Within a month from her
graduation at Madame Piatt's she had become the darling of Fort Frayne,
the pet of many a household, the treasure of her own. With other young
gallants of the garrison, Beverly Field had been prompt to call, prompt
to be her escort when dance or drive, ride or picnic was planned in her
honor, especially the ride, for Mr. Adjutant Field loved the saddle, the
open prairie or the bold, undulating bluffs. But Field was the busiest
man at the post. Other youngsters, troop or company subalterns, had far
more time at their disposal, and begged for rides and dances, strolls
and sports which the post adjutant was generally far too busy to claim.
It was Esther who brought lawn tennis to Frayne and found eager pupils
of both sexes, but Field had been the first to meet and welcome her; had
been for a brief time at the start her most constant cavalier. Then, as
others began to feel the charm of her frank, cordial, joyous manner, and
learned to read the beauty that beamed in her clear, truthful eyes and
winsome, yet not beautiful face, they became assiduous in turn,--two of
them almost distressingly so,--and she could not wound them by refusals.
Then came a fortnight in which her father sat as a member of a
court-martial down at old Fort Laramie, where were the band,
headquarters and four troops of the ----th, and Captain and Mrs.
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