The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-02
ChPThIN CLOSE
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright. 1894, by J. b. Lippincott Col
XVIII.-CoNTINUED.

XVIII.-CoNTINUED.
Floyd Walton, though in civilian
dress, had promptly sprung to his feet
to salute them, but they recognized
him instantly and heartily shook his
hand and congratulated him on his re-
covery and on the honors he had won.
And then it transpired that he, too,
had come to see if he could be of serv-
ice to Mrs. Sweet, and Waring suddenly
bethought him of a story he had heard
about the Quitman days. A fellow of
infinite tact was Waring when he chose
to be, and, after few words of cordial
greeting to the fair passengers, he
winked at his comrade, the aide
e-camp, as he said he must hasten
back to battery duty. And so, even
when the sergeant would have defer
entially fallen to the rear, it was that
distinguished non-commissioned OIL
Ger who gave his arm to the younger
of the two ladies in response to War
ing's calm "Mr. Walton will take charge
of Miss Sweet" and while the mother
was led away to.the waiting carriage
by the staff officer, well knowing that
the mother-made 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 selfishness when
he saw Esther.
"Why, where's Mr.. LAMBERT" was
her startled query, as she met him at
the gate. Only the moment before as
they saw the boat splashing away from
the pier had Katesie, 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 she would summon up all her
saucy spirit and go tripping down to
meet him with due nonchalance and
levity. She had planned it all, poor
child, rehearsed the little comedy time
and again, and was steeling herself to
act her coquettish role, when her SIS.
ter's words and Floyd's reply fell upon
ner astounded ears:
"He had to go straight on home. His
mother is ill.,"
And not until then did Katesie 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 and wrought many changes
throughout the sunny south. a daunt-
less spirit had drifted from this to &
better world. Reverent hands laid the
wasted form of the lady mother under
the 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 beneficence of stranger
had afforded their beloved in her de.
Ginning days. The sisters went with
Scroggs to his new home in Texas,
where a pioneer railway company had
rendered him employment. Here Floyd
could sometimes visit them, n stalwart
sergeant who gratefully declined the
cffer of influential men to procure his
discharge, saying that he meant TO
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 u
fair-faced girl, a northern blonde, the
very antique to Katesie's southern
beauty, and the blue and the gray
looked love and trust when each gazcd
into the others eyes. for some remark
able 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-forgotten day,
from n far distant post, there suddenly
appeared n very proper young fellow
in the conventional travelling garb OF
the period; and presently Jennie Sweet
bethought herself that important
household matters had TO be looked
utter at the garrison, and Esther had
her marketing TO do and must do il.
"Of course Mr.. Lambert will dine and
take tea with us. eve Gined at one
and tead at six-thirty in those days in
Tcxas) And so there was no one left to
entertain him but Katesie-and the
cat; and even the cat was very much in
the way-in Lambcrt'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-