The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-13

turn Col. Carver had sent for him and ques-
toned him closely as TO his employment at
Buffalo. Whenever il was possible without
betraying his secret he had answered frankly,
and the Colonel was satisfied. To the Adj
jutant he did not hesitate TO say he believed
il was all some of that drunken Lyall's non
sense. More likely he was in a scrape him.
self, and Roemer had got onto his tracks and
had 10 be gotten rid Of Col. Carver did not
love his new Major.
The men of the regiment were not so well
satisfied with the Sergeant. They said he
was as glum rs a churchyard, his songs and
stories were all forgotten, and it would have
been 4 mighty good thing if the Colonel
had neglected TO bring him back. The days
heightened into weeks. and the weeks into
months, and still the weary round crept on.
Katherine wrote regularly and as cheerfully
rs she could. but the note of sadness would
mingle with the enforced melody, and
Adolphe chaiod at his restraints. 1t seemed
10 him at times as though he would give a
year Of lilc Just 10 see her for one hour.
Under the wearing strain OF heat and mo-
notony the men around him were deSerting
every week. and the temptation sometimes
came over him 10 seize this method of re-
lease, but the thought of Katherine was
enouEh 10 bring him TO his senses. With a
gTo3n he would whisper 10 himself No; ;
no; hearts dearest! / have brought enough
upen you Gott in Himmel keep me from
this diSgrace,"
But heat and weariuess. and heart sickness
were stcalthiiy doing their work in breaking
down the stoutest man in the company, and,
10 the establishment of all. he one day fell out
of ranks and swooned before them. The sur
ge0n pronounced 10 a ease OF sunStrOke, and
with hrnntrhF him, bagl- fp
sciousness: hut heshOOl his head. When man
Of Sergt hocmer's physique succumbcd to
The climate it often went hard with hint
might be some time before he was fit for duty
and the sufferer was borne away to the hos
pital Days went by, and though according 10
all prccedcBts the patient ought TO have con-
valesced, he did nOt-an excessive weakness
seemed 10 have overpowered him mentally and
physically. He was dOcility iiself-took the
Doctors poti0ns without murmur, but tonics
failed 10 iuviCuTate and he seemed 10 have lost
interest III life.
A low FEVER SET IN
and the sick man grew weaker day by day.
At last the Doctor lost hope and did not hes-
tate 10 shy that Sergt Rocmer was booked for
the long Journey Col. Carver was shocked
when the news reached him, aud started for
the hospital to make call on his old favorte.
The sick laan lay upon his narrow cot shad-
OW Of his former self-grcat circles had settled
about the oavernous eyes which were closed as
If in death. The long, thin fingers twisting
neryOusly over the sheet, and the movement of
the paTche3 lips alene gave signs Of life. The
Colonel could scarce believe his eyes. He had
not noticed RoemeT particularly since the day
he returned TO the regiment. and as he con-
trasted has wasted figure with tie sialwart fell
low be then was, be felt that bis days, indeed,
were numbered. When he spoke the weary
eyes opened and then closed again, and gave no
evidence Of comprehension as he expressed his
regret AZ finding him so III. and his sorrow that
he had n0t sooner known Of IT. Mechanically
he took up a fan, and while he kept away a
wandering ily, sadly watched the feeble breath
come and go Mentally be ran back over the
past four years and recalled the intervals when
the tall German soldier had appeared before
him. always on some duty requiring courage
or fidelity and always well done. He thought
Of the good reports that bad invariably come
from the company commanders, and Of the in-
Gaence he exerted on his companions; he re-
called his powerful fgare erect, graceful aud
soldicriy, and be thought with a sigh, The
service can III spare such men" At length
be spoke again: Sergeant, is there not some
thing can DO Tor you: Anything you would
like 10 havey"
The blue eyes opened again and scarce above
q whisper lie murmurcd Ny wife"
Your wilei" said the Colonel. Is it pos
sible? Where is sbeE"
In BuGalo." Then as tears born Of weak
ness giisirEed in his eyes he said feobly. "Oh,
Colonel. let me see her before / die"
Tie Co.oneis great heart ached in sympathy
he forgot every olbeF consideration, aud
pressing tie feeble hand replied, You shall,
my fine fellow you shall If possible" As lie
walked away thoughtfully with his hands
behind him. he said 70 himself So, 50 this is
what tliat fo0l Lyall was meddling with. BY
Jeve, III have her here if only TO spite him,
TIE LAUNDERING IDIOT"
II the weary days had gone more placidly
with Katherine, they were lot less irksOmc.
SO long 81 her husband wrote regularly she
had something 90 wish for aud look forward 10,
and the long letters she wrote ia reply were a
source Of constant delight. Never before bad she
poured Out her heart on paper and ID was her
daily pleasure 10 SIT down not only what the day
brought lorh. but even her inmost thought
i revealed her ts him as constant intercourse
might not have done for some women are lar
less reticeut on paper than with speech, and
ali his German sentiment and romance were
awakened ia consequence Ii seemed 10 each
Of them that they had never really lived
befOre-all else had been super6cial-the shell,
that was scarcely worth H0tinE-and now at
List they had reached the rich. ripe fruit.
But there came day .hen Adolphes letters
ceased. 81 first she felt that Il was an accident
they had miscarried. OF he had been sent on
some missiOH about which be would not tell her
TIL be had returned. Then for DAYS she settled
that he was SICK, and as still no news came she
1Ked upon the drearicst fear Of all-he had
tired 81. Lad forgotten her. So she said to
herself, and the tears of grief and disappoint-
ment rolled down her checks but still in her
soul she did not believe i, did not give him up
Each day he pOstman went his monot0noas
TOuud her face would brighten with CLEAN Of
hope only 10 be- darzened By d deeper disuair.
IN this mood the C0louel's letter reached her.
and this Is what he said:
FoET WY9DErrE, June 10 r.
Mrs ADDTFIfE EDEEEE.
DEAE MADAM. ! DO not know your street and
number bot trust tlls viii fad you WITHOUT much
delay. rezret % inform yOa that your husband Il
SICK ~ bpsDiti Of low fever and desires you viii
coEne - llfa 80 once.
Respectfully, J.W. CAHvER.
Colonel, -th Infantry
j was not very c0nsiderate letter nor lust
what the kindly Colonel would have sent 10
one " The ladies u the post under similar cir
eBmstaDces. but be Thought, " She Is probably
some VI gar creature Ga whom sentiment would
he thrown away. This. ~ least she will under.
stand" Aud 70 poor Katherine did. So little
intercOuTse bad they with the outside world
that she and her aunt were both uHueryed bv
this cart news; but somehow her scanty prcpa-
Tations were made, aud the outgoing train saw
the little woman ~ timid. 20 little used 10 de-
pend ca herself speeding away thousand
miles 10
cAEEY COMFORT And LOVE
and maybe life itself 70 the weary ewes that