The Advocate and news., 1898-11-16

BraytOn went over at luncheon time
and begged a word with Mrs. Winn.
She peered over the balustrade from the
second story, with big, black trimmed
eyes, but could not come down, could
mot leave baby, who was fretful, she
said. Oh, why didn't Mr.. Winn come
homer What good did it do to stay over
there and worry When would they get
through Brayton couldn't say, but
Winn couldn't Come--felt he must stay
at the Office, but If Mrs Winn would
have some tea and bite Of luncheon
prepared, he (Brayton) would gladly
take it over Yet even this friendly
Office seemed to bring no solace. Winn
barely slipped the tea or tasted the savory
broth. Frazier and Riggs went out to
luncheon, leaving him still seated at
his desk, and their faces were black
with gloom when they reached the colo
nel's door. Winn's most distressing
plight, following so shortly after the
dire misfortune that had happened to
Lawrence, would have saddoned the
whole garrison and tinged all table talk
with melancholy but for the blessed
antidote afforded in Captain Barclays
sudden and most unlocked for coming.
And what a surprise it wasl All one
afternoon and part Of one evening had
Fort Worth been telling that Captain
Barclay had refused the assignment to
a regiment and post where he must
meet Laura Winn, that he had resign
ed rather than encounter once more the
woman who had played him false, that
he was too wealthy to care to bury
himself in this out Of the way hole in
Texas anyhow, and even while they
were talking, all unheralded, here he
was. The majors hospitable doors
opened to receive him within ten min
utes of his dust covered advent, and
only by hearsay all that night could
the garrison know Of his presence. One
small sole leather trunk, with the trav-
cling bag, rife, fieldglasses, Canteen
and lunch box, constituted all the per-
sonal luggage of the new arrival. It
could not even be said that any one out
side Of Brooks had even seen him, SO
coated with dust were the contents of
that old spring wagon when unloaded
at the colonel's steps, and many wo-
man hastened to her door on the follow
ing morning, attracted thither by the
announcement that Captain Barclay
was on the majors porch.
There, with his host, he stood for
quite awhile, the major pointing out
the landmarks along the westward
range and indicating apparently other
features in the landscape. One or two
officers fastening by raised their caps
or ran up the steps and shook hands
with the newcomer, but he was present
ly summoned in to breakfast, and neigh.
bors could only say he was not very tall,
not very stout, not very slight, not very
anything. Captain De Lanoy, who had
had three minutes conversation, said
he seemed pleasant but that was all
Mrs De Lancy was confirmed in her
preconCeived opinion that men were
owls because her husband was unable
to add to the military descriptive list OF
brown eyes, brown hair, brown beard
and clothes any of the particulars she
sought. He couldn't tell whether Bar
clay had fine teeth or good complexion,
what his mouth was like, whether he
had nice hands and voice. Indeed he
couldn't see why Mrs. De Lancy should
be SO anxious to know. Not until to-
ward noon was any reliable particular
concerning Captain Barclay passed
along the line. Then the domestic bull
letin dealt out the fact that the million
aire mine owner wore a flannel shirt
and a silver watch, which information
was distinctly disheartening.
But that evening, while the colonel
and other officers began calling at
Brooks to welcome formally the unex.
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