopassed him on the way to or from stables raised hand or cap in thesalute due the post commander, but few of them entered intoconversation. Old Dr. Rooke, the post surgeon, a man ten years Devers'ssenior in the service, returning from a visit to Colonel Stone'sbedside, came face to face with the captain, and the captain stopped tomake inquiries. Rooke's face was grave.

  "He is semi-conscious and resting fairly well, but has received a severeshock that has clouded his faculties. I cannot say when he will be upagain. I do not see any likelihood of his returning to duty for amonth."

  Devers's face expressed all proper concern and sympathy. "It is best, ofcourse, that I should know this, but the colonel's friends are numerousin garrison, and it is something that would have a depressing effect. Isuggest, therefore, that you do not confide your fears to any one else.It affects me painfully to hear it, though I had not the good fortune tobe in the colonel's good graces. We differed as to various officialmatters."

  "I'm aware of that," said Rooke, dryly, "and I have felt more than halfconstrained to remonstrate with you as to the confinement of PrivateBrannan. He left the hospital in good condition, and with theexpectation of returning to his detachment and duty. Of course if newcharges have been lodged against him----"

  "New charges _have_ been lodged against him, doctor. He was sent to thehospital at my request that he might be restrained from liquor, which,under the system pursued by Colonel Stone, could at any time be procuredby guard-house prisoners who had money. That he would be able toindulge his propensity in your department had not, of course, occurredto me as a possibility."

  "Any criticisms you have to make at the expense of my department willreceive due weight, I have no doubt, with my superiors, and you willoblige me by addressing them upon the subject, not me. The postcommander expressed his entire approval of it, and to him and not to thecompany commanders am I responsible, Captain Devers. This, however, Iwill say, sir, that sooner than submit to further comment of thischaracter, I shall telegraph to department head-quarters requestinginstant relief from duty as post surgeon here, if you are to retain thecommand."

  And Rooke had gauged his man. He knew perfectly well that thisapplication, coming on top of Stone's prostration, would lead to theinevitable conclusion at head-quarters that the colonel could not returnto duty for some time, and the surgeon could not contentedly performduty under Devers as temporary commander. In other words, that Deverswas already beginning, as the general expressed it, "to cut up didoes,"and somebody--some field officer--would be at once detached, in allprobability, and sent from his proper post temporarily to take charge ofmatters at Scott. On the other hand, if things worked smoothly and withno apparent friction, Devers might hope to retain command for severalweeks, and that would be of inestimable benefit. What might not beaccomplished in that time? He was quick, yet not too precipitate,therefore, in expressing grave and courteous disclaimer. No reflectionon Dr. Rooke's management was intended or implied, though Dr.Burroughs, the junior, had, in Devers's opinion, laid himself open tocriticism. Of course being somewhat inexperienced, the unwarrantableinterference of Lieutenant Davies and Miss Loomis had confused andhampered him. Surely Dr. Rooke could not say that he, Devers, had everinterfered. On the contrary, had he not incurred the enmity of officersand ladies of his own regiment by making formal report to the postcommander of what he considered an unjustifiable encroachment on theirpart upon the sacred precincts of the post surgeon? Rooke looked at himfrom under his shaggy eyebrows, suspicious and unmollified. He was ashrewd old Scotchman, and Devers protested too much.

  "So far as Miss Loomis and Mr. Davies are concerned," said he, "I haveno exceptions to take whatsoever. I knew the young lady's father well,and I have faith in the young man. I hear he has been sent on sometemporary duty to the agency, captain, and had he consulted me I shouldhave advised against his going. The suffering and exposure of such dutyin such weather are more than many a rugged man can bear. Mr. Davies hasnot yet half recovered his strength."

  "Then I wish I had known it, doctor," said Devers, diplomatically; "butnot knowing it, I could make no other selection. The orders called for adiscreet officer, and Mr. Davies's friends consider him discretionitself. I have even been led to think he had too much discretion. Theorders said 'cavalrymen,' therefore I was limited to the officers of mybattalion. They said to report to Lieutenant Boynton, therefore I waslimited to officers junior in rank to him, for no senior could berequired to do it. Mr. Boynton is a first lieutenant, and the only firstlieutenants junior to him here are Hastings, who is eminentlyindiscreet, and Folsom, who is a martyr to rheumatism, as you very wellknow. The only second lieutenants now on duty with us are Sanders,Jervis, and Davies; certainly of the three Davies is the only one whocan be called discreet, and he was the only one who had not been onscout or detached service of this character since he joined. I regrethaving to break up his honeymooning, but even that is to be buttemporary, for so the orders said. I explain all this to you, doctor,because I respect your rank and service, but I shall not condescend tojustify myself to my juniors."

  "And have you reported action yet by wire?" asked Rooke, critically.

  "Certainly," said Devers, but he reddened. Evidently there had been widespread talk over the selection already, and speculation as to whatdepartment head-quarters would think of it. Evidently it was known thathe was ordered to report by telegraph, yet who could have "given itaway"? The despatch was still in his waistcoat-pocket, for Devers,unlike his trimmer juniors, wore that unsoldierly garment underneath hissack-coat. Even the adjutant had not seen the despatch, and the operatorwas sworn to secrecy. He had reported by wire, and in these words:"Discreet officer and twenty cavalrymen left post at noon with orders tohasten to Ogallalla agency and report to Lieutenant Boynton fortemporary duty." This was sent at 1.15, and he had only just receivedanother inquiring name of the officer detailed. This he did not mean toanswer until after five o'clock, by which time he knew the Omaha officeswould be deserted and Davies some thirty miles away. "The horses arehard and sound," he had said to the silent subaltern. "You should reachthere Friday morning without fail and without fatigue, and ought to campto-night at Dismal River. It's a long thirty miles, but you can easilymake it." He meant Davies to be beyond recall in the event ofdisapproval, and that point secure, he didn't much care whathead-quarters might think or the garrison say.

  And so Wednesday's sun went down red over the snow-streaked barren tothe west, and long, long before that the last vestige of Davies's littleparty disappeared from view among the breaks and ravines in the lowrange of treeless heights many a long desolate mile to the north, andAlmira's faithful comforters were still with her, and at dusk bustledher over to Mrs. Darling's for change of scene and surroundings and t
eaand a little music, and presently sleigh-bells were heard, and Mrs.Flight screamed joyously at the window, "Oh, it's Mr. Willett and Mr.Burtis with their lovely team, and they've come out for the hop!" Andbefore long Lieutenant Darling, accompanied by these very gentlemen,came stamping in, and Sanders and Tommy Dot followed, and in thefirelight the little army parlor was a pretty picture as these gallantsentered and the lamps were lighted, and the gentlemen from town werepresented to Almira, and everybody thought it the proper thing to beespecially devoted to her by way of consoling her for this sudden andheartless separation from her lord, and for nearly half an hour herlovely face maintained its expression of pathetic and unconquerablewoe; but Willett had seated himself at the piano, and he and Sanders andTommy Dot began singing with inimitable drollery some of the popularmelodies of the day, and presently, "to save her life," as she declared,Almira could not resist joining in the laughter and applause, and thenWillett began telling of the new step they were dancing in the East,--hehad been home just long enough to attend a few parties,--and while TommyDot played a waltz he essayed to teach it to Mrs. Darling,--a charmingpartner ordinarily, but still she did not seem to catch the idea, andMrs. Flight was even less successful. Mira looked on with sparkling eyesand new and uncontrollable eagerness. It was the very step she haddanced with the aides-de-camp in Chicago the previous September,--almostthe same that she had danced time and again with Mr. Powlett at Urbana,and not a lady at Fort Scott had yet learned it. At last Sandersspoke,--

  "Why, surely it is the glide step you were telling us about, Mrs.Davies." And then Willett implored her to try it with him, and how couldshe refuse? This was not a ball or party, it was only a dancing lesson;and somehow, all in a moment, she was floating around that little parloron Willett's sustaining arm in long, graceful, gliding steps that seemedadmirably adapted to his, and Willett's face glowed with delight andhers with pardonable triumph, for was she not showing the belles of thearmy the latest thing out in the ball-rooms of fashionable society? AndSanders and Darling applauded enthusiastically, and the ladies asenthusiastically as they could, for one's charitable impulses ooze alltoo rapidly when the object looms suddenly as a rival. Sanders beggedpresently to try with Mrs. Davies, while Mrs. Flight tried again withWillett, and presently all were trying and gradually mastering the newstep, and when it was time to separate for dinner it was solemnly agreedthat they would tell no one of their practice, but that very night atthe hop they would simply paralyze the entire assemblage by dancing thelatest waltz step.

  "Now, Mrs. Davies," said Willett, "you've just _got_ to go, if only justonce to show them how," and Darling and Sanders joined eagerly in theplea. There was not actual unanimity as to the propriety and necessityof the project, however. Mrs. Flight was doubtful, but did not openlyoppose, and Mrs. Darling said, of course dear Mrs. Davies must know thatit would certainly cause remark. But all through tea it cropped outagain and again, and after tea Willett and Sanders came back from themess dinner and renewed their supplications. It was, at least, decidedthat Almira could not be left to mope alone, and as her lady friends hadto go to the hop, why, she might as well go and peep in and hear themusic at any rate. There were good friends, true friends of her own andher husband, who would have been glad indeed to spend the evening withher, either at her fireside or their own, whose cards and condolencesshe found on her little hall table when, escorted to the door by Mr.Willett, she went home at half-past eight, just to make some slightchange in her toilet, which, as it stood, was too funereal for sofestive an occasion.

  And so that night, while Davies and his men were huddling about thelittle camp-fires in the snow at Dismal River and a wintry blast waswhistling through the bare, brown limbs of the cottonwoods, there weresounds of revelry at the big frontier post, spirited music, merrylaughter, the rhythmic beat of martial feet in the measures of thedance, the rustle of silk, and the pit-a-pat of dainty slippers. Onlytwo or three households were unrepresented. It was the first hop Mrs.Stone had missed. It was something that the chaplain and his wife didnot care for. It was a nuisance to Leonard, who loved his books and hishome. It bored more than one old warrior, who went, however, on accountof his wife and daughters, but Captain and Mrs. Devers were on hand, asbefitted the official heads, temporary, of post and martial society, andthe Cranstons with Agatha Loomis, after again going to see if they coulddo anything for Mrs. Davies, and again finding her absent from home,concluded to go over to the hop-room soon after taps, and the firstthing that met their eyes was the sight of Mira--Mrs. Davies--waltzingdown the waxed floor, and waltzing beautifully in the new step that wascoming into vogue while they were still at home, and waltzing on theencircling arm of the appreciative Mr. Willett. Beyond doubt she was theobserved of all observers.

  It had all come about in the most natural and matter-of-fact way. Mirahad persisted for full an hour in her determination not to dance, butagain and again had Willett and Sanders implored,--Willett with eyes aseloquent as his tongue. "None of these other ladies had yet reallylearned the step. Everybody longed to see it. Everybody had heard howbeautifully she danced it," and presently body after body came andcoaxed "just to show us," and so, really before she knew it, she wasagain on Willett's arm, he murmuring praise and encouragement into herpretty little pink ear, and everybody seemed to stop to watch them, andthen strove to imitate. And then Sanders implored her to give him justone turn for the honor of the Eleventh, and then Jervis wouldn't bedenied, and Willett and Burtis came for more,--Willett again and again,and so she danced until the last waltz died away, and her first hop inthe army had been one long, vivid triumph; Willett in his eagernessforgetting an engagement to waltz with Mrs. Hay. "She will never forgiveme," he murmured to Almira, as he saw her home, "but," and his voicesank lower, "I only wonder I did not forget all--but yours." And thatwas one of the lovely things said to her that night she did not reportin her long, explanatory, self-exculpatory letter to Percy. It ispossibly surprising that she had sense enough not to tell it to Mrs.Flight, whose lord was on duty as officer of the guard, and who hadaccepted Almira's urgent invitation to come and spend what was left ofthe night with her. Almira was timid, even afraid to be left alone. Liketwo schoolgirls they chattered about the cosey fire in Almira's bedroom,Mrs. Flight filling the young wife's ears with tales of the complimentsthat had been passed upon her beauty, her grace, her dancing, her lovelycostume,--one of Aunt Almira's _modiste's_ most charming creations, oneshe assuredly would not have worn had Percy been there. Everybody hadpraised her in one way or another, and many had done so to her face,Captain and Mrs. Devers, even, taking heart, as they said, from seeingher so delightfully occupied, came up to congratulate her on being thebelle of the ball and to express every manner of condolence for thestern necessity which called her husband away. It was a piece ofdiplomacy Almira was at a loss to answer.

  Of all the women present the two whose opinion she most dreaded andtoward whom she felt absolute aversion, neither congratulated norpraised her in any way. Miss Loomis smiled and bowed and said,"Good-evening, Mrs. Davies," in very cheery manner when they met inpromenade. Mrs. Cranston bowed and smiled gravely, stopped, and extendedher hand, which Almira, with heightened color and drooping eyelids, tooknervously.

  "I need not say how we deplore the orders, Mrs. Davies. I'm so sorry tohave missed you to-day. Won't you lunch and dine with us to-morrow andtalk over plans? We shall be so glad to have you."

  And Almira faltered that she had promised to lunch at Mrs. Darling's andspend the afternoon, and was afraid she couldn't promise to come todinner, and Mrs. Cranston understood. They went home early, did theCranston's,--that is, early for Fort Scott,--whereas Mrs. Davies,influenced by her energetic friends, danced until long after midnight,and then sat up and talked it all over until long after two.

  "Willett's simply gone on you," was Mrs. Flight's significant remark."No wonder lots of our primmers looked blue to-night. Willett used todance with Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Hay all the time, but he hardly lookedat them to-night. And did you se
e the look Miss Loomis gave him when heinvited her? He says she snubbed him outright." No, Almira hadn't seen,but she had caught almost every look that Willett gave her, and wasthinking more of those and of what he said, and of his plea that sheshould be at Mrs. Darling's for luncheon next day,--they wouldn't driveback to Braska until afternoon,--and of the ball they meant to give atthe railway hotel in town, to return the courtesies of their friends atthe fort. He was to lead the german, and might have to lead it with Mrs.Courtenay of the bank, who was the leader of local society but couldn'tdance any more than he could fly, and if Mrs. Davies would only promiseto be there all would be bliss. Mrs. Davies had said she could not bethere. They were in mourning for Mr. Davies's mother, as Willett wellknew, and she expected Percy home within a week or ten days. CaptainDevers had assured her it couldn't be for longer, and indeed, oh, no!she couldn't think of going to a ball in town.

  But she did think of it very much indeed. She thought of it, and thedance of the evening gone, far more than she did of Percy and his partynow sleeping in the snow or shivering in the wind at Dismal River. Shewrote him one of her long letters Thursday morning, spending over anhour in the effort, and an equal time in her toilet for the luncheon atthe Darlings. She was in the midst of this charming function, assistedby Mrs. Flight, when the gong on the front door announced the coming ofa visitor. "I can't see anybody now, can I?" she hazarded to Mrs.Flight, and Mrs. Flight thought she really wouldn't have time, and sowhispered to Katty, as that Milesian maid-of-all-work bustled throughto answer the summons, "Mrs. Davies will have to be excused to callers,"and the parley at the hall door was brief enough. Almira and herassistant listened,--as what woman would not?--heard the courteous,cordial tone of inquiry for Mrs. Davies, and Katty's flurried "Begs tobe excused, mum," and there was no need of the question which Mrs.Flight asked,--"Who was it, Katty?" for both knew Mrs. Cranston's voice.

  "I've done my best, Wilbur," said Meg, as she threw herself on the armof the big easy-chair in which her lord was reading the Chicago papersbefore the snapping, sparkling fireplace. "She did not want to see melast night, and she practically refused to see me this morning. She haschosen her intimates, and it is a case of like unto like. We are notcongenial. Yet I so wanted to be a friend to him and to her."

  Cranston dropped his paper and threw his strong arm about her waist, andwhen a man turns from the contemplation of his favorite journal to thatof the face of his wife her queendom is assured.

  "You've done all I could ask, dear," was his answer, "but we may have topocket our pride a little. She is very young and inexperienced. She goesto Darlings' to-day, does she?--and that coxcomb Willett is to be there,too." The _Times_ slipped to the floor, forgotten, and Margaret, sayingnothing more, drew closer to his side and nestled her round, soft cheekagainst his weather-beaten jowl, and Agatha, coming quickly in from hersupervision of the boys' lessons in the adjoining room, went back to thebook-littered table unnoticed. This frontier Darby and Joan, whose tinwedding had passed and gone long months before, seemed spooning yet.It's another "way we have in the army," and long may it live and linger.