Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-20

| the doctor and talk with him; but bv the
time his Office work was done the doctor
had gone to town, and when he came
back he was sent for to the laundress'
quarters, where Mrs. Clancy was in hys-
terics and Michael had again been very
bad
Soon after the captains return to his
quarters, it seems, a messenger was sent
from Mrs Rayner requesting Mrs. Clancy
to come and sec her at once. She was
ushered up stairs to madames own
apartment, much to Miss Travers' sur
prise, and that young lady was further
astonished, when Mrs. Clancy reap
peared, nearly an hour later, to see that
she had been weeping violently. The
house was in some disorder, most of the
trunks being packed and in readiness for
the start, and Miss Travers was enter
tanning two or three young officers and
waiting for her sister to come down to
luncheon.
"The boys" were lachrymose over her
prospective department. least they af-
fected to be-apd were variouslv
sprawled about the parlor when Mrs.
Clancy descended, and the inflamed con-
dition of her eyes and nose became an
parent to all. There was much chaff and
fun, therefore, when Mrs. Ravner finally
appeared, over the supposed affection of
the big Irish woman at the prospect of
parting with her patroness. Miss Trav-
ers saw"with singular sensations that
both the captain and her usually self re-
liant sister were annoyed and embar-
raised by the topic and strove to change
it; but Fosters propensity for mmicry
and his ability to initiate Mrs. Clancy's
combined brogue and snifiie proved too
much for their efforts. Kate was in a
royalty bad temper by the time the
youngsters left the house, and when
Nellie would have made some laughing
allusion to the fun the young fellows had
been having over her morning caller, she
was suddenly and tartly checked with:
"We've had too much of that already.
Just understand now that you have no
time to waste, if your packing is unfin-
ished. We start tomorrow afternoon"
"Why, Kate! had no idea we were
to 60 for two days yet! OF course I can
be ready; but why did you not tell me
before?"
81 did not know tat least it was not
decided-until this morning, after the
captain came back from the office. There
is nothing to prevent our going, now that
he has seen the colonel"
"There was not before, Kate; for Mr..
Billings told me Yesterday morning, and
| told you. that the colonel had said YOU
could start at once, and you replied that
the captain could not be ready for sew
eral days-three at least"
"Well, now he is; and that ends it.
Never mind what changed his mind"
1t was unsafe to trifle with Nellie
Travers, as Mrs. Rayner might have
known. She saw that something had oc-
Cured TO make the captain eager to start
at once; and then there was that imme-
date sending for Mrs. Clancy, the long.
secret talk up in Hates room, the evil
dent mental disturbance of both fem
iulnes on their respective Temperatures
and the sudden announcement to her.
While there could be no time to mako
formal parting calls there were still
some two or three ladies in the garrison
whom she longcd to see before saving
L.
whom she had wrongcd quite as bitterly
as any one else had wronged him. lie
was out that day for the first time, and
she longcd to see him and longed to full
fill the neglected promise. That she
must do at the very least If she could
not sec him she must write, that he
might have the note before they went
away. All these thoughts were rushing
through her brain as she busiel herself
about her little room, slowing away
dresses and dropping everything from
time to time to dart into her sisters
room in answer to some querulous call
Iet never did she leave without 0uicl,
glance from her window up aud down
the row. For whom was she looking?
1t was just about dusk when she heard
crying downstairs-a child-and appa-
rently in the kitchen. Mrs, Ravner was
with the baby, and Miss Travers started
for the stairs. calling that she would 90
and see what it meant. She was down |
in the hall before Mrs. Rayner's impera-
tive and repeated calls brought her to a
full stop.
"What is it?' she inquired
"You come back here and hold baby. !
know perfectly what it is. 1t is Kate
Clancy, and she wants me. You can do |
nothing"
Too late, madame. The intervening
doors were opened, and in marched cook, |
leading the poor little Irish girl, who was
sobbing piteously. Mrs, Rayner came
down the stairs with all speed, bringing |
her burly son and heir in her arms. She |
would have ordered Nell aloft. but what |
excuse could she give? And Miss Tray
ers was already bending over the child |
ana striving to still her heartbreaklng !
cries.
what is it? Where's your father"
Mrs. Rayner.
"Oh, ma am, | don't know! I came |
here to tell the captain. Shure he's dis
ma'am, an his hearts broke |
an mother says we're all TO go |
with the captain tomorrow, and lie |
Swears hell kill himself before he'll go, |
an | cant find him ma am It's almost |