Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-02

Again Riggs began to groan and
stretch forth feeble hands. Burns
looked appealingly TO his young officer,
then as appealingly to the lady. Clear
ly, she was mistress of the situation.
Lambert had quickly stopped and
picked up the cane. but she did not
see, apparently. that he wished to re-
store it to her. In the light of the lam
terms the mark of Riggs clutch was
plainly visible at her white and rounded
throat.
1.-Two of you lift this fellow" said
Burns to the corporal; and between
them Riggs was heavcl to his sprawl
ing feet. Get him over to camp now
and battle his head. Put a bayonet
through him if he tries to bolt. I'll be
there presently"
And of Riggs, her assailant, and of
Riggs removal under guard, the lady
of the Walton homestead took no note
whatever. Rebuffed. yet sympathetic,
Lambert again essayed to speak, but
the rattle of the barrow was heard and
Henry once more doomed up within the
zone of lantern light.
Lift that-puhson-out." she said.
And when Burns would have lent a
helping hand she interposed: NO,
beg you. My suhvants will attend to
this" And neither Lambert nor his
sergeant made further effort Murphy,
lifted from the wreck of the ruined hot
bed, abject and crestfallen, scratched
and bruised and bleeding. yet neither
so deadened by drink nor so stunned
by the rain of blows which he had sui.
fered as not to appreciate the humilia-
ton of his position, was squatted in the
barrow. AT an imperious gesture from
Nine. Walton Henry started to wheel
him away, the corporal of the guard
in close attendance.
And then, with calm dignity and re.
covered breath, the lady turned to the
boy officer:
II have not thanked you yet"
."Oh, Mrs. Walton, I beg you not to
speak of thanks. If you knew how
how ashamed l am, and that my regi-
ment will be-that any of our men
could have dared" The very intensity
of the young fellows indignation
choked him and gave her the floor.
"Once before this they came. and
then 1 warned. This time, having no
men to call up" (negroes, it seems,
could not be counted as such), 81 was
compelled myself to chastise. May /
ask the safe return of our barrow-it is
the only vehicle the war has left us
and that we may now be permitted to
retire?" And she swept stately cour.
tesy.
'But. madam" began Lambert, ut
terly chagrined at the attitude of cold
and determined avoidance in which she
persisted, "you have been brutally
handled; I insist on sending for our
contract doctor: it is the best we can
offer tonight"
Neither tonight, nor at any other
time, would his suhvices be acceptable,
sub. ] need no doctoh. We learned
we had to learn-how to do without
luXuries of evry kind during the war;
and DR.. IIand-I think that is the name
of the physician you refer to-would
be too much of luxury at any time.
regret that your men should need his
suhvces, but they brought it on Them
selves"
They will need him more before
the captain gets through with 'em,
ma'am," said Scrgt. Burns, seeing that
his young superior was at a loss what
to say AS he spoke. the tall. dark
haired girl once more appeared. and
swiftly, noisclcssly stepped to her
mothers side. ''There'd be no need
of court-martial or of your having to
testify, if Capt. Close could settle this
or let us do it,
Mother, come n-plcasc do--and let
these gentlemen 60" SAID the girl. "In-
deed. we are very much obliged to you,"
she continued. addressing Lambert,
for coming so quicisly. That one. who
seemed intoxicated. might have killed
mother. who is far from strong. They
had opened the cellar door. You see."
And she pointed to where the broad
wooden leaf had been turned back, leav-
ing black, yawning chasm.
Your mother is faint" cried Lam
bert, springing forward just in time,
for. now that victory was perched upon
her banners, the foe soundly thrashed
and driven from the field. nature
woman-lilie-had rcnsscrted herself,
and the lady of Walton Hall would
have SINK to earth but for the strong
young arms that received her Then
came renewed outcryi from within
doors. Miss katherine could not have
obeyed the maternal mandate. for there
she was at the window. insistent. clam
orous. Bring her right in hyuh!." she
cried. do yom hynh what /. say. Is
tub? Oh. who day-uhd to lock me in
this room? You :Iinor! open this do
instantly, l tell you!"
A moment later. when. by the light
of Burns lantern. row in Miss Esthcr's
trembling grasp. the two men bore the
limp and nervclesS shape into the near
est room and laid it revcrcntly upon
the sofa, wid-eyed and dishevelled
young woman threw herself at her
mothers side and began chatting and
slapping the slender white hands and
begging all manner of absurd and inn
possible things of the PROSTATE. pallid,
death-like form. El:nor. who had
obcycd orders and locked the impulsive
danscl in. had row released her and
then collapsed.
), do not try TO raise her head" said
Lambert. gently. 10 the frightened
; child. who. having exhausted one Of
fort, was now striving to revive her
mother with passionate kisses. I'VE
must restore the circulation tn the
brain. Pardon me; have you lnue
brandy? or whisliy?"
"Thcre isn't drop in the house.