The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-11-27

moaning In her little room, suffering
heaven only Knows what tortures; far
from the yeaFning mother arms, far
from home and kindred, far even from
the recreant husband for whose poor
sake she had abandoned all to follow
him, for better for worse, for richer for
poorer, In sickness or in health-only to
be left to the pity and care Of strangers.
But she was In an army home and
among loving. loyal. simple hearts. The
women, one and all, thronged to the lit
tie cottage, imploring that they might
"help in some way" The men, when
they were not damning the runaway,
were fun Of suggestion as to the course
to be pursued. Mabel would accept only
one explanation Of his disappearance;
crazed by misfortunes, he had taken his
own life; he had said he would. But
the regiment could not believe Il, and In
foFty-eight hours had traced him on the
aaloon keepers horse over to the South
ern Pacific and thence down to Fl Paso.
More than one man gave Q sigh Of relief
that the whole thing could be 80 easily
settled without the scandal Of all that
evidence being published to the world.
The court met and adjourned pending
the receipt Of orders from the converting
authority. The telegraph speedily di-
rected the return 10 their stations Of the
! several members. Lieut.. Bowen went
back to the east, leaving Taintor in the
guard house, and in q week Reginald
Vincent came to take his sister home
aud to whisper that Gordon was safe in
the City Of Mexico--Mr. Withers was
sending him money there; and 50 from
her bed Of illness, suffering and hulnilia-
ton the poor girl was almost carried to
her train, and all Fort Gregg could have
wept at sight Of her wan and hopeless
face.
She shrank from seeing or meeting any
Of her old associates, yet was eager to
reach her mothers roof, fondly believing
that there she would find letters from
her husband It hurt her inexpressibly
that he should have fled without one
word to her Of his intentions; but she
could forgive it because Of the suffering
and misery that bore him down and un-
settled his mind. Il stung her that Mr..
Withers, not she, should be the first to
learn Of his place Of refuge; but per-
haps he thought she had gone east at
once, and so had written there. She at
tributed his desertiOn to the strain to
which he had been subjected; but she
had been spared the sight Of those last
specifications" Her first inquiry, after
one long, blessed clasping in her mothers
arms, after the burst Of tears that could
not be restrained, was for letters from
him; and she was amazed, incredulous,
when told there were none. Mr.. With
ers was sent for. at once; that eminent
citizen would gladly have lodged the
ordeal, but could not He could only
say that two kilograms and two drafts
had reached him from Noel. and that he
had honored the latter at sight and would
see that he lackpo for nothing.
She would have insisted on going to
Join him in his exile, but he had sent no
word or line; he had ignored her entire
ly. Hemight be III, was the first thought;
but Mr.. Withers assured her he was
physically perfectly well. Everything
Is being done now to quietly end the
trouble" said Mr.. Withers. I'VE will
see to It at Washington that his resigna-
ton is now accepted, for they viii never
get him before q court, and might a.
well make up their minds to 1t. They
cannot drop or dismiss him for o year,
with all their red tape methods and
their prate about the honor Of the serv-
ice.' I've seen enough Of the army in
the last three months to convince me its
no place for gentleman No, my dear;
you stay here-or go up to the noun
tains. Wen have him there to join you
In a month"
But the authorities proved obdurate.
Even the millionaire failed to move the
war secretary. Unless Capt. Noel came
back and stood trial he would be
dropped for desertion" (''and If he
came back and stood trial would prob
ably be kicked out as . coward and
Liar" thought 10 himself the official who
sat Q silent hstenerl. This Noel would
not do. Withers sent him to Vera Cruz
on q pseudo business visit, and Mabel,
silent, sad faced, but weeping no more,
went to . little resort in the West Vir-
ginia mountains.
Meantime another court had been con.
vened, another deserter tried, convicted
and sentenced, and before being taken
to prison he made full statement to
Capt. Lane and two officers called in as
witnesses. This was Taintor. he had
known Capt. Noel ever since his entry
into service. Taintor was an expert pen
man, q gambler, and at times hard
| drinlar. He had enlisted In the trooD