Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-10-30
Copyright. 1904, BY J. p. LippIncots Col
XVIII.-CoNTNUED.

him instantly and heartily shook MS
hand and congratulated him on his re-
covcry and on the honors he had won.
And then 1t transpired that he, too,
had come to see II he could be OF serv-
ice to Mrs. Sweet, and Waring suddenly
bethought him OF story he had heard
about the Quitman days. A fellow OF
infinite tact was Warning when he chose
to be, and, after few words Of cordial
greeting to the fair passengers he
wipked at his comrade, the hide
de-camp, us he said he must hasten
baek to battery duty. And so, even
when the sergeant would have defer
,entially fallen to the rear, II was that
distinguished non-commissioned Off
Ger who gave his arm to the younger
OF the two ladies' in response to War
ing's calm "Alr. Walton will take charge
Of Miss Sweet" ind while the mother
WINS led away to the waiting carriage
by the staff officer, we'll knowing that
tho mother-madc engagement was at
an end, the daughters little hand
Slipped trembling upon his arm. What
happened in the elysium Of that two
minutes threading Of dusty, crowded,
freight-heaped wharf was not con-
fessed by either until two long years
after. The ladies went on to Calves
ton that night, and Walton's face was
radiant when, two days later, he came
back home; and then he could have
hated himself for his sclfishness when
he saw Esther.
"why, where's Mr.. Lnmbert?" was
her startled query, Us she met him ut
the gate. Only the moment before as
they saw the boat splashing away from
the pier had Katesic, with madly beat
ing heart, run from her side to battle
her flushed cheeks and hide in her room
until she heard his voice on the veranda
and the first greetings were over. and
then s.he would summon up oil her
saucy spirit and go tripping down to
niece him with due nonchalancc and
lev fly. She had planned 1t oil, poor
c1ild, rehearscd the little comedy time
and again, and was steeling herself to
act her coquettish role, when her SIS
tiers words and Floyd's reply fell upon
her astounded ears:
"He had to go straight on home. His
mother is ILL.,"
And not until then did Katcsie Walton
know that she, too, "had surrendered.
All things come TO him-or her-whc
knows how to wait; even an absent
lover, even the era of peace and good
will between estranged and warning
sections, even the end OF long story.
Another year rolled by on clogging
wheels md wrought many changes
throuc huut the sunny south. A daunt-
less spirit had drifted from this to q
better world. Reverent hands laid the
Wasted form OF the lady mother under
fhc grand old live oaks close to the
-'shining Shore" and the Walton house.
hold, grieving, yet glad that the long
years Of suffering were ended, gave up,
against his vehement protest, the ref
uge which the beneflcence Of stranger
had afforded their beloved In her de-
dining days. The sisters went with
Scroggs to his new home in Texas,
where q pioneer railway company had
rendered him employment. Here Floyd
could sometimes visit them, stalwars
sergeant who gratefully declined tho
offer OF influential men to procure his
discharge, saying that he meant 10
serve every hour of his enlistment.
Here, within hail OF the cavalry trum-
pets and sight of the national flag,
there often came TO spend the day II
fair-faced girl, northern blonde, the
very antitypc to Katesic's southern
beauty, and the blue and the gray
looked love and trust when each gaZcd
into the others eyes, for some remark
nble bond OF sympathy had linked
Genevieve Sweet and Kate Walton In
close companionship.
Here, too, were received and an
swered letters increasing in frequency,
and one never-to-be-forgottcn day,
from far distant post, there suddenly
appeared very proper young fellow
in the conventional travelling garb Of
the period; and presently Jennie Sweet
bethought herself that important
household matters had to he looked
utter ut the garrison, and Esther had
her marketing to do and must do IT..
And 50 there was no one left to
entertain him but Katesic-and the
cat; and even the cat was very much in
the way-in Lambert's way, that is, for
the girl had the ungracious creature in
her arms, covering her with undesired
caresses, the instant after Esther's de-
parturc. The porch was vinc-clad.
shaded and inviting, but Katesie per-
versely insisted on the steps and the
hot morning sunshine; pussy loved the
warmth and sunshine. Lambert sought
10 stroke and caress Sabinn, since
Sabina was held tight over humping
little heart and close under rosy lips
and dimpled chin and soft, flushed
cheeks. His finger-tips thrilled at the
delicious proximity, and Sablna mag
netically perceived It and Indignantly
set back her ears and Kissed, wherent
he pinched her ears and was promptly
hidden to "Go sit ovuh yawnduh Z you
cahnt leave huh yuhs alone" where
upon he transferred his attention to
sabina's lnshing tail and precipitated
o row. Snbina clawed and struggled:
the outraged caudal bristled like bot
tie washer; Katesie sought to soothe
with more hugs and kisses. and those
emotional and passionate mouthings
which women lavish on their feline
iavorites. "0h, um Cattums! -um
Kittums!-um Possums!-um Twee-
tumsl" rapturously exclaimed Miss
Walton through her close pressed lips,
rs she buried her nose In the fluffy fur:
and this was more than Lambert could
stand. With sudden quick decision he
L. C-1.f~. H..