The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-18

An unusual state Of affairs existed at
the'b big hospital for several days. Mrs.
Clancy had refused to leave the bedside
Of her beloved Mike, and was permitted
to remain For woman who was noto-
rious as q virago and bully, who had
beaten. little Kate from her babyhood
and abused and hammered her Michael
until, between her and drink. he was but
the wreck Of stalwart manhood, Mrs
Clancy had developed degree of devo-
ton that was utterly unexpected. In all
tho dozen years of their marital relations
no such trait could be recalled; and yet
there had been many an occasion within
the past few years when Clancy's condi-
ton demanded gentle nursing and close
attention-and never would have got it
but for faithful little Kate. The child
idolized the broken down man. and loved
him with a tenderness that his weakness
seemed but to augment thousaHdfold.
while it but served to infuriate her moth.
er. In former years, when he was SeEgt
Clancy and a fine soldier, many was the
time he had intervened to save her from
an undeserved tlirashing; many a time
had he seized her in his strong arms and
confronted the furious woman with stern
reproof. Between him and the child
there had been the tenderest love, for
she was all that was left to hf.n of four.
In the old days Mrs. Clancy had been
the belle Of the soldiers balls, fine
looking woman, with indomitable pow
ers as n dancer and conversationalist
and an envied reputation for outshining
all her rivals in dress and adjournment.
"She would ruin Clancy. that she
would" was the unanimous opinion of
the soldiers wives. but he seemed to min
lister to her extravaganza with unfailing
good nature for two or three years. He
had been prudent, careful of his money,
was war soldier with big arrears of
bounty and. tradition had it, consum-
mate skill in poker. He was the money
ed man among the sergeants when the
dashing relict of brother non-commis-
stoned officer set her widows cap for him
and won. 1t did not take many years
for her to wheedle most Of his money
away, but there was no cessation to the
demand. no apparent limit to the supply.
Both were growing older, and now it be-
came evident that Mrs. Clancy was the
elder Of the two. and that the artificial
ity of her charms could not stand the
test of frontier life. No longer sought
as the belle of the soldiers ball rooms, she
aspired to leadership among their wives
and families, and was accorded that pre-
eninence rather than the fierce battle
which was sure to follow any revolt. She
became avaricious-some said miseriy-
and Clancy miserable Then began the
downward course, lie took to drink soon
after his return from long, hard sum-
mer's campaign with the Indians. He
lost his sergeant's' stripes and went into
the ranks
There came time when the new col
onel forbade his re- enlistment in Che
cavalry regiment in which he had served
SO many long year. He had been a
brave and devoted soldier. He had u
good friend in the infantry. lac said. who
wouldn't so back on poor fellow who
took drop too much at times, and. to
the surprise of many soldiers-officers
and men-he was brought to the recruit
ing officer one day, sober. solaierly, and
trinity dressed, and Capt. Rayner ex-
pressed his desire to have him enlisted
for his company: and it was done. Mrs.
Clancy was accorded the quarters and
rations of laundress, as was then the
custom, and for time-a very short
time-Clancy seemed on the road to pro-
motion to his old grade The enemy
tripped him. aided by the seedlings and
abuse OF his.wife, and he never rallied.
Some~work was found for him around
the quartermaster's shops which saved
him from guard duty or the guard
house, The infantry-officers and men
seemed to feel for tho poor, broken
down old fellow, and to lay much of his
woe TO the door of his wife. There was
charity for his faults and sympathy Tor
sss sorrows. but al last il had come to
this, He was lying. sorely injured, in
the hospital. and there were times when
he was apparently dehrfous.
AT such times. said Mrs. Clancy. she
Alone could manage him: and she urged
that no other nurse could do more than
excite or irritate him. To the uaspeaka-
ele grief of little Kate she, too, was
driven from the sufferers bedside and
Forbidden to come into the room except
when her mother gave permission.
Clancy had originally been carried into
the general ward with the other patients,
but the hospital steward two days after
wards told the surgeon that the patient
moaned and cried so at night that the
Other sick men could not sleep. and Of
fered to give up little room in his own
part Of the building. The bury. doctor
looked surprised at this concession OH
the part OF the steward, who was man