Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-10-17
Very good. sir. Now get aboard all
your baggage as quick as you cam"
4 A oh I'd cir. .

your baggage as QUICK as you can.
'sAll aboard now, sir.
.sThen march up to quarters for coffee
and breakfast-the others are at theirs
now-and form under arms right after
ward"
Precious little sleep has there been
this night-no time among the men, no
inclination among the women. Wives
and daughters who had devoutly
thanked heaven that only the first bat
talon was to go were soon undeceived
and found that but ten hours respite
was to be theirs All the night long the
note of preparation could be heard in
barracks and in quarters. The colonel,
with his adjutant and quartermaster,
hardly left the office at all. Berrien
hustled from barracks to his home, from
there to stables. At two o'clock, find
ing all his own campaigning kit in per
feet readiness, and Winifred and her
mother still budding over the parlor
fire. he noted the pallor in his daughters
face, the deep trouble in her pathetic
eyes. and, taking her in his arms. he
kissed her fondly again and again.
$50 to your room now. little daugh-
ter" he said huskily: Ego. dear. and try
ID.
ing to say bye-bye, just as always did"
She shivered and hid her face and chung
to his neck. saying no word, shedding
no tear Gently he unclasped her hands.
Yes, my child. do as bid you now:
want to speak with mother awhile.
And then reluctantly she turned. but
the one brief look into his eyes was SO
full of wordless sorrow that he was for
an instant unnamed. My little grill
my little Winnie! don't look at your old
daddy that way!'' he almost sobbed, as
again he threw his arm around her, lead
ing her to the stairs. I'VE won't be gone
long. We're all coming back, dear: and
we'll have lovely Christmas, and you
shall have the jolliest kind of party.
pet. But be a brave little woman now.
it'll all come right. She turned
with quick convulsive sob and threw
herself upon his breast, again twining
her soft arms about his neck, her beau
tiful dark hair streaming in ripping,
shimmering masses down over the
creamy white wrapper. The burst of
tears would have been a blessed relief,
but it never came. A quick, soldierly
tread was heard on the plank walk with
Even before the rat-tat-tat at the door
she had torn herself from his arms and
sped like startled fawn upthe carpeted
stair.
1T is Mr.. Brewster" said Mrs. Ber-
rien. in low tone, quickly. Berrien
threw open the door Anything for
pretext to come here again he NUT
tered angrily to himself, as he confronted
the unwelcome intruder. 1t was Brew
ster.
Major Berrien, the colonels compli-
ments, and he desires you to know that
| the train will be here at four instead of
| five. And Brewster's eyes glanced but
an instant into those of his superior.
and then went wandering longingly over
his shoulder.
81 had already heard it. sir. You
have everything ready?"
81 beg pardon. then, for disturbing
you. major. | have just left the col
Dnel, and he thought you might not have
heard. Yes. sir. everything will be
ready, though the rations are not yet
| cooked"
'sThen be ready to get your horses
| aboard the moment F has finished load
ing. Anything else. Mr.. Brewster
Poor fellow, there was something else
something that filed heart and soul and
dominated every thought. Gazing
wistfully up the stairs. his sad eyes had
/ caught one glimpse of that white, fleet
ing form, one glimpse of the lovely
pallid face all framed in dark. falling
tresses, as, clinging to the balustrade,
! Winifred turned unable to resist the
| TO rat he
say.
Nothing more, | believe,
SIR" And, mechanically raising his
hand in salute. poor Curly turned away.
the door promptly closing behind him.
Berrien came back into the parlor
clinching his fists, speechless indigna-
ton in his eace Mrs. Berrien saw the
unmistakable signs. and. though in hel
heart she felt full of sympathy for
Brewster. she knew it best to say moth
ing now.
IF | thought it as you said.' he
hoarsely spoke at last. IF | thought
that fellow had been trifiing with Win
ME while all the time carrying on this
- Faugh! it makes me feel as though
could throttle himI' And Berrien
strobe up and down the coy room
beating one brawny fist into the palm of
the other hand.
But. Richard dear. why do you think
there has been anything serious between
him and this-this woman? | think she
deliberately assumed that manner at the
hop tonight. | think she called him
Carroll solely for Winifred's benefit
and mine. | saw how astonished Ind