Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-09

dignified, her silvery hair 1utteting
about her temples, and the lines OF
care seeming even deeper in the. sad,
clear-cut face, stood Mrs. Walton, Lean
ing on the stout cane which had dealt
such trenchant blows the night before.
With voice that trembled just a tr'fle
despite her effort at control, she slowly
spoke: se '.'.
'sYou mean to be courteous, sir, in
your inquiry, and for this l beg TO
thank you-to renew my thanks for
your prompt service of last night. But
now may say, once for nll, that we
need, and can accept, no further as
slstance; and, If you are sincere in your
desire to be courteous, you will not
again seek to enter my door,"
Lambert flushed to his very brows.
1T is a more important matter than
you have perhaps thought. Mrs Walton,
that has made me ask to see YOU. One
of the men who broke in here last
night"
81 know what you would say" she
promptly, firmly interposed, again up
lifting, with that almost imperious ges-
ture, the fragile white hand. 81 am
framing a letter to be delivered to your
commander upon his return tonight
upon his return she quickly corrected
herself. ut will cover the Gaze SO far
as we are concerned. Meantime I beg
to be excused from further alusion to
It," And the stately inclination With
which she accompanied the words was
unquestionably a dismissal. S.
Lambert stood speeches. one instant.
Then, simply raising his forage cap, he
whirled about and left.
The boy was thinking Of his own
mother when he trippcd 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 I'M
der any circumstances. had not begun
TO learn how bitterly the recent var
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 succora 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 disinaycd, there rode up
the muddy, red bridlepath-fcr it was
little more-a broad-faced young fellow
who was attired in the clumsicst of
"store clothing" ard whose lean and
long-necked steed looked deI ction it
self as his vigorous rider dislnounred,
slung the reins over the gate post, and,
aftcr one sharp and warming survey Of
the silent negroes still lowering a bout,
swung cheerily up the walk. To him
the old doors opened wide without q
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 darlsies
on the road. He could hear the mule
hoofs suffering away through the mud
ms the rain came quicker and faster, but
not until several hours later did furt her
explanation dawn upon him. Then he
heard Burns and Watts in conversation
ut the first sergcant's tent.
did you see how the niggers kind o
lit out when he Cameo" asked Burns.
II haven't seen him around here since
August. Reckon he knows captains
away. He hates him like poison ever
since cap interfered in that row he had
with Parmelee."
Looks like n pleasant enough fellow.
I'd rather back him than Parmelee sny
day, IS far as looks so. What's he doing
here ?" tH a . -
Hes some Kin to the old lady-they're
all related observation-disclosures she's sent
for him to come, 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"
ooh. yes" answered Burns, cvasively,
II 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 we'll know what brought Mr..
Barton Potts over hcre.'
! Lambert was upand at the door of his
tent in q minute, ibid you say that
Mr.. Barton Potts WIS at the Walton
place now. sergeant?"
Eyes. SIR" answered Burns. whirling
about in the mud aud 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 hin, here"
| Presently. looking moist. blcar-eyed
and detected, the, ex-trooper and ser
/ geant was marched up through the pat
! tering rain, and, with the big drops
| trickling down from the visor Of his
old war-pattern forage cap, stood sui
lenly ut thu tent of his young com
mander. The guarding sentry. after the
fashion prevailing among some OF the
regular infantry at the time. allowed
his rife to topple forward from the
"car1y" into the grasp Of the left hand
| o foot or SO iii front of the right breast
and with this well-intended effort al
the rifle salute" Of the COS. Private
Mulligan reported
e