Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-05-11
he calls in the delft and dainty hand

lAinA-
so shall I, Mrs. Waldron,' was the
response.
And isn't ii high time we were begin
ming TO hear of a choice? Forgive my
intrusiveneSs, but that was the very
matter of which the major and l were
talking as he brought me over.
There is something to be done first,
Mrs. Waldron," he answered. Il can
not offer any woman a clouded name. 1t
is not enough that people should begin
to believe that was innocent and my
prosecutors utterly in error, if not per-
iured. | must be able TO show who was
the real culprit. and that is not easy.
The doctor and thought we saw way
not long ago; but it proved delusive. >
And he sighed deeply. Il had expected
to see the major about il the very day he
got back from the court; but we have
had no chance TO talk"
"Mr Hayne," slfe said, impulsively,
IA wOman'S intuition is not always at
fault. Tell me if You believe that any
one on the post has any inkling
of the truth. have Il reason for ask
ing"
Il did think it possible, Mrs Wal
drOn. l cannot be certain now; and it's
too late, anyway"
"How, too late9 What's too late?"
He paused moment. deeper shadow
than usual on his face; then he lifted
his head and looked fairly at her.
Il should not have said that, Mrs.
Waldron. 1t can never be too late. But
what l mean is that just now | spoke
of offering no woman clouded name.
Even if it were unclouded, l could not
offer il where | would"
Because YOU have heard of the en-
gagement?" was the quick, eager qUeS-
tion. There was no instant OF doubt in
the woman rs TO where the offering
would be made. il il only could.
Il knew of the engagement only day
ago" he answered, with stern effort at
self control. BLAKE was speaking of
her, and il came out all of sudden"
He turned his head away again. 1t
was more than Mrs. Waldron could
stand. She leaned impetuously towards
him. aud put her hand on his,
MIR Hayne. that is no engagement
of heart 70 heart. 1t is entirely thing
of Mrs. Rayner'S doing; and know it,.
She is poor-dependent-and has been
simply sold into bondage
And YOU think she cares nothing for
the position. the wealth and social adj
yantageS this would give her? All, Mrs,
WaldrOn, consider"
Il have considered, Mr.. Hayne, if |
were man. like YOU. that child should
never 90 back TO him. And they are 60
ing next week. You must get well.
Ii was remarked that Mr.. Hayne was
out surprisingly quick for fellow who
had been SO recently threatened with
brain fever. The RaynerS were to go
east at once. 50 it was said, though the
captains leave of absence had not yet
been ordered. The colonel could grant
him seven days at any time, and he
had telegraphed notification that there
would be no objection when the formal
application reached the war department.
Rayner called at the colonefS Office and
asked that he might be permitted to
start with his wife and sister. His sec
ond lieutenant would move in and oc-
/ cupv his quarters and take care of all
/ his personal effects during his absence;
and Lieut.. Hayne was most thorough
officer. and he felt that in turning over
/ his company to him he left il in excel
ent hands The colonel saw the misery
on the.captain's face, and he was touch
ed by his looks and words.
You must not take this affair too
much To heart, Captain Rayner. We all
know that on Captain Buxton
rests all the blame, and that
| is also clearly understood by Mr..
Hayne. AS for your previous ideas
of that officer, consider it too delicate
matter TO speak of. You must see,
however. how entirely beyond reprOach
his general character appears to have
been. But here's another matter: Clan
I cy's discharge has arrived. Does the old
fellow know You had requested it?"
No. sir" answered Rayner, with
hesitation and embarrassment. 1--WE
wanted 10 keep him straight, rs | told
YOU we would. and he would probably
get on big tear if he knew his service
DAYS were numbered. l didn't look for
its being granted for forty-eight hours
vet"
well, he will know it before night;
and no doubt ne will be badly cut up.
/ Clancy was a fine soldier before he mar
ried that harridan of woman.
..She has made him good wife since
/ they came into the riflcrS, colonel, and
/ has taken mighty good care of the old
/ fellow"
1t is more than she did in the til,
/ sir She was a handsome, snowy wom-
an when first saw heretofore my pro-
motion TO the regiment-and Clancy
was one of the finest soldiers in the bril-
gade the last year of the war. she ran
/ through all his money though, and in
/ the TIL we looked upon her rs the real
cause of his break down, especially after
I her affair with that sergeant who de-
serted. You've heard of him probably.
/ He disappeared after the Battle Butte
campaign. and we hoped he'd run of
with Mrs. Clancy; but he hadn't. She
was there when we got back, big as ever
and growing ugly"
DO You mean Mrs Clrncy had 4
/ lover when she was in the -th?
Certainly. Capt. Rayner. We sup
posed ii was commonly known. He
was fine looking. black eyed. dark
haired. daShing fellow, of good educa-
ton. great swell among 'H' nv" INV
short time he was with MS, and Mrs.
Clancy made a dead set at him from the
start. He never seemed TO care for her
very much.
This is something never heard of.
said Rayner. with grave face. land 1t
will be good deal of shock to my
wife. for she had arranged TO take her
east with Clancy and Kate, and they
were to invest their money in some little
business at their old home.
Yes: il was mainly on the woman'S
account we wouldn't re-enliSt Clancy in
the TIL. We could stand him, but she
was too much for uS-and for the other
sergeant, too. He avoided her before we
started ON the campaign. fancy. odd!
l can't think of his name-BillingS,
what was the name of that bowling