acknowledgment of the presence of ladies with the
officers, but glanced coldly from one to the other until his blue eyes
lighted on Miss Travers. No woman in that group could fail to note the
leap of sunshine and gladness to his face, the instant flush that rose
to his cheek. Miss Travers, herself, saw it quickly, as did the maiden
walking just behind her, and her heart bounded at the sight. She bowed
as their eyes met, spoke his name in low tone, and strove to hide her
face from Mr. Blake, who turned completely around and stole a sudden
glance at her. She could no more account for than she could control it,
but her face was burning. Mrs. Rayner, too, looked around and stared at
her, but this she met firmly, her dark eyes never quailing before the
angry glare in her sister's. Blake was beginning to like Hayne and to
dislike Mrs. Rayner, and he always _did_ like mischief.

"You owe me a grudge, Miss Travers, if you did but know it," he said, so
that all could hear.

"You, Mr. Blake! How can that be possible?"

"I spoiled a serenade for you a few nights ago. I was officer of the
day, and caught sight of a man gazing up at your window after midnight.
I felt sure he was going to sing: so, like a good fellow, I ran over to
play an accompaniment, and then--would you believe it?--he wouldn't
sing, after all."

She was white now. Her eyes were gazing almost imploringly at him.
Something warned him to hold his peace, and he broke off short.

"_Who_ was it? Oh, _do_ tell us, Mr. Blake!" were the exclamations, Mrs.
Rayner being most impetuous in her demands. Again Blake caught the
appeal in Miss Travers's eyes.

"That's what I want to know," he responded, mendaciously. "When I woke
up next morning, the whole thing was a dream, and I couldn't fix the
fellow at all."

There was a chorus of disappointment and indignation. The idea of
spoiling such a gem of a sensation! But Blake took it all complacently,
until he got home. Then it began to worry him.

Was it possible that she knew he was there?

That night there was a disturbance in the garrison. Just after ten
o'clock, and while the sentries were calling off the hour, a woman's
shrieks and cries were heard over behind the quarters of Company B and
close to the cottage occupied by Lieutenant Hayne. The officers of the
guard ran to the spot with several men, and found Private Clancy
struggling and swearing in the grasp of two or three soldiers, while
Mrs. Clancy was implor