The Red Cloud chief., 1895-02-08
CHAPTER K.

BIG unIOCkeu tno uoOT uuu Wout uoWA
stairs.
CHAPTER K.
A PROMISE SOON BROKEN.
Colonel Maynard was In the habit Of
making frequent visits to his wife and
without warning. Laura understood
perfectly the embarrassing position in
which no would be placed ut surprising
q Confederate spy under the same roof
with herself and protected by her. She
had no mind to place him In any such
position. When Miss Baggs went up
stairs, Laura posted u sentry in the per.
son Of Uncle Daniel to keep u sharp
lookout and give notice Of tho colonel's
approach in order that Miss Baggs might
DO got out Of tho way before his arrival.
Daniel sat down on q bench ON the We.
randa and lit his pipe. He was an old
man and prone to dose. II was not long
before Lookout mountain across the
river began to sway among the clouds,
the nearer trees began to rock, the old
negro's head fell upon his breast, and
he slept.
It was nearly 10 O'Clock when Laura,
having given up the coming Of her hus.
band that night and for onc in her life
rejoicing thereat, WAS about to dismiss
Daniel from his responsible position
when she heard q step on the veranda.
Thinking 1t was Daniel walking back
and forth TO keep himself awake, she
paid no attention to 1t. There was a
turning Of the knob to the front door,
and In another moment Colonel May.
nard stood on the threshold Of the sit.
ting room looking in upon Mrs. Fain.
Laura, Souri, and Miss Bags. He was
about to enter when. observing strange
person, he hesitated. Laura advanced,
and taking him by the hand led him to
another room. He had only once before
seen Miss Baggs and then in disguise
and did not recognize her.
why. sweetheart" he said to his
wife, you're trembling"
"You came In 10 hurriedly."
II am hurried. We cross the river
tomorrow morning"
Tomorrow morning! Oh. Mark, why
couldn't they wait o few days?"
IF wives and sweethearts had the
giving Of orders, Uncle Sam would
have his armies always in winter quar-.
ters."
"Why couldn't this happiness have
lasted just o little longer?"
"And then still . little longer. Come,
] have but q short time to stay. Let me
cay goodby to the baby"
Laura led the way up stairs and drew
the curtains from the cradle, exposing
the sleeping infant.
There was something In the limo.
cence, the absence OF force in the little
slumberer, 70 different from the scenes
In which no was won't to mingle, to set
In motion o train Of feelings In Mark
Maynard to which he had thus far been
. stranger. On the one side was the
wife he loved and the sleeping child;
on the other. what nov appeared toll.
some marches. nights spent ON wet
ground. sickness, mangling by shell and
, bullets ana saber cuts. A year before he
had loved these hardships, these dan.
gers. Now o new element had entered
into his life. and at least while he gag
Cd on the little stranger (the only life
that had come to him among the many
gone since the war began) he felt q
strange repugnance to entering upon
the coming campaign.
my boy, my boy" he said huskily,
the thought suddenly coming to him
that he might never see wife or child
/. again, "how q I now risk leaving You
to struggle on to manhood unprotect.
'ed!" Then, recognising his weakness,
he said. with q quick born smile, but
You have your mother, and I must win
the star OF q brigadier for You to play
with"
J But wars quick and imperative de.
mands gave him little time for the in.
diligence Of such feelings. He tried e
turn away. Again and again he drew
the curtains Of the cradle. only to draw
them back for one moro look.
Laura" he said suddenly. ''all Il
changed. Before you and he came I die
my duty as q soldier because II was moi
hard to do and because II pleased me,
Now 1t will be hard, and ] shall do 4
that you and he may not be disgraoet
In me. bow ~ I ever leave o blot OF
my name and have that child grow NJ
to know it?"
Laura, seeing how hard 1t was fol
him to draw himself from the cradle
took his hand and led him away.
Going down stairs, they found tn
house silent. All the family were II
bed. Maynard know that II was tim
he had departed. 1t was very late, On,
he must ride eight miles to camp AN
be on the march with his brigade befor
daylight. But he could hardly tear him
self away from the house. The sleepinI
child up stairs seemed to have brough
from the unknown whence he came
maze Of gentler emotions. which wer