However," and he bent low over the lady's hand, "I must congratulate Miss McDonald on her escaping without any serious injury." "That is not all I should be congratulated upon, Major Elliott," she said quietly.
"No--eh--perhaps I do not understand." "I desire that you shall; I refer to my engagement to Sergeant Hamlin." The officer glanced in some bewilderment from her face to that of the silent trooper.
"You--you mean matrimonial ?" he stammered, plainly embarrassed, unable so suddenly to grasp the peculiar situation.

"Hamlin, what--what does this mean ?" "Miss Molly and I have known each other for some time," explained the Sergeant bluntly.

"Out here alone we discovered we were more than friends.

That is all, sir." For an instant Elliott hesitated, held by the strange etiquette of rank, then the gentleman conquered the soldier, and he drew off his glove, and held out his hand.
"I can congratulate you, Miss McDonald," he exclaimed frankly.

"I have known Sergeant Hamlin for two years; he is a soldier and a gentleman." The red blood swept into her cheeks, her eyes brightening.
"He is my soldier," she replied softly, "and the man I love." They rode together down the steep hillside covered with its mantle of snow to join the little body of troopers halted in the valley.