Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-10

but simply citizens, and Northerner and
Southerner fraternized and conversed in
words Of sympathy and respect.
"Why, surely this is Walter Fro
pale, emaciated young fellow, who stood
disconsolately leaning against fence, and
whom he at once recognized as the hero of
the jackson dispatch episode.
"And you are Harry Winthrop!' was the
cordial response. s.Ah, this is a glorious
surprise, for we all thought you were
dead"
"You thought me deads''
"Indeed we did. Your friend, Lecroix,
brought the news to our place last fall. He
said, think. that you had fallen in a raid
with some of Moseby's men, and that,
though he had performed prodigies of valor
in your behalf, life was extinct when he
reached your side.''
"What object could he have in concoct-
ing such tale as that?' Harry asked, in
dismay.
"Oh, suppose he wanted to get on the
blind side of Kate, for whom he has al
ways evinced snealing Kindness" was
the careless reply.
'tAnd Kate? You have not yet told me
how she is faring"
IndIfferently well believe I haven't
been home much since they have been liv-
ing in Richmond; but you can imagine they
are not having very lively time of it,
Harry thought of the horrors of the last
few days, and sighed to think Of what she
must have endured.
SO they are living now at Richmond he
continued.
s.They are You will find them at an old
mansion little way back of the capitol,
for suppose now this little unpleasant
ness is over, you will be looking our people
up!'
"And does she see much of this Alphonse
Lecroixs" Winthrop asked, ignoring the
youths question.
bosom friend of the family for four years.
In fact. believe he is staying with our
folks now and will go into business with
my father as soon as we have turned our
swords into plow-shares. I never liked
the fellow, but must say it is rather gen.
erous in him to find the capital to start a
crippled and impecunious man on the way
| to fortune again"
"And Kates What does she say to all
| thiss" Harry asked, breathlessly.
81 suppose she is properly grateful" was
the reply. 'sAnd rather think father and
mother hoped that now you were under the
SOD, as they believed, there would be a
chance to recognize him as son-in-law!"
1.-THE infamous scoundrelr'
"Ehl why, I always imagined to hear
him talk that you and he were as thick as
| twin brothers. You don't mean to say
But Winthrop interrupted him with q
| torrent of explanations. He told all he knew
| about Lecroix's antecedents, and pictured
| in indignant terms the utterances of his
abominable treachery, especially abiding
to lis fabricated account of Kate's imagin-
ary death-wOund.
"Wen,'' was the cool reply Of the young
| man, when Harry had exhausted the cate
cory of the Canadians crimes, I must say
you astonish me, and personally should
be glad to see him exposed and punished;
but you see, Winthrop, in the present state
of affairs you would find it difficult to induce
my people to take a very severe view of any
little trick done an enemy in wartime, in
trenched. too, as he is, so securely in the
affection OF the family. Besides, he would
contradict you point blank, and, as there is
only your evidence against him, fear the
influence of the court would be all on the
other side"
eff by the influence Of the court you
mean your fathers favor,' Winthrop said,
haughtily, +" shall not make any effort to
ameliorate his Judgment All ask is that
you will make known to your sister the
facts have laid before you, so that she
may be in a position to draw her own con-
illusions as to the character Of the man who
assumes such an interest in the household.
She, at least, think, Will give credit to my
statements"
THAT / am sure she WILL" Frobisham
said, heartily; then added with little burst
of enthusiasm: Upon my soul, Winthrop,
you are a fine fellow, and wish things
could have happened differently, for Of
course your marriage with Kate is now inn
possible"
:. And whys"
"You ask Why's Little you know Kate
Frobisham if you think she would ever for
get the horrors of the past four years or
the share you have had in the misery she
has endured"
81 will take my chance of that, Frobi-
sham, for, mark my words, the time is not
far on when, bitter as you feel at this mo-
ment, the wounds of this cruel war will be
healed. and welded again into one grand
Union, there viii be no North and no
South, but one greaI, glorious people re-
joicing in the strength of its unity" Harry
said, earnestly.
"Yes." was the bitter reply, :" when the