Daily camera., 1897-02-02


levee where the steamers Of the Crom-
well line came in from New York. He
was there hours before the Crescent
came plowing her way up the swollen
ard turbid river: and before she was
sighted at English Turn, who should
appear but Lieut. Waring and the gen.
erals aide-de-camp who had come to
see him during his brief confinement
under guard Floyd, though in civil
ian dress, had promptly sprung to his
feel to salute them, but they recognized
him instantly and heartily shook his
.aEd and congratulated him on his re-
rgyery 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 ne had heard
about the Quitman days. A fellow of
infinite tact was Waring when he chose
to be, and, after few words Of cordial
erecting to the fair passengers, he
winked at his comrade. the aide
de camp, as he said he must hasten
back to battery duty. And so, even
when the sergeant would have defer
entiall.y fallen to the rear. it was that
distinguished non-commissiOned Off
GER who gave his arm to the younger
of the two ladies in response to War
ng'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 ofa 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 selGshness when
he saw Esther.
I "Why, where's Mir. Lamhert?" was
her startled query, as she met him at
the gate. Only the moment before as
they saw the boat spashing away from
the pier had Kates;e. with madlS 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 he
saucy spirit and go tripping down to
meet him with due nonchalance and
levity. She had planned it all, poor
child, rehearscd the little comedy time
and again, and was steeling herself to
act her coquettish role, when her sis
ter's words and Floyds reply fell upon
ner astounded ears:
''He had to go straight on home. His
mother is ILL.,"
And not until chen did Katesie Wal
ton know that she, too, had surrel-
dered."
All things come to him-or her--whc
knows how to wait; even an absent
lover. even the era OF peace and goor
will between estranged and warning
sections, even the end of a long storI
Another wear rolled by on cloggng
wheels and wrought many change
throughout the sunny south. y daunt-
less spirit had drifted from this to {,
better world. Reverent hands laid tht
wasted form of the lady mother under
The grand old live oaks close to the
shining Shore and the Walton house
hold grieying, yet glad that the long
years of suffering were ended, gave up.
against his vehement protest, the ref
uge which the benefcence of stranger
had afforded their beloved in her de
clining 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, stalwar'
sergeant who gratefully declined the
cffe;r 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 L
fair-faced girl. northern blonde. the
very antitype to katesie.'s southern
DedulN, dIiu uIit Dlut clilt ibt SidN
looked love and trust when each gazed
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 ever-to-be-forgotten 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 be looked
| after at the garrison, and Esther had
her marketing to do and must do it.
| "Of course Mr.. Lambert will dine and
| take tea with us. (We 6ined at one
and tead at six-thirty in those days in
| Texas.) 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 Lambert's way, that is, for
the girl had the ungracious creature in