The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-09-10

heart OF its people he was commanding
officer of his company and camp, with
out definite instructions of any kind
and only his native common sense TO
guide him.
Lambert has since told two women
his wife and his mother-how his
thoughts wandered back to the peace
full old homestead in the far northland,
and to the teachings of his boyhood
days. He made sturdy fight against
the feeling of loneliness that oppressed
him. He wished the wind did not blow
so sulkily, in such spiteful, vicious
puffs. 1t seemed as though nature had
combined with old Lady Walton to give
him ungracious welcome to this par
ticularly shady side of the sunny south.
The wind itself was whispering sarcas-
tic and whitening remarks to him, like
those the sergeant repeated as coming
from Madam Walton to the defenseless
captain; and even Burns sense of sub
ordination could not down his impulse
to chuckle over some of them. What
would Lambert do or say if the prim
and starchy dame were to call upon
him. as she occasionally had on his SUI
perior, driving him at last to the refuge
Of the nethermost depths of his tent,
whence. as Burns declared, "the cap
tain couldn't be induced to come out
till the old lady was back inside her
own door,"
The last time he tiled up Riggs
punishment much resorted to in the
rough war days and those that closely
followed them. especially by those Off
GERS who were themselves graduated
from the ranks of the voiunteers-it
was for trespass on the Walton place
The fellow had climbed the fence and
was pilfering among the old fruit trees
when caught by Madam Walton. That
was bad enough. but he had been i'm
pudent to her, which was worse. The
men themselves would probably have
ducked him in the stream-the old,
self-respecting soldiers, that is-had the
captain not ordered his summary pun
ishment. Lambert was wondering
what steps he should take in the inter-
ests of discipline. when he finally blew
out his candle. determined. if possible
| thing, to get to sleep. 1t was just
quarter-past IL when he wound his
watch and slowed it under his rude
pillow. His revolver. the days pur-
chase. lay, with some matches close at
hand. He had even placed his sword
and belt at the foot of his cot. The
last thing ne thought of before closing
his eyes was that he would have to get
a lantern on the morrow, even if he
bought it of Cohen: but it was also the
last thing he thought of when the NOR
row came.
Was it the wind again. whispering
| ugly things, or the ghost of Lady Wal
ton, with her acidulated tongue. that
reused him, he knew not how many
minutes -. or hours - later? Some
thing was whispering. surely. The
wind had been doing a good deal of that
sort of thing all the night long among
the leaves, a good deal of Snarling and
| growing at times, and there was NUT
tered snarling going on around him
| now. That mi ght be the wind; but the
wind would not trip up over a tent
rope and say such blasphemous things
about it, even if it did nearly pull the
fimsy structure down. In an instant
Lambert was wide awake.
who's there?" he challenged. stern
ly.
No answer-not in words. at least
but there was sound as of stealthy, yet
| hurried movement. more straining at
| the ropes on the side nearest the cap
| tain's tent. and heavy, startled breath
ing.
who's there?" he repeated. reaching
for the revolver. Answer, or I fire"
Then came mighty strain. a jerk.
stumble and plunge, the sound as of
heavy fall, followed by instant scram
bic and rush of footballs around the
rear of camp. Lambert was out of bed
and into his boots in half a minute;
but in his haste he upset the chair on
which lay the matches. and the box
went rolling to the floor. Pistol in
hand. he darted out in the night and
found it black as Erebus. Quickly he
ran to the first sergeant's tent, but
Burns was hard to waken after the
long days work. Once reused. how
ever, he was soon out, lantern in hand,
while Lambert hastily dressed, and
then together they secuted camp. A
glance at their tent showed that Riggs
and Murphy were still absent. A peep
at the watch showed that it was almost
two o'clock; search around Lambert's
tent revealed nothing beyond the fact
that the corner peg to which the tent
fly was guyed was torn from the
ground, and the soft, sandy soil showed
that heavy boot-heels had made their
imprint. Then Burns. still lantern
bearing, went crouching low around
the back of Closes tent, while Lambert,
with straining ears, stood stock still an
instant in front, then, of sudden. tore
like mad through the rousing camp,
out past the dim white canvas of the
wagons, out past the startled sentry,
up the steep pathway to the hard red
road beyond, down which he ran on
the wings of the wind till he reached
the gateway to the forbidden ground.
for a woman's agonized Shrek had
rung out upon the night. and the sound
of blows, of crashing glass, of fierce
and desperate struggle. of muttered
oaths, of painting, pleading. half-stif1ed
cries, of wild dismay and renewed
screams for help. all came crowding on
the ear from the heart of the Walton
place.
ITO BE Continued
A Timely Present.
Tom was n colored boy about five. in