The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-10-08

"i had heen wanting 10 say some
thing alsc to YOU when had got rid of
my ircn,ltal message, do not know
II you SIN rnre Ia hror Hut you were
once c",.H,tNs enough IN think that
I had derr you service in bringing n
lettnr t. ypur commnnder Although
know lptisr than anyone else the
gcnIilr devotion la yonr duty that
mair you accept my poor service, from
all that can hear You have never had
| the credit II IT, win you now try me
again? ;,n 10 more favor here, and
| might yet he more successful in show
ing Your superiors how true you have
leen Ia your trust, even il you have
little faith in your friend Matilda
Faulkner"
For along time he remained motion
less with the letter In his hand. Then
he arose, ordered his horse and galloped
away
There was little difficulty in finding
tle cemetery of Three Pines crossing
hillside slope, hearsed with pine
aud cypress and starred with white
crosses, that in the distance looked
like flowers. Still less was there in
finding tho newer marble shaft among
the older lichcn spotted slabs, which
bore the simple words: "Alice Ben
ham, Martyr" a few confederate SOL
diers. under still palmer and newer
woUien headstones, carved only with
initials. lay at her feet. Brant sank
an his knees beside the grave. but he
was thrilled to see that the base of
the marble was stained with the red
pollen of the fateful lily, whose bios.
SONS had been heafcd upon her mound,
but whose fallen petals lay dark and
sodlcn In decay.
How long he remained there he did
not know And then solitary bugle
from the camp seemed to summon him
~ ii had once summoned him before
end he went away--as he had gone once
hefore--to o separation that he now
knew was for all time.
Then followed a month OF superin.
tcndence and drill, and the infusing
into the little camp under his instruc-
tion the spirit which seemed to be
passing ont OF his own life forever.
Shut in by alien hills on the border land
of the great struggle, from time 10 time
reports reached him of the bitter fight
ing and almost disastrous successes OF
his old division commander. Orders
came from Washington to hurry the
preparation of his raw levies for the
Acid, and faint hope sprang up in his
Mind, But following it came another
dispatch ordering his return to the
capital,
lie reached it with neither hope nor
fear, so benumbed had become his spir-
it under this last trial, and what seemed
to be now the mockery of his last sacri-
fee to his wife. Though it was no
longer question of her life and safety,
he knew that he could still preserve
her memory from stain, by keeping
her secret even though its diyulgence
might clear his own, For that reason
he had even hesitated TO inform Susy Of
her death, in the fear that in her
thoughtless irresponsibility and i'm
pulsiveness she might be tempted to
use it in his favor. He had made his
late appointment plea for withhold
iGs any present efforts to assist him.
He even avoided the Boompointers'
house, in what he believed was partly
duty to the memory Of his wife. But
he saw no Inconsistencies in occasional
~ extending his lonely walks 10 the
vicinity of foreign legation, or in be-
Ing lifted with certain expectation at
the sight of its liveries on the avenue,
There was craving for sympathy in
his heart, which Miss Faulkner's let
ter had awakened.
Meantime he had reported himself for
duty at the war department, with little
hope, however, in that formality. But
hs was surprised the next day when
the chief of the bpreap informed him
that his claim was before the presi,
dent.
" was not aware that had present
ed any claim" he said little haugh-
tily.
The bureau chief looked up with
some surprise, This quiet, patient, res
served man had once or twice puzzled
him before. Perhaps ! should say
case, general" he said, drily. "But
the personal interest of the highest
executive in the land strikes me o. be-
ing desirable in anything"
4 only mean that ] have obeyed tho
ordors Of the department in reporting
myself here, npw end before" said
Brant. with less feeling, but none the
less iirmness. "and should imagine il
was not the duty of q soldier to ques-
tion them, which fancy claim or
case would imply"
lie had no idea Of taking this atti-
tude before, but the disappointments Of
the past month, added to this first Off
ciai notice of his disgrace, had brought
forward again that dogged, reckless,
yet lialf-scornful, determination that
was part of his nature.
The official smiled. ~ suppose, then,
Won are tpaikinn tn hear frnfa tha ,,r.ai.