Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-04-18

points on which she mad dlfered Win |
the colonels wife, and it was plain to all |
that it was difficult thing for her to |
come down from being the authority
the leader of the social element of gar |
rIson.-and from the position OF second |
or third importance which she had been |
accorded when first assigned to the sta |
ton.
There were many indeed, who assert |
ed that it was because she found her new
position unbearable that she decided on
her long visit to the east, and departed
thither before the Rilers had been at War
rener a month. The colonels wife had
greeted her and her lovely sister with
charming grace on their arrival two days
previous to the stirring event of the dim
ner, and every one was looking forward
TO a probable series of pleasant entertain
ments by the two households, even while
wondering how long the entente cordiale
would laSt--when the Colonel's invitation
to Mr.. Hayno brought on an immediate
crisis. 1t is safe to say that Mrs. Bayner
was madden than the captain her hus-
band, who hardly knew how to take it.
He was 10y no means the best liked officer
in his regiment, nor the ''deepest and
best informed, but lie had a native
shrewdncss which helped him. lie noted
even before his wife would speak Of it to
him the gradual dying out of the bitter
feeling that had once existed at Haynes
expense. He felt, though it hurt him
seriously to make inquiries, that the man
whom he had practically crushed and
ruined in the long ago WAS slowly but
surely gaining strength, even where he
would not make friends.
Worse than all, he was beginning to
doubt the evidence of his own senses as
the years receded, and unknown to any
soul on earth, even his wife, there was
growing up deep down in his heart a
gnaUi ing, insidious, ever fostering fear
that after all, after all, he might have
been mistaken. And yet on the sacred
oath of a soldier and a gentleman, against
the most searching ross-eXamination,
again and again had he most confidently
and positively declared that he had both
seen and heard the fatal interview on
which the whole case hinged. And as
to the exact language employed he alone
| OF those within earshot had lived to tes-
! tify for or against the accused; of the
! five soldiers who stood in that now cele-
| brated group, three were shot to death
within the hour lie was growing ncr-
vous, irritable, haggard; he was getting
! to hate the mere mention of the case.
! The promotion of Havne to his own com
pany thrilled him with an almost super
! stitious dismay. Were his words com
! ing true? Was it the judgment of an
| offended God that his hideous pride, OBJ
! stinacv and old time hatred Of this officer
We're now to be revenged by daily, hour
! " contact with the victim of his criminal
persecution? He had grown morbidly
sensitive to any remarks rs to Hayne S
having Lived down" the tolls in which
he had been encircled. Might he not
! live down" the ensnarer! lie dreaded
to see him-though Ravner was no
coward-and he feared day by day to
hear of his restoration to fellowship in
the regiment, and vet would have given
half his wealth to bring it about, could
it but have been accomplished without
the dreadful admission, Il was wrong
l was utterly wrong"
He had grown lavish in hospitality; he
had become almost aggressively opeT
handed to his comrades, and had sought
to press money upon men who in nc
wise needed it. He was as eager to lend
as some are to borrow, and his brother
officers dubbed him Midas" not because
everything he touched would turn tC
gold, but because he would intrude his
gold upon them at every turn. There
were some who borrowed; and these he
struggled not to let repay. lie seemed
to have an insane idea that if he coulC
but get his regimental friends bound tc
him pecuniarily he could control theil
opinions and actions. 1t was making
him sick at heart, and it made him il
secret doubly vindictive and bite
against the man he had doomed to year!
of suffering. This showed out that very
morning. Mrs. Rayner had begun t.
talk, and he turned iierce!y upon her:
Not word ON that subject, Kate, i
you love me!-not even the mention O
! his namel / must have peace in my owl
! house. 1t is enough to have to talk of i
elsewhere.
Talk of it he had to. The major earl,
} that morning asked him, as they wer
going to the matinee:
r "Have you seen Hayne YETI"
: "Not since he reported on the parad
yesterday" was the curt reply.
, "Well, suppose you will send men t.
help him get those quarters into habita
BILE shape?"
II will, of course, major, if he ask il
; | don't propose sending men TO do sucl
0 work for an officer unless the reques
come"
r "He is entitled to that consideration
o Rayner, and l think the men should b
4 sent to him. lie is hardly likely t
| ask"
"Then he is less likely 20 get them,
said the captain, shortly, for, except tn
I post commander, he well knew that n
d officer could order it to he done lie wa
i angry at the major for interfering, The
V were old associates and had entered SCI
y vice almost at the same time, but hi
: friend had the better luck in promotio
L