Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-06-10

haad-he knew more about her affairs
than she dreamed. His insolence tried
her temper, but could not alter her tonc
and bearing. II was not until he was
gone that Esther trembling and IN
tears. came and begged her to lodge no
complaint against the man, as he in
deed knew more than she supposed.
And then. in reply to her mothers de-
rnand. Esther brolSenly admitted that
she had already heard of Floyd's en-
listment and desertion through this
very soldier. lie had been at the house
before. What she did not tell her
mother was, that the news first reached
her through Walton Scroggs.
And then, without warning, Floyd
suddenly came home. So troubled had
he been by the condition of his mothers
health and affairs as confided in Esther's
letters (sent under cover to an old fam
lily friend now serving as a surgeon in
the Juarez army that, having earned
q little money in Vera Cruz, he FASTENED
back and appeared there late at even
ing, worn and weary, before those low
ing yet terrified eyes. He had ridden
miles on horseback that day, as he
feared recognition by officers or soldiers
still at Quitman if he came by rail that
way, or by federal deputies If he came
the other. Esther alone had received
him on his arrival, for she, poor girl,
was watching at the old arbor near
the south fence for the coming of her
lover husband, that day released from
-. rva,.
hearing her recital of their needs and
sorrows, ne had sent old Rasmus with
a message into camp, while she had
gone to prepare her mother for his
coming.
Late that night, Mrs. Walton, kneel-
ing by the bedside of her sleeping boy,
became suddenly aware of a scuiiie go
ing on underneath the window, and,
noiselessly descending the stairs, un-
fastened the side door and came at once
upon the intruders, with the result al
ready known. Not until aroused by
the screams of Elinor and his sister
Kate did Floyd know anything OF the
affair. Half asleep, and bewildered, he
had jumped into boots and trousers
and rushed TO the rescue. Ono glance
explained the whole thing, but it was
Esther who in desperation seized and
held him back when he would have
sprung to release his mother from
Riggs drunken Crasp-Esther who.
hearing the coming rush of Lambert's
footsteps, realized that what meant in
stant rescue for her mother meant
equally instant peril for him Esther
who actually ordered his hurried re-
treat at Lambert's appearance. Not
until the following day did II occur
to her mother 10 ask how IL was or
why il was she was up and dressed at
that hour of the night. At any other
time, perhaps, she would have found it
far more difficult to frame plausible
excuse, but almost anything would an
swer now. For hours she had been
listening for the tap upon her window
that should tell her Walton had not
been spirited away to place of safety
until he had come 10 bless and com
fort her with his love-words and ca
resses. To her, at least, despite the
wild oats OF his earlier days, her cousin
husband was all that was true and
tender and fond. For him she had
dared her mothers wrath, her younger
sisters Indignation, and Floyd alone
was her supporter In the secret mar
riage that took place during her brief
visit TO the Claytons In the early spring.
With the dawn Of Sunday, his sig
nal at last was heard. and she stole out