The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-07
GHPTR|N CLOSE
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright. 1894, by ]. d. Lippincott Col
X.-CoNTINUED.

X.-CoNTNUED.
Lambert stood speechless one instant.
Then. simply raising his forage cap, he
whirled about and left.
The boy was thinking of his own
mother when he tripped so lightly up
that worn old gravel path on his way
to inquire how he could be of service
TO one whose dignity and sorrow and
suffering had so impressed him. He had
donned his best uniform for the mis-
sion, and little dreamed how in so do
ing he had rendered himself much the
more persona non grata. He, who could
not war upon women and children un-
der any circumstances, had not begun
to learn how bitterly the recent war
had borne upon the women of the south,
or how, even so long after, they suffered
from its effects. He had gone to offer
the aid and protection of loyal heart
and a strong arm, and had not realized
that it was the very last succor Walton
would seek, so long as both heart and
arm were draped by the union blue.
Not ten minutes after his return, dis
comfited and dismayed, there rode up
the muddy, red bridlepath-fcr it was
little more-a broad-faced young fellow
who was attired in the clumsiest of
"store clothing" and whose lean and
long-necked steed looked dele elton it
self as his vigorous rider dislnounted,
slung the reins over the gate post, and,
after one sharp and warning survey of
the silent negroes still lowering about,
swung cheerily up the walk. To him
che old doors opened wide without
summons, and eager hands were thrust
forth in welcome.
Lambert, hearing the first heavy
drops come humping on his canvas
roof, thought it was the rain that so
quickly thinned the group of darkies
on the road. He could hear the mule
hoofs suffering away through the mud
as the rain came quicker and faster, but
not until several hours later did further
explanation dawn upon him. Then he
heard Burns and Watts in conversation
at the first sergennt's tent.
did you see how the niggcrs kind o
lit out when he Cameo" asked Burns.
81 haven't seen him around here since
August. Reckon he knows captains
away. He hates him like poison ever
.ince cap interfered in that row he had
with Parmelee."
"Looks like q pleasant enough fellow.
I'd rather back him than Parmelee ;ny
day, IS far as looks go. What's he doing
here?"
Hes some kin to the old lady-they're
all related hereabouts-ands she's sent
for him to cone, probably, after last
nights row."
"But they're talking all over the COM
pany about Murphy's yarn--about
there being some relative there-some
man-last night. You heard it when
he talked to the lieutenant"
"Oh, yes" answered Burns, evasively,
"I heard what he had to say, but Riggs
shut him up short as soon as he was
sober enough to know what Murphy
was saying. Wait till Riggs tells his
side of the story to the lieutenant. Then
perhaps well know what brought Mr..
IArton Potts over here"
hambert was up and at the door of his
tent in a minute. did you say that
Mr.. Barton Potts was at the Walton
place now, sergeant?"
ayes, SIR" answered Burns, whirling
about in the mud and promptly salut-
ing.
"Then have some man let me know
when he comes out. / wish to speak
to him. And if Riggs is sober enough
now, send him here"
Presently, looking moist, blear-eyed,
and detected, the ex-trooper and SER
geant was marched up through the pat
tering rain, and, with the big drops
Ntffckling down from the visor of his
Bid war-pattern forage cap, stood sui
ienly at the tent of his young COM
mander. The guarding sentry, after the
fashion prevailing among some of the
regular infantry at the time, allowed
his rifle TO topple forward from the
"carry" into the grasp of the left hand,
a foot or so in front of the right breast,
and with this well-intended effort ut
the rifle salute" of the cos, Private
Mulligan reported
"Prisoner Riggs, sorr; to spake TO
the lieutenant"
IL was the first time Lambert hnd con-
Quoted an investigation of the kind, and
he had no precedent to guide him.
"Riggs," said he, murphy tells me
your going to town last night was at
the instance of some relative of Mrs.
Walton's, who asked you to do them
a service. Was that true?'
at vas. sir"
"Then he will doubtless be glad to
come forward and exonerate you, o. at
least explain your conduct in the early
evening. Your later conduct only a