Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-19

to the relief of an advanced and threat
ened post, and he replied that he had
sent the order by Cornet Maitland, OF. the
Lancers; had given him an escort of a
dozen men and strict injunctions to push
through by night, at all hazards, though
the way was beset with Zulus, and that
he neither went through nor returned,
but was found hiding at a kraal two days
after, only twenty miles away. The
escort returned, and after much cross
examination had told the story, separate
~ and collectively, that the young officer
had become utterly unnerved towards
midnight by the reports from scouting
parties and others; had declared to them
that it was simply madness to attempt
to push through; they would be massa-
cred to a man; and, though they an
nounced that they were stanch and ready,
he refused, and ordered them to bivouac
where they were for the night, and in
the morning he had disappeared. They
declared they supposed he had gone back
to camp, and after waiting a day they
returned, reporting him lost.
"When found at the kraal he was de-
lirious with fever, or pretended to be,
said the general, and he was brought in
under arrest and the trial was to pro-
coed. 1 don't know how it turned out.
He was not court martialed, but permit
ted to return to England. TWAS said he
told very different story; that he had
begged the brigade major who detailed
the escort to let him have half dozen
of his own Lancers instead of the pack
of irregulars they gave him; he did not
trust them, and feared they would aban-
don him as they had the prince; but the
staff officer said the order couldn't be
men knew the country
and all that sort of thing, you know; and
there was one fellow in the Lancers who
stuck to it that he believed Maitland had
tried his best to get through alone. But
twas all useless; somebody had to be
held responsible, and the failure was all
heaped on him.
Meantime, there had been fury at
home; old Maitland had written casting
him off, epudiating-cursing him for
all know-and the next thing there
came a messenger from the captain of
his ship at Southampton. They brought
his watch, his ring, his sword and port
and letter which was writ
Zen on receipt of that his father sent
him-a long letter, that the old man
never rel d to any living soul, but broods
over to this day. The young fellow babe
them all good-by; he would not live to
disgrace them further, if that was what
was thought of him at home, and leaped
overheard from the steamer the night
after she weighed anchor-no one aboard
could tell just when, but he was writing
in his state room as she cleared the har-
Dor, and the steward saw him undress-
ing at o'clock. In the morning every
thing about his belongings was found in
perfect order-his letter to the captain
of the ship, the portmanteaus, watch,
ring, clothing, etc, just as he described
in that letter-and he was no more seen.
1t was the conviction of all that he must
have leaped overheard in the darkness
when far out at sea.
Then Mrs. Maitland bowed her head
and never lifted it again. Then, all
alone, and fiercely rejecting anything
like sympathy, old Maitland took to
here to America, wandered
around the world, stunning men as he
would these prairie wolves; and when
he had to go to England he would see no
one but the attorneys and solicitors with |
whom he had business. Here at Dun |
raven he is more content than anywhere,
because he is farther from tie world. |
Here Gladys is queen: twas she who |
named it, two years ago. for her mother |
was a connection of the earl's. But |
Maitland even here hates to have his |
name mentioned; and that is why 1 say |
ne refers all business to me and keeps |
himself out of everything. Do you see
what weight lie carries?'
Mr.. Even had grown red with the in |
ensity and rapidity of his talk. He re-
moved his hat and mopped his face and
BROW with big silk handkerchief, and |
hen glanced again at Perry, who had
istened with absorbed interest and who
vas now silently thinking it over, look
ng curiously at Even the while.
"Have 1 bored you half to death?"
sked the Englishman, somewhat rue
ully. 81 never told that story before,
'ut it has been smoldering for years"
Bored? No! Inever was more inter-
sted in my life. Twas thinking what
ifferent sort of fellow you were from
he man 1 met out yonder the other day.
Did they never do anything to clear the
natter up? In our country it never
Tould have been allowed to rest there"
at was too far gone; and when
he boy killed himself the thing was
sed by all the government papers
ou'd call them administration organs
as confession of judgment. When
ne Lancers came home there was some
ak, but it was soon hushed. Maitland
ad shut up the old place by that time
nd gone no one knew where, but / read
in one of the London papers-Truth, 1
link-a story that two of the irregulars
ad quarreled with their fellows and |
fter the war was over told a tale that
lade sensation in Cape Colony. They |
nd that the young officer was a ma
gned man; that up to midnight he had
ushed on, but every scout and patrol ,
ley met warned them that thousands
Zulus were ahead, and that it was
ladness to try. The men began whis-
ering among themselves, and begged
lie sergeant to attempt to dissuade tho
ANGER officer; and he did, and they all