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

rather 100 O1ten, ana tDe youngsters oil
her own regiment wearied of it, As Mr..
Foster once expressed it in speaking of
this very case, MRS. Rayner can talk
more charity and show less than any
woman know" So long as her talk was
aimed against any lurking tendency of
their own to look upon Hayne as posi-
bic martyr, it fell at times on unapprecia-
tive ears, and she was quick to see it and
70 choose her hearers; but here was q now
phase-one that might rouse the latent es-
prit de corps of the Rillers-and she was
bent on striking while the iron was hot
If anything would provoke unaninity of
action and sentiment in the regiment
this public recognition by the Cavalry,
in their very presence, of the man they
cut as criminal was the thing of all
others to do it, and she meant to head
the revolt.
Possibly Gregg and his modest: help
meet discovered that there was some
thing she desired to spring" upon the
meeting. The others present were all of
the infantry; and when Cant. Ravner
!npiY glanccd IN, spoke hurrieo good
venings, and went as hurriedly out
gain, Gregg was sure of it, and marSshed
his wife away. Then came Mrs. Ray
ner's opportunity:
IF it were not Capt Rayner's house,
| could not have been oven civil to- Capt.
Gregg. You heard what he said at the
club this morning, l suppose
in one form or another. indeed, almost
every body had heard The officers pres
,Er,,-,- ell
Miss Travers looked reproachfully at her
flushed sister, but TO no purpose, At
last one of the ladies remarked:
well. of course | heard Of it. but
I've heard SO many different versions
1t seems to have grown somewhat since
morning"
at sounds Just like him, however, "
said Mrs. Rayner. land | made inquiry
before speaking of it. lie said he meant
to invite Mr.. Hayne to his hou.e to-mor-
row evening, and if the infantry didn't
like it they could stay away"
well, now, Mrs. Rayner,' protested
| Mr. Foster, "of course none of US heard
what he said exactly but it is my expe-
! rience that no conversation was ever re-
peared without being exaggerated. and
! I've known old Gregg for ever so long,
and never heard him say sharp firing
vet Why, he's the mildest hammered
fellow in the whole -th cavalry. He
would never get into such snarl as that
would bring about him in five minutes. y
"Well, he said he would do Just as
the colonel did, anyway-we have that
straight from cavalry authority-and
we all know what the colonel has done
lie has chosen to honor Mr. lIavne in
the presence of the officers who de
nounce him, and practically defes the
opinion of the Riflers.'
But, Mrs. Rayner, | did not under
stand GregG's remarks to be what you
say. exactly. Blake told me that when
asked by somebody whether he was 60
ing to call on Mr.. Hayne Gregg simply
replied he didn't know-he would ASK
the colonel
Very well. That means he propose,
to be guided by the colonel, or nothing
at all; and Capt. Gregg is simply doing
what the others will do. They say to II:
in so many words: We prefer the SO
ciety of your bette noire to your own.
That's the way | look at it,, said Mrs
Raynor, in deep excitement.
1t was evident that, though none were
prepared to indorse SO extreme view
there was strong feeling that the colo
mel had put an atfront upon the Rifer
by his open welcome to Mr.. Hayne. II,
had been exacting before, and had cause,
a good deal Of growing among the Off
GERS and comment among the women
: They were ready to find fault, and her,
, was strong provocatiOn. MIR. Foster wa
youth of unfortunate and unpopula
, propensities. He should have held hi
tongue instead of striving to stem tn,
! tide.
; Il don't uphold Hayne any more thai
YOU do, Mrs Rayner, but it seems to III
this is case where the colonel has t
make some acknowledgment of Mr
Haynes conduct
: Every good Let him write him
letter, then, thanking him in the nam
of the regiment, but don't pick him II
5 like this in the face of ours, y iuteryupte
one of the Juniors, who was seated uea
r Miss Travers "a wise stroke of policy
2 Mrs. Raynor invited him to breakfast
and there was a chorus Of appreciation.
4 "Well, hold on a moment, said Foster
"Hasnt the colonel had every one of u
to dinner more or less frequently
Admitted. But what's to do with il:
Hasn't he invariably invited eac
: officer to dine with him in every cas-
where an officer has arrived
Granted. But what them
I IF he broke the rule or precedent i
Mr.. HAYNES case would lie not practiC
ally be saying that he Endorsed the view
of the court martial as opposed to thos
= of the department commander, Ger
sherman, the secretary of war, the pres
D dent of the United
> "Oh, make ont your transfer paper!
= Foster You ought to be in the cavalr
: or some other disputatious branch of til
service" burst in Mr.. Graham.
81 declare, Nh Foster, never though
YOU would abandon your colors," sal
: Mrs. Rayner,
Il haven't, madam, and you've Il
: riyht TO say So said Foster indignant,