The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-29

wife The acquaintance is interrupted. how
ever, and sensation produced in the fort by the
receipt of newspapers attacking Lieut. Hearnes
character for certain transactions which
occurred some years before Hearne discov-
ers that the paper which efectually cleared him
of the charges had been stolen from his quar-
ters, and while afairs are in this condition Col.
Lawler somewhat crotchety judge advocate
arrives to investigate the newspaper reports re-
regarding Lieut.. Hearne and the conduct of af-
fairs at the fort generally.
Secretly he rather wanted the boy to
go on in his career, and was prouder of
the chevrons the handsome young cadet
captain had worn than of the old tar
nished sleeve knots that he had put
away so reverently the day after Apo
mattox, where Lees kindly hand had
rested for moment on his arm when he
went to bid his beloved chief adieu.
Yielding to her entreaties he offered
Frank good inducements to drop the
army and come home and study law,
but the youngster said his heart was
bound up in the cavalry. The mother
had let him go with prayers and tears.
The letters from Ryan were buoyant,
and made no mention of care or trouble
of any kind. How could he ask his
fathers help when he had refused his
offer? The colonel rejoiced at the
youngsters independence and decision,
although he said nothing to his wife.
Then came Franks orders for Arizona,
and Mrs. Hearn sobbed herself to sleep.
Again the father said, Resign if you
like and I'll start you here" but in the
solitude of his library he kissed the boys
letter and blessed him in his heart Of
hearts for replying, 81 wouldn't be my
fathers son were to resign now, with
the prospect of sharp fighting ahead"
Heaveni with what trembling hands and
tear dimmed eyes he read the glowing
words of old Capt. Rawlins' dispatch
telling how brilliant and daring the boy
had been in the first fierce battle with
the Apaches. He draped the Stars and
Stripes over Franks picture in the par
lor, and babe the neighbors in to drink
to the new south and the old flag, and
even Mrs. Hearn, ever pessimistic and
filed with secret dread of vague tempta-
tions that she knew not of, fearing them
more than peril or ambuscade, took
heart and strove to rejoice that Frank
was such a soldier. How shocked and
soFrow stricken they were when but a
short time after came the tidings of the
old captains lamented deathl How they
studied all Franks letters and learned
to know the regimental officers through
his eyes, and longed to meet that capital
adjutant, Lane, when he came to Gin
cinnati recruiting!
Col Hearn even took few days off
and the north bound 'shyer" on the
Queen and Crescent to go thither and
make the acquaintance of his boys
friend, and sat for hours with Lane at
the club, listening to his praise of Frank
Then came the eastward move again,
and brief leave, and the mothers heart
yearned over her stalwart son, wonder
ing at the bronze and tan of his once fair
skin and rejoicing il the strength of his
handsome face. Mother like, she sought
long talks with him and strove to cate
chise him as to what they did when not
actually in the field. Was there not a
great deal of dissipation? Did they not
play cards? Were there not too many
temptations to drink wine? What op-
portunlty had they for attending divine
service? etc. So far as he himself was
concerned he answered frankly, but as
to his comrades, all these questions he
had laughingly parted. He had now
been six years an officer, and had never
once asked his father for money, yet she
nursed her theory that under it all there
was something hidden. From childhood
she had been taught that army life
meant frivolity and dissipation, if not
vice, and now at last, when her husband
was miles away from home looking af-
ter investments he had made in Florida,
came this startling and terrible confr-
nation of her fears.
In glazing head lines, in crushing,
damning terms, in half a score of promi-
nent northern papers she read of her son
as a drunken bully, gambler, an
abusive tyrant to the helpless men COM
mitted to his charge, and, utterly over.
whelmed, the poor soul had thrown her.
self upon her knees to implore of heaven
the strength to bear the dreaded blow,
and wisdom to guide her Alright in the
effcet to reclaim her hayward boy. The
gray haired pastor, for whom she had
sent, came and mingled his tears and
prayers with hers, and then they had
between them written the letter that
was now before him:
1t is but the confirmation of long haunting
fear. have all along felt that you were holding
back something from me, my son, and God only
knows how have prayed that this cup might be
arad and =, 80 cf,
dreaded the temptation of army life for one o.
your impulsive temperament. stroye, / rebeleC
against the idea of your being subjected to suct
companionship. 1 hoped against hope that il
might not be as feared, but, alas, my intuition
was right after all Do not think am angry, my
boy. Do not let this drive you from us. AS soor
as it is over come home, and all that a mother.
love can do shall be done to spare you furthel
bitterness. My first impulse was to wire you
uncle James at Washington TO ask if sometime
could not be done to avert the court martial, br
good old DR.. Wayne, whose son was in the arm,
before the war, tells me that it is hopeless, anC
that the best that be done is to get your resig
nation accepted, so that, though you have to qui
the service, as he says, it may not be by the dis
grace of a sentence. 1 have, therefore, wiret
James to go at once to the secretary, and DR.
Wayne has also invoked the aid OF some infuen
tial friends. Wire me instantly on receipt O
this. that may know that you are bearing VI
manfuIly. 1t win soon be over. May God sustain
you my son. is the prayer of your devoted ant
distracted MOTHER
p. S.-Frank, my worst anxiety is on your poo
fathers account. dread to think of the effec
this news will have upon him. He never appre
ciated the danger as did.
And this was the letter poor Hear
was almost raging over when the dool
opened, after a single PREDATORY bang
and in came the major.
'.Hello, lad! How are you today
The regulations which forbid YOUR visit