Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-09-18
CAPTAIN CLOSE
ny CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright 1904, BY J. q. Lippincot, Col
XII.

It's mistress lay nOVerihR pctNcch hie
and death. Two weeks had passed since
the evcntful night OF the arrests, and,
though no change had come over the
landscape, and days OF sunchine were
few and far between, some odd altera-
tions had taken place in and around
the old homestead. OF these the most
remarkable was the appearance three
times day Of young officer In Yankee
uniform ut the family board-a young
officer who often prolonged his visit
until late in the evening. Mr.. Isaac
Newton Lambert, though occupying his
tent In camp, had become otherwise IN
inmate OF the Walton establishment,
for, unknown to the beloved invalid,
her daughters were actually stalking
boarfers."
Another boarder, who had coise and
moved n modest bachelor kit into one
Of the upstairs rooms facing the east
md overlooking the little camp, was Mr..
Barton Potts, better known TO all the
inmates rs cousin Bart" Indeed, II
WINS due In great measure to his advice
and influence that Mr. Lambert was adj
mitied. Impoverished as were the Wal
tons--in dire need, as II turned out,
now that the resolute woman who so
many years had managed the family
nfYairs was stricken down-nothing but
prompt action and the helping hands
of kinsfolk and friends stood between
them and starvation. Squire Potts
"Old Man Potts." rs he was generally
called-had urged on Mrs. Walton in
November the propriety of her abandon
ing the place entirely and taking shell
ter for herself and her daughters under
his roof. Even though in desperate
need, she had dcclincd-for one reason,
because that would bring Esther and
Walton Scroggs together again; for an
other, because she could not bear TO
think OF the old home becoming the
nbiding-placc of all the houscless, shift
less negroes in the neighborhood. She
had offered the house, garden and cot
ton-felds still remaining in her hands
to any purchaser Mt almost any price;
but who was there to invest in such
improbable estate at such time?
In the midst of these cares and
troubles, which she could share with
her daughters, were others which she
could not. She burst not let them
know on how slender thread her life
dcpended. That was one secret, held
ms yet by their old family physician and
herself alone, because the knowledge
of it would bring such grief to "the
girls" There was another, which she
prayed they might never know, because
its very existence brought such grief
and shame to her; Floyd, her youngest
son. her darling, who had fought so
bravcly by his brothers side through
the hottest battles OF the war, had "ab-
iurcd the faith Of his fathers" as she
bitterly expressed it-had become inti-
mate with the federal officers and SOL
diers, instead of sticking closely to
reading law in the Office of her old
friend Judge Summers Mt Quitman.
And then, worse than all, she learned
through his own desperate letter that
he had enlisted in the cavalry. That
within week thereafter, repenting Of
his "mad folly" he should have de-
serted the service and fed the country,
was in the poor stricken woman's eyes
no crime whatever. That he should
have enlisted, sworn to defend the flag
which was to her the emblem OF in
solent triumph over the fallen fortunes
Of the land she loved, the only land she
ever knew, the once happy, sunny
south-that was infamy.
Not until weeks after her boy had
taken the step that made him fugitive
from justice did she learn, or begin tc
imagine the chain Of circumstances
that led to It all. While occupying n
desk in the Office Of Summers g. Todd.
attorneys and counselors Mt law, Floyd
also occupied seat at the table of
widowed relative who. left penniless
ut the close of the war, had to struggle
hard to keep body and soul together.
The efforts Of Judge Summers had been
sufficient to save the house in which she
dwelt, and "taking boarders" became
her vocation. But paying boarde'"'
were scarce. and even when her table
was crowded with homeless people her
pockets were often empty. When
Sweets squadron of the -th q. s. cav
nlry marched into town and took sta
ton there, the application Of some OF
the officers for "rations and quarters"
under her roof was coldly declined.
They went to hotel, and suffered, MS
they deserved, the pangs Of Indigestion.
Later it transpired that two of them
went to church, and this put nm un-
looked-for factor into the problem OF
how to treat these conquering but un-
popular heroes. Rev. Mr.. Pickett, OF st
Paul's might condone his pnrishioners'
refusal to supply them with bodily food.
but It was impossible to refuse to min
.stcr to their spiritual necessities,
Their religious faith was identical with
that of his flock; II was in political faith
that they differed. One might decline
TO sit ut meat with them, but could
hardly decline to sit with them at wor-
ship. They could be forbidden to eat
with the elect, but the elect would not
forbid them to pray. Even In the sane
tuary, however, only hostile or averted
looks were vouchsafed 10 Col. Sweet
and Capt. vinton when first they sought
its doors; but In the course OF few
months the women found that their SOL
dlers-their husbands, brothers, or low
ers, whom the war had spnred-wer.
actually fraternizing with the Yankee
invaders, and that between those who
had done hard and honest fighting on
either side there was spriuging up firm
and honest friendship. The irrcconcil-
ables were limited, apparently, to the
noncombatants. When the squadron
x~aa ordered elsewhere nfter a six