The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-04-10

temalneoi ana therefore SAID no more
about II. Mr.. Maitland returned unex.
pectedly soon after you came, and the
arst knew Of II was the signal lights
telling me he was there, III, and that
was wanted It was the night Of the
colonies dinner party. ] couldn't ex-
plain then, and decided to go at once
and explain afterward When I met
you all Of Q sudden the next morning.
the first impulse was to get away out Of
your sight, and I obeyed Il simply be-
cause Of the unpleasant experiences ]
had been having with your fellow caval-
rymen. I did not want to have to an.
Swer questions. Sect I was ashamed
Of Il, but too late to turn back"
Perry nodded ~ understand It.
now" he said.
swell, what I want to ask q about
Sergt- Gwynne. Did you meet him be-
fore you got backT"
YES "A mile or % out from the post.
you stopped and talked with him.
didn't your
"Yes-for several minutes"
Mrs. Cowan's needlework had fallen In
her lap. She was seated near the window,
and had been busily sewing. Now she
was looking up. eager and intent
You've known him . long time.
haven't you7"
"Yes-ever since he Joined. Hes one
Of the best sergeants ever knew"
"You would hardly think him guilty
Of any dishonesty. would your
Mrs Cowan was rising from her chair;
the needlework had fallen to the floor.
Dishonesty Not BY a-good dealI''
was the reply that babe fair to be even
more impulsive, and was checked only
In Difference to the presence Of woman.
"Well, neither would I, from what
I've seen Of him; and yet Mr.. Maitland'G
seal ring was found on him last night"
my Godi OF course he could explain
Il In some wayr
He couldn't-or wouldn't BE sim.
ply stood there, white a. q sheep except
where those bruises made him green and
blue. he had denied the charge hatly
when accused; and yet there It was In
his chest never saw any man 90 taken
aback as Capt. Stryker; he said he would
have sworn to his innocence"
80 would LEO do, by JupiterI IT.
some foul plotl-it's"-
Butt he got no further. To his own
amaze, to the utter bewilderment Of DR..
Quin, Mrs. Cowan precipitated herself
upon her patient, seized the hand that
lay nearest her on the coverlet, and
burst forth into half articulate, sobbing.
indignant words, mingled with kisses
showered passionately on that aStonish.
ed hand.
"oh, bless him for the wordsi Oh.
God bless you, Mr.. Perryi Oh,
the foolsl the lunaticsl A
thief, indeed. The idea Of hi
being accused Oh, God! what
would his mother in heaven say to this
. As though he had not borne
far too much already It's bis
own-his own ring, tall you'll Who
else should wear it1 Who dare
take Il from him nowl - Oh, thu
infamy Of It allI''
In her wild excitement, In her inco
herent praise and lamentation and wrath
and indignation, her voice, her sobs
rang through the room and out along
the broad corridor. Even in their amazG
the two men heard o hurried step ap
preaching, o lmping, hating, painful
step, yet rapid and impulsive. Quin, alb
sorbed in his contemplation Of the ex'
cited woman, paid no attention; PerTy'l
eager eyes were strained upon the dooI
way, where, the very next instant, with
pallid features and startled mien, Gladly
Maitland appeared and stood staring In
upon the spectacle Of MIRA Cowan kiss
ing and sobbing over Perry's hand. Al
ready he had OWNED the truth, and
strove to warn the tear blinded woman
Of her presence; but Mrs Cowan's ex
element had increased to the verge Of
hysteria; she was laughing and crying
now by turns, blessing her soldier patient
for his faith In the accused sergeant. and
then breaking forth anew In Indignant
expletive, "Who are his accusersl Who
dare say thief TO himH Not ont
Is ct to look him In the facet Twas thu
very ring his mother gave him,
his owni his own
And then the doctor seized her and
turned her 90 that she must see Gladys
Gladys, wild eyed, painting. staring. tot
tering forward from the doorway. OnC
sharp cry from the woman's lips. ont
spring towards the reeling form, and
she had caught the girl In her armS
"Gladys, Gladys, my little petit my
own baby grill Look up and thank God
I've tried to keep my promise and hi
secret until he released me. I've tried
hard, but it's all useless; can't, can't.
Oh, Gladys, sweetheart. your mother'l
smiling down on US this day. Who Dc
you think has come back to Us, safe and
strong and well and braveI Who but
your own brother. your own Archie
GladysI"