Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-20


ton. There was no instant of doubt in
the woman as to where the offering
would be made, if it only could.
81 knc@ OF the engagement only day
ago" he answered, with stern effort at
self control. BLAKE was speaking of
her, and it came out all of a sudden"
He turned his head away again. 1t
was more than Mrs. Waldron could
stand. She leaned impetuously towards
him. and put her hand on his:
Mr.. liayne that is no engagement
of heart to heart. 1t is entirely IA thing
of Mrs. Rayner's doing; and | know it.
She is poor-dependcnt-and has been
simply sold into bondage"
And you think she cares nothing for
the position, the wealth and social adj
vantages this would give herr All,
Mrs. Waldron, consider"
Il have considered. Mr.. Hayne. if I
were man, like you, that child should
never go back to him. And they are go
Ing next week. You must get we'll"
1t was remarked that Mr. Hayne was
out surprisingly quick for fellow who
had been SO recently threatened with
brain fever. The Rayners were to 20
cast at once, SO it was said. though the
captains leave of absence had not vet
been ordered, The colonel could grant
him seven days at any time, and he
had Geographic notification that there
would be no objection when the formal
application reached the war department.
Rayner called at the colonels Office and
asked that he might be permitted to
start with his wife and sister. His sec
ond lieutenant would move in and oc-
cupy his quarters and take care Of all
his personal effects during their alb
sence; and Lieut.. IIayne was a most
thorough officer, and he felt that in
turning over his company to him he
left it in excellent hands. The colonel
saw the misery in the captains face,
and he was touched by both looks and
words:
You must not take this last affair too
much to heart, Capt. Rayner. We in
the til have known Capt. Buxton so
many years that with us there is no
question as to where all the blame lies.
1t seems, too, to be clearly understood bv
Mr.. Iayne. 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
cy's discharge has arrived. Does the old
fellow know you had requested it,"
NO, sir, answered Rayncr, with hest
tatiOn and embarrassment. eve wanted
to keep him straight, as | told you we
would, and he would probably get on a
big tear if he knew his service days were
numbered. | didn't look for its being
granted for forly-eght hours vet"
"Wcll, he will know it before night;
and no doubt he will he badly cut up.
Clancy was fine soldier before he mar
ricd that harridan OF a woman."
she has made linn good wife since
they came into the Rihcrs, colonel, and
has taken mighty good care Of the old
fellow"
1t is more than She did in the til,
sir. She was handsome, snowy wom-
an when first saw heretofore my pro-
motion to the regiment-and Clancy
was one of the finest soldiers in the bri-
gade the last year of the war She ran
through all his money though, and in
the til we looked upon her as the real
cause Of his break down, especially after
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 off
with Mrs. Clancy; but he hadn't. She
was there when we got back, big as ever
and growing ugly"
"Do You mean that Mrs. Clancy had
lover when she was in the thu"
'Certainly, Capt, Rayncr. We sup
posed it was commonly known. He
was fine locking, black eyed, dark
haired, dashing fellow, Of good educa-
ton, a great swell among the men the
short time he was with us, 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 lGayner, with grave face, land it
will be good deal of a shock to my
wife, for she had arranged to take her
east with Clancy and Kate, and they
were to invest their money III some little
business at their old home"
Yes; it 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
too. lie avoided her before we
started on the campaign, fancy. Odd!
| can't think of his name-Billings, what
was the name Of that bowling swell of a
sergeant who was in Hull's troop at
Battle Buttc-timo Hull was killed?
mean the man that Mrs. Clancy was said
10 have elopcd with"
"SeIgt. Cover, SIR said the al iutant. |
looking up from his work. lie
lid look up, however, when a moment |
after the captain hurricdly left the office,
md he saw that Rayner's face was death |
y white; it was ghaatly.
"What took Rayner off so SUDDENLY" |
aid the colonel, wheeling around in his
hair.
81 don't know, sir, unless there was |
to startle him in the name"
a. 1 4