Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-10-13

| ODedlent 10 hcr husband tOuCn, she mas
drawn close to his side. 1t is into her
arms and his that. with one quick g8Gp-
ing, stitlcd cry, Mia Guthrie has fallen
as though stricken by Il bolt from heaven.
1t is by these loving arms the limp and
PROSTATE form is quickly borne within
and laid upon the sofa, and Holden
whispers to his devoted wife, 1T 10 ell
clear now"
That night, the long ceremonies of the
day concluded throng Of fair women
and brave men are gathered in the par
lors and corridor of the great hotel.
Down in the marbled court below some
Italian musicians are playing soft, sweet
music. Out i'll the street, under the
glare of the electric light, fine regi-
mcnt of state troops has drawn up in
long extended line and is standing at
ease while its officers are bidding fare
we'll 10 host of friends upon the walks
below. Here and above arc soldiers of
all branches Of the service, who with
the mornings sun will be scattering to
their stations again. Some are clustered
in the broad vestibules and on the Office
floor. Others the juniors mainly, are
paying their respects TO the wife Of the
commanding general and to the ladies
of the Twelfth, for on the morrow they,
too, with the regiment, take flight for
their prairie home.
The hour is late, and several of those
present have just come il from u some
what subdue9 and quiet entertainment
given in their honor at ono Of the beau
tiful homes Of the city. The solemn ma
trIre of the duty that has called them
mther precludes the possibility of any
general gathering, but the dinner to
which the Bcrricus and others were bid
den has lasted 80 long that Winifred be
gan to believe it would never end, and
Mrs. Berlicn has seen all too plainly
that though she strove to appear Joyous
and apprcCiativc, her daughter lou"el
to leave the scene and return tc the no.
tel, where, as was well known, many Of
the officers wore to spend the evening
Not until nightfall had the Twelfth
passed by on its return from the march
to the distant cemetery, and as they
logged along at ease one or two Of the
troop or platoon commanders, in answer
to Joyous hail from the sidewalk, had
refined ont Of column by old Berlicn's
permission and dismouutod under tho
portico, but Brewster, smiling. had
shaken his head and gone on with his
/ blacks TO the muddy cantonmcnt far
down ut the southern verge. Winifred
was already dressed for dinner. She
had FASTENED to her room as soon as
they returned from the Guthries', and
Mrs. Bcrrien made no comment. She
well understood that the girls one
thought was to be ready to welcome #
he should come. There was no telling
at what minute he might be announced
And though they We're not to leave the
hotel until nearly seven, Winifred was
ready at four. The mother heart yearned
erhor child as She saw how the shadows
deepenod i'll her dark eyes when the col
umn went on ont Of sight III tine wintry
cleaning, Brewster with it,
At that moment She could almost
share her husbands idea of bringing the
young man 10 his knees then and there.
What business had he playing the iudif-
fercnt III this utterly unsoldicrly fushion:
How dare he treat Wiuifrcd with cold
ness: She had done him 10 wrong. Not
since that night OF the last hop at Paw
nee, the night the marching orders came.
had thcre been opportunity for the girl
to speak to him at all. OF course the
major had been bru-que and rcpclleut
and had virtually forbidden his further
aitenuons; but, heavens, that was Il It
Winitred's doing. and 10th the major
and herself had cudeavorcd 10 show
II17It4,.t4g-.,.,- all