The Red Cloud chief., 1895-04-19
&9k3|mayga.
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W. St,o. oy"s.r'A~oosS'tn.
Copyright 1904, by American Press Associa
toni
CHAPTER XVIII.
A SINGULAR

W ssp W. NV
ed Mt home by a temporary illness Of
her child-had at last found it possible
to go and seek him. She had arrived on
the morning Of tho news of his appoint.
mont and at once sought General
Thomas headquarters. There she had
been Informed Of the status. and a mes.
seng"r was ut once sen for her husband.
Leaving the tent where Maynard had
first been plunged in despair only to be
elevated to n condition of mind border.
ing on ecstasy. the two sought n hotel,
where Laura could be made comfortable
till the next day, and there passed the
time in going over the period since they
had parted and rejoicing at the outcome
OF the singular complications which fate
had been pleased to bring down upon
tho husband.
But all meetings must have an end,
and ut last the husband, departing, rode
to his tent. There he found q messenger
waiting for him.
Flag Of truce wants to sec you ON
the picket line, sir"
Without dismounting, the newly
created general rode in tho direction OF
Mission ridge and met "the flag at its
base. There stood n mounted party of
Confederates. n Of them bearing a
white flag, headed by an officer, a son
OF tho south who spoke every word az
though it wcro of momentous ilnpor-
lance, never emitting tho word "sir."
Are you Colonel Maynard, sir?"
II M, or mt least 1 was. | hardly
know what ! am just now. l should not
be surprised to be informed that I was
to command all tho armies OF the United
States.
The officer looked puzzled.
Il am tho bearer, sir, Of q message
from Corporal Sir Hugh Ratigan. He is
to DO married at z o'clock this evening
at General Bragg's headquarters Oh Mis-.
sion ridge"
"The devil no is!''
THAT is his intention, sir. he desires
your presence"
"Whom does he marry?"
Miss Caroline Fitz Hugh"
II have been more surprised at other
announcements, l confess. | don't won.
w Nv NV w ms MtttlElR, SIIltO
i helped him to u wife"
"Shall | transmit your acceptance of
h invitation, sir?'
q condition"
Please name IL, sir"
Il fear it will be unacceptable 10
Colonel Fitz Hugh, who will doubtless
Il" the host or ono Of tho hosts. Ho will
not likely yield in u matter of etiquette
which ! must insist on"
colonel Fitz Hugh cannot be present,
SIR. He is now in your real with our
cavalry completing the starvation Of
Your army III Chattanooga by destroying
your lines of supply"
Him. was not aware Of any hunger
IN our ranks. Indeed my request il,
Knowing that your own larder in the
Confederacy is not exactly abunde It;
that the horn Of plenty il not burying
you like Herculancum under the ashes
OF Ncsuvius; that the blockado''-
Tho blockade is not effective, sir"
interrupted the officer stiiiy.
HAS somewhat reduced your wine
cellars, my condition is, | say, that
may be permitted to bring half % dozen
cases Of champagne for tho wedding
feast"
Il assure you, sir, that it Is not nee.
essary, We arc getting cargoes of vino
from Havrc by a regular line of steam
ers. II is your own mess tables at Chat.
tanooga that are doubtless bcrcft of bev-
erages, owing to the fact that our Gen.
eral Wheeler is circus riding in Ten.
nessee, leaving no road or railroad open
to you"
do You consent that | shall bring
the wine?''
II do, sir. hut shalt claim for the
host. n general officer related To the
bride, tho privilege of supplying an
equal number Of eases.
agreed, will meet you here at o
O'Clock this evening, when you can con.
C me and my party to the place where
the ceremony isto take place, You may
say. II you please, that ! shall consider
'he invitation extended to my wife,
whom will bring with me
1--WE shall feel highly honorcd, sir.
at Mrs, Maynard's presence Am to
infer, sir, that your wife has been ahlo
TO reach you over the burned bridges
n trcstlework in your rear"
she has found no difficulty what.
ever in joining ne"
Maynard failed to add that Laura had
only come n few miles to meet him.
Good day, sir, " said the officer, rails.
Ing his hat, Il shall expect you at g."
GOOD day. will bo on time"
And each rode away in tho direction
OF their respective camps.
Maynard's offer Of the wine had come
about in this wise: Jakey, during the
previous week, had been investigating
such empty houses as he could find in
and had loaded himself
down with knickknacks, such as china
ornaments, pictures, crockery, cutlery,
including even daguerreotypes. On one
no thought he had discovered a
box OF muskots. This he reported To
Colonel Maynard. whom he persuaded
go with him to a cellar noar by and
make u search for concealed arms. The