Daily camera., 1897-01-21

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With shawl thrown over her head
ard shoulders, quadroon girl halted
half way down the steps from the side
door, her eyes dilated, and her Ups
,witching in terror, until low voice
from within bade her go ON, and ,all,
dark-haired, pale-faced girl in long,
loose wrapper fairly pushed her for
ward and then stepped quickly to the
elder woman's side.
$50 back to the house at once, my
child. This is no place for you. Go to
Katherine and tell her | say she must
not leave her bed. Go!" And, silent
ly as she came. but with an infinite and
evident reluctance, the tall girl turned
and obeyed. Mrs. walton had spoken
slowly and with effort. Of Mr.. Lambert
and his party she had as yet taken no
notice whatever. Again Murphy began
to squirm in his uncomfortable couch
of mingled mud and broken glass and
head lettuce, and the cracking ac-
compartment to his moaning once more
made him the object of the lady's atten-
Iion.
"Lie still, suh," she said, low and
sternly. "You have broken moh glass
now, sub, than youh captain can re-
place. Lie still whuh you are until my
suhvants lift you out-Henry!" she
called.
"Ye-assum," was the answer, as one
of the negroes came reluctantly for
ward, humbly twirling battered hat
in his hands
''Go fetch your barrow"
Indeed, Mrs. Walton" interposed
Lambert, "you need not trouble your
self. The guard shall carry these two
scoupdrels to camp, and prison life at
Ship island or Tortugas will put a stop
to their prowling. 1t is on your ac-
count l am distressed. We have no
surgeon at hand; will send at once for
doctor in town.
She raised slender white hand, re-
linquishing her grasp upon the cane,
which now went Gathering upon the
gravel of the walk. 1t was sign to
check him, and respectfully he broke
off in his hurried words. Then again
she turned to the negro, who stood
with twitching face, irresolute, beside
her
."Did you hear me, Henry? Co."
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 Ian
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 heaved 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 loomed 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, l
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, abiect and crestfallen, scratched
and bruised and bleeding, yet neither
so deadened by drink nor so stunned
by the rain of blows which he had suf-
fered as not to appreciate the hnmilia-
tion of his position, was squatted in the
barrow. At an imperious gesture from
Mime. Walton Henry started to whee'
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:
nave IOU UHdnl<eu you Sel-
"Oh, Mrs. Walton, | beg you not to
speak of thanks. IF you knew how
how ashamed / am, and that my regi-
ment win 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 | warned. This time, having no
men to call up (negroes, it seems,
could not be counted as such), II 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; l insist on sending for our
contract doctor; it is the best we can
offer tonight"
Neither tonight, nor at any other