The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-27

And vet it was getting 10 be whispered
around that the Rif1ers were by no means
so unanimous as they had been in their
opinion of this very officer. They were
becoming divided among themselves;
and what complicated matters was the
fact that those who felt their views un-
dergoing reconstruction were COM
PEELED to admit that just in proportion
as the case of Mr.. Hayne rose in their
estimation the reputation of another Off
Ger was bound to suffer, and that officer
was Capt. Rayner.
Between these two men not word
had been exchanged for five years-not
single word since the day when, with
ashen face and broken accents, but with
stern purpose in every syllable, Lieut..
Hayne, standing in the presence OF
nearly all the officers of his regiment,
had hurled this prophecy in his adver-
sary's teeth: Though it take me years,
I will live it down despite you; and you
will wish to God you had bitten out your
perjured tongue before ever you told the
lie that wrecked me-"
No wonder there was talk, and lots of
it, in the ''Rifiers" and all through the
garrison when Ravner's drst lieutenant
suddenly threw up his commission and
retired to the mines he had located in
Montana, and Hayne, the ''senior second"
was promoted to the vacancy. Specula-
ton as to what would be the result was
given temporary rest by the news that
war department orders had granted the
| biol OF tl,' loox fh,E ,.e,t hn
had sought in as many years. 1t was
known that he had gone east; but hardly
had he been away a fortnight when there
came the trouble with the Cheyennes at
the reservation leap for liberty by
some fifty of the band, and an immedi-
ate rush of the cavalry in pursuit. There
were some bloody atrocities, as there
always are. All the troops in the depart
ment were ordered to be in readiness for
instant service, while the officials eagerly
watched the reports to see which way
the desperate band would turn; and the
next heard of Mr.. Hayne was the news
that he had thrown up his leave and had
hurried out to join his company the mo-
ment the eastern papers told of the
trouble. 1t was all practically settled
by the time he reached the department.;
but the spirit and intent of his action
could not be doubted. And now here he
was at Warrener. That very morning
during the matinee he had entered the
office unannounced, walked up to the
desk Of the commander. and. while every
voice but his in the room was stilled, he
quietly spoke:
Permit mo to introduce myself, COL
onel-Mr. Hayne. desire to relinuuish
my leave of absence and report for duty"
The colonel quickly arose and extended
his hand:
"Mr. Hayne, am especially glad to
see you and to thank you here for all
your care and kindness to our men. The
doctor tells me that many of them would
have had to suffer the loss of noses and
ears, even of hands and feet in some
cases. but for your attention. Mai.
Stannard will add his thanks to mine
when he returns. Take seat, sir, for
the present. You are acquainted with
the officers of your own regiment, doubt
less. Mr.. Billings, introduce Mr.. Hayne
to ours"
Whereat the adjutant courteously
greeted the newcomer, presented a small
party of yellow strapped shoulder and |
then drew him into earnest talk about |
the adventure of the train. 1t was no. |
ticed that Mr. Hayne neither by word |
nor glance gave the slightest recocni-
tI"a "f the presence OF the officers of his |
own regiment, and that they as studi-
ousiy avoided him. One or 40 of their
number had indeed risen and stepped
forward. as though to offer him the civil
greeting due to one of their own cloth:
but it was with evident doubt of the re-
suit. They redeemed when he met their
was that of gentle
,nan-with cold look of utter rcpudia-
ton. lie did not choose to see them.
and. of course, that ended it.
Nor was his greeting hearty among the
cavalrymen There were only a few
present, as most of the til were still ont
in the field and marching slowly home
war'l. The introductions were courteous
and formal. there WAS even constraint
among two or three, but there was civil
ty and an evident desire to refer to his
services III behalf of their men. All such
attempts, however, Mr.. Hayne waved
sslde by an immediate change of the sub
lect, 1t was plain that to them, too, he
had the manner of n man who was at
odds with the world and desired to make
no friends.
The colonel quickly noted tho general
silence and constraint, and resolved To
shorten it as much as possible. Drowning
lis pen. he wheeled around in his chair
with determined cheerfulncss:
Mr.. uaync, you will need q day or
'wo to look about and select quarters and
get ready for work, | presume"