The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-04-02

the romantic nature Of the situation and
the idiocy of some people there at Ros-
sitter "Joy does not kill" he said;
Maitland would have been a dead man
by the end Of the week but for this; 1t
will give him O new lease of life"
And it did. Though the fame was
feeble and Pickering, it was famed by
joy unutterable. The boy whom the
stricken father believed bis stubborn
pride and condemnation had driven to
despair and suicide was restored to him
in the prime Of manly strength, all ten
derness, all forgiveness, and Maitlands
whole heart went up in Thanksgiving.
He begged that Brainard and Stryker
would come to him. that he might thank
them for their faith In his son: he bade
the doctor say to Perry that the moment
he could be lifted from his bed he would
come to clasp his hands and bless him
for being far better friend to his son
than he had been father.
The sergeant's return to the post was
the signal for general turnout on the
part of the men, all Of whom were curl
GUS to see how he would appear now that
his identity was established. OF course,
his late assailants could not join IN the
crowd that thronged about him. but they
listened with eagerness to everything
that was told. "He was just the same
as ever" said all accounts. He had
NEVER been intimate with any Of them.
but always friendly and kind. One thing
went the rounds iI&e lightning.
You'll be getting your discharge now,
sergeant" said Mrs. Reed. the voluble
wife of the leader of the band. 'and
taking up your residence at tho ranch.
suppose. Of course the British minister
can get it for you in a minute"
mot bit Of it, Mrs. Reed" was the
laughing answer II enlisted to serve
Uncle Sam five years, and he's been toe
good a friend to me to turn from.
shall serve out my time with the tn
And the sergeant was true to his word
!, If old Maitland could have prevailed, al
E application for his sons discharge woul'
| have gone to Washington; but this tn
soldier positively forbade. He had eigh
e months still to serve, and he meant t
carry out his contract to the letter
n | Stryker offered him a furlough. an
= Gwynne thankfully took q week, tha
n he might be by his fathers side and hel
4 nurse him to better health. by tha
v time, too, the garrison will have grow
r a little more accustomed to it, sir, an
% will have less embarrassment IN goin
h on with my work"
,e Two days before his return to dut
,e there came a modified sensation in Il
d shape of the report that a trooper I
1t Waynes company had deserted.
W was a man who had borne bad reput
k ton as turbulent, mischief makiI
ID fellow, and when Sergt. Leary heard
,e his going he was in a state OF wild
at citement. he begged to be allowed
he see his captain, and to him he confess
re that one of his little party Of three b
lie seen the ring drop from Mr.. Maitlan'
ed finger the night of the first visit to Du
ey raven, had managed to pick 1t up a
re- carry it away in the confusion, and h
70 shown 1t to his friend in Wayne's tro
1is when they got back The latter p
ed suaded him to let him take it. as
lockers of the men who were at D'
he raven were sure, he said. to be search
id. 1t was known that he had a grue
"a -
tile who was to have gone to the ranch
ere night they purposed riding down
M challenging the Englishmen to corne
,et and fight, but had unaccountably fal
Sc at the last moment. They believed t
his he had chosen that night to hide
nm ring in the sergeant's chest: he co
i've easily have entered through the
me. dow. And this explanation-the only
was ever made-became at once acceptet
mr. the true one throughout the garrison
ait During the week of his furlough
sergeant found time to spend many ht
SER by the bedside Of Lieut.. Perry. who
,tri- rapidly recovering, and who BY the
Dale of the week had been lifted into an
,rd invalid chair and wheeled in to see
,uld Maitland. When not with Mr.. Pc
,ile- | the young troopers tongue was
ling wagging in his praise. He knew n
a fine officer and gallant gentlema
saw the service of the old country, he
And and he admired many captain and
altern in that of his adopted land,
y T. the first one to whom he ''warmed"-
first one to win his affection-was
WAS Young cavalryman who had met his
full wound in their defense. Old
twas land listened to it all eagerly-he
con. already given orders that the finest
hant ouehbred at Dunraven should be Pc
of3. the moment he was able to mount 6
, but and he was constantly revolving in
0nlv how he could show his appreciate
! the the officers who had befriended his
nard Mrs. Cowan, too, never tired OF he
Perry's praises, and eagerly quest
It of when the narrator tagged Ther'
like another absorbed auditor, who
into questioned and who listened with
was cast ewes. It was she who seldom
d an near Perry during his convalescenc
derby who startled and astonlshed the
, and fellow beyond measure. the day tn
ct as bulance came down to drive him bs
care, the fort, by withdrawing the har
man, had impuisively seized when at La
Is his anneared to bid him adieu, and c'
out short his eager words with Mrs Be
from will console you. | dare say. an
opers ruptly leaving the room
ed as Poor Ned! In dire distress an
took olexity he was driven back to Ro
could and that very evening he did mo.
Is fly sible and fortunate thing; ne toie
,ergt. Spraeue all about it; and, instead
{, and tioling with him and bidding MN
,nder- to be patient and saying that all
riding come right in time. the little VIC
Quin, kind eyes shone with delight, her
ppear flushed with genuine pleasure; she
sprang from her chair. and dane
house and down and clapped her han'
Sergt laughed with glee. and then. when
at all, ruefuIly asked her If that was the
Matt pathy he had right to expect fro
ncers, she only laughed the more. and
Invalid broke forth with:
other "Oh, you great. stupid, silly DO.
Mount ought to be wild with happiness
4 that you see she's jealous:
weak And the very next day she had
doctor talk with DR.. Quln, whose vlSl1s
stories raven still continued: and one
x-a.x, xx,hop Gladya Maitland