Daily camera., 1897-01-27
XIII.

Confined to her bed and room as was
Madam Walton, and only vaguely alive
10 what might be going on in the house
hold-for there were days when she
lay dull and apathetic, yet mercifully
spared from suffering-it was Esther's
duty and fondest care to minister to
her mothers needs even at time when
her heart was torn with anxiety on ac-
count of her husband, now a prisoner
in the hands of the United States mar
shal at the capital, and of her brother,
who, under the orders of the general in
command of the department, had been
sent under guard to New Orleans. there
to await his trial by court-martial for
the crime of desertion. The visits OF
the old family physician were frequent,
for the invalid had had too much to suf-
fer and seemed incapable of further
struggle. Floyd was twice permitted
to visit his mother during the two days
that elapsed before telegraphic orders
came in his case. She knew him, clnng
to him, yet seemed unable to realize
that he was going from her. She once
or twice asked if Judge Summers had
been heard from, for Cousin Bart had
written fun details of Floyd's trouble,
and the family united in urging him to
make an appeal TO certain influential
friends of the ante bellum days, who
had scandalized the Waltons by their
LOYALTY to the old flag. Then Lambert
wrote letter which Close signed and
sent to the department. headquarters,
and the boy, remembering some kind
words said to him by his fathers old
friend, ventured on a personal letter
to the general himself, pleading Wal
toms case and portraying the familys
distress. 1t was this letter that over
came Esther's objection to the a.vlce
of Mr.. Potts to the effect that they take
Mr.. Lambert in as aday boarder. And
within 4s hours of his initial appearance
at their table Mrs. Scroggs, as he was
the first to address his blushing hostess,
was more than reconciled to the step.
But if she was, Miss Kate was not.
The wrath and Indignation. of that
young lady can hardly be described. 1t
WaS one lining. Slc uCSiuiS Su, AoA I'M w
sell eggs and butter to gentleman who
was friend of Floyd's, who told her he
despised his captain as much as she did,
who had enlisted only because he had
been promised immediate promotion to
a captaincy, and who never would have
done SO even then. had he known that
soldiers could be used to persecute the
people of the south. He was only wait
ing for his commission to come-or his
discharge-to tell Capt. Close what he
thought of his conduct. 1t was all very
well to make friends with gentleman
like Mr. Riggs, who had been dear
brother Floyd's friend at Quitman be-
fore he fell in love with that horrid
designing Yankee girl who had led him
on to "'cohtin' her when she was all
the time engaged to that rich ragpicker
or. .whuteveh he might be. Mr.. Riggs
had behaved like puhfect gentleman.
(She had forgotten the little bill he had
been running up and was so long vainly
importuned to pay. She also attached
slight Importance to Barton's state
mcnt that Brother Floyd said Riggs
was fraud and liar, and responsible for
much-though notall-of his trouble.'o
As between Mr.. Riggs and this new
Yankee lieutenant, who had dared to
disguise himself and seek TO make her