The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-18

.a,l the doctor, before he could use his
| eyes again. u III
| alone out therc on that CHASTITY prairie
| and unable to read!' was the eNclama-
ton of one of the cavalry ladies IN MIS-.
Rayner's presence; and, as there was al
awkward silence and somebody had 10
break it, Mrs. Rayner responded:
eff lived on Prairie avenue should
consider blindness blessing.
It was an unfortunate remark. There
was strong sympathy developing 1cr
Hayne all through the garrison. Mrs.
Rayner never meant that it should have
any such significanes, but inside OF
twenty-four hours, in course OF when
her language had been repeated some
dozens of times and distorted quite as
many, the generally accepted version OF
the story was that Mrs. Rayner, SO far
from expressing the faintest sympathy
or sorrow for Mr.. Haynes misfortune. 80
far from expressing the natural gratlii-
cation which lady should feel that it
was an officer of her regiment who had
reached the scene of danger ahead of the
cavalry officer of the guard, had said in
so many words that Mr.. Hayne ought to
be thankful that blindness was the worst
thing that had come to him.
There was little chance for harmony
after that Many men and some women,
OF course, refused to believe it. and said
they felt confident that she had been
misrepresented. Still, all knew by this
time that Mrs. Rayner was bitter against
Hayne, and had heard of her denuncia-
ton of the coloners action. So, too, had
/ the colonel heard that she openly de-
clared that she would refuse any invita-
ton extended to her or to her sister
which might involve her accepting hos
pitality at his house. These things do
get around in most astonishing ways.
Then another complication arose:
| Rayne, too, was mixing matters. The
major commanding the battalion, man
| in no wise connected with his misfort-
unes. had gone to him and urged, with
| the doctors full consent, that he should
| be moved over into and become an in
mate Of his household in garrison He
nestly added her entreaties to the ma
jor's, but all to no purpose: MIR. Haype
firmly declined. He thanked the ma
jor; he rose and bent over the lady's
hand and thanked her with voice that
was full of gentleness and gratitude;
but he said that he had learned to live
in solitude. Sam was accustomed to all
h lie h<, L.
needed. His wants were few and sim
pie. She would not be content, and
urged him further. He loved reading:
surely he would miss his books and
would need some one to read aloud to
him, and there were SO many ladies in
the garrison who would he glad to meet
at her house and read to him by turns.
He loved music, she heard. and there
was her piano. and she knew several
who would be delighted to come and
play for him by the hour. He shook his
head. and the bandages hid the tears
that came to his smarting eyes. He had
made arrangements to be read aloud to.
he said; and as for music, that must
wait awhile.
The kind woman retired dismayed-
she could not understand such obduracy,
and her husband felt rcbuffed Stan
nard. OF the cavalry. too. came in with
his gentle wife. She was loved through
out the regiment for her kindliness and
grace of mind, as well as for her devo-
ton to the sick and suffering in the old
days of the Indian wars, and Stannard
had made similar proffer and been
similarly refused, and he had gone away
indignant He thought MIR. Hayne too
bumptious to live; but he bore no malice.
and his wrath WAS soon over. MANY of
the cavalry officers called in person and
rendered their services, and were yerv
civilly received. but all offers were posi-
lively declined. Just what the Infantry
officers should do was a momentous
question. That they could no longer
mold aloof was matter that was quick
~ settled. and three Of their number
went through the chill cleaning of the
wintry eve and sent in their cards by
Sam, who ushered them into the cheer
less front room, while one Of their num-
Der followed to the doorway which led
10 the room in rear, in which, still con-
nned to his bed by the doctors advice.
the injured officer was lying. 1t was
Mr.. Toss who went to the door and
cleared his throat and stood in the pres
ence O. tho man to whom. more than
five years before, he had refused his
hand. The others listened anxiously,
"Mr. Hayne. this is Ross. come
with Foster and Graham to say how
deeply we regret your injuries, and to
tender our sympathy and our services"
There was dead silence for moment.
Foster and Graham stood with hearts
that beat unaccountably hard, looking at