see Anita every day if he
wanted--and he always wanted to see Anita. She was now nearing her
nineteenth birthday and could hardly be considered the infant which
Colonel Fortescue continued to proclaim her to be.

The day after Broussard's arrival was Sunday and on Sunday afternoons.
Broussard knew he should find Anita at home. It was the pleasant custom
in the C. O.'s house for Mrs. Fortescue to receive the young officers,
for whom she always had a tender spot in her heart. Broussard was one of
the later arrivals. Already through the great windows the blue peaks of
ice were seen, touched with a moment's golden glory from the setting sun,
and the purple shadows were softly descending upon the snow-white world.

The first member of the Fortescue household who met Broussard gave him a
rapturous greeting. This was Kettle, who opened the massive doors to
visitors.

"Hi! Mr. Broussard, I cert'ny is glad to see you, and Miss 'Nita, she is
right heah in the drawin'-room, and I spect she jump fer joy when she see
you!" shouted Kettle, who was a child of nature and spoke the truth as he
saw it.

"And I'm glad enough to get back to snow and ice after snakes and
mosquitoes and Moros," replied Broussard.

Immediately a small financial transaction passed between Broussard and
Kettle, accompanied with the usual wink from Broussard and grin from
Kettle.

"She doan' take no notice of none of 'em," whispered Kettle
confidentially, "she jes' smile at 'em all and goes 'long thinkin' about
you!"

This was most encouraging and Broussard considered it well worth a
quarter.

As he entered the drawing-room, bright with a glowing wood fire, Anita,
who was entrenched behind a little tea table, rose to greet him. She
wore a little white gown and like another white gown of hers it had a
train--Anita was very anxious to appear as old as possible. As Broussard
spoke to Mrs. Fortescue, who received him with her usual graceful
cordiality, they could hear from the plaza the band playing the solemn
hymn which precedes the retreat on Sunday afternoons. Suddenly the
sunset gun roared out, showing that the flag was descending from the
flagstaff. At once, every one in the room rose and stood respectfully at
attention until the flag came down. Broussard, in the friendly shadow of
the tea table, held on a moment to Anita's hand. She looked straight
away from Broussard, her red lips smiling at an infatuated second
lieutenant on the other