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

SCSeyrA
"TU kill the first man 1cho dares enterI"
Straight as an arrow Mr.. Blake had
sped across the parade, darted through
the east gate, and, turning. had arrived
breathlesS at the wooden porch Of
Haynes quarters. Two bewildered look
ing members of the guard were at the
door. Blake pushed his way through
the little hallway and into the dimly
lighted parlor, where a strange scene
met his eyes; Lieut.. Iiayne lay senseless
and white upon the lounge across the
room; a young and pretty woman, sin
gularlv like him in feature and in the
color of her abundant tresses, was kneel-
ing beside him, chatting his hands, i'm
ploring him to speak-to look at her
unmindful of the fact that her feet were
bare and that only loose wrapper was
thrown over her white night dress; Capt.
Rayner was seated in a chair, dcathlv
white, and striving to stanch the
blood that flowed from a deep cash
in his temple and forehead; he seemed
still stunned as by the force of the blow
that had fellcd him, and Buxton, speech
less with amaze and heaven only knows
what other emotions, was glazing at a
tall, athletic stranger who, in stocking
feet, undershirt and trousers, held by
three frightened looking soldiers and
covered by the carbine of a fourth. was
hurting defiance and denunciatiOn at the
commanding officer. A revolver lay
upon the floor at the feet of a corporal OF
the guard, who was grooming in pain. A
thin veil of powder smoke floated through
the room. AS Blake lolped in-his cav
airy shoulder knots nd helmet cords
| cleaning in the hGht--a flash of recog-
milton shot into the strangers eyes, and
he curbed his fearful excitement and
stopped short in his wrath.
What devils work is this?' demanded
Blake, glazing intuitively al Buxton.
"These people resisted my guards, and
had to take the consequences said Bux
ton, with surly-yet shaken-dignity.
What were the guards doing here
What, in Gods name, are you doing
here2" demanded Blake forgetful of al
consideration of rank and command il
the face of such evident catastrophe.
Il ordered them hereto enter ant
search. .
a pause.
"Search what? what for?"
"For-a woman had reason to believe
he had brought out here from town.
"What? You Internal idiot? Why
she's his own sister, and this gentleman
Wife"
The silence, broken only by the hare
breathing Of some of the excited mer
and the moaning cry of the woman, wa
for a moment intense.
Isn't this Mr.. HurleyT asked Blake
suddenly, as though TO make sure, anC
turning one instant from his furiou
giare at MS superior officer. The stranger
still held, though no longer struggling
replied between his set teeth:
"Certainly. I've told him So"
"By heaven Buxton, is there no limi
to your asininity? What fearful WORK
will you do next
IN arrest You, sir, if you speak an
other disrespectful word!' thunderec
Buxton, recovering consciousness that a
commanding officer he could defend him
self against Blake's assault.
500 it and be-you know what
would say if a lady were not present
Do it if you think you can stand having
this thing ventilated by the court. Pah
| can't waste words on you. Who'sgon,
for the doctor? Here, You men, let <,
of Mr., Hurley now. Help me, Mr., Hur
ley, please, Get your wife back to he
room. Bring me some water, one o
YOU" And with that he was bend
ing over Hayne and unbuttoning the ia
tigue uniform in which he was still
dressed. Another moment and the doc
tor had come in, and with him half tn
young officers Of the garrison. Rayne
was led away to his own quarters Bux
ton, dazed and frightened now, ordere
the guards b-.sA to their post aud stoo
| bordering over the enormity of his blum