Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-01

ueu! Gail SLOW you JuSG now Cney are
marching in. The doctor and I figured
it out on his map this morning before
before we heard Of this And again he
glanced at Nathalie's bowed head.
tits hanging there on the east wall,
between the windows - said Mrs.
Barry, and rising and stepping quickly
across the hall Maynard entered the
narrow apartment in the clean to-
which Barry used as his study, office,
library and general loafing place. 1t
opened into Mrs. Barry's bedroom, as
did also the little hall. A pair of heavy
Navajo blankets hung in the connect
ing doorway, the floor was covered with
thick carpet, underneath which were
several thicknesses Of neyvspaper-the
universal expedient of the old frontier
days for keeping out the Wyoming
gales. The windows still Wore their
winter battens Of cotton, and the mar
row den was as snug and secure from
drafts as any house at Russell could
be made, and yet something had occur
red to disturb those Navajo curtains
within five seconds, for one of them
Neo SW AAi5AASo DtlIh al tlOuSu III udu
just been blown in by puff of wind.
Maynard looked at it in some surprise,
but the heavy folds quickly settled to
rest. He did not consider it his prov
lnce to search for the cause in Mrs.
Barry room. The rear window might
be open, or the kitchen door which stood
beyond the arched entrance to the din
ing room. Lifting the map from its
hook, he turned to retrace his steps, and
right at the foot Of the stairs met Nath-
allie. With bowed head and averted
eyes she brushed by him and hastened
up to her room.
"She was SO agitated and distressed,
Mr.. Maynard, explained his hostess,
as the young fellow returned to the par
lor. ''that mad to let her 20 to battle
her face. She'll be down again betoyo
F, long,
But this proved delusive. Mrs Stan
nard remained few moments to look
over the map while Maynard pointed
out where the battalion had been en-
gagged with the Cheyennes, the line of
flight of the latter to the northern
agencies and the probable homeward
course of the regiment, and then she
took her departure.
Mary, the maid, presently came in
with tea and was told to take it up to
Miss Baird, which she did, and on her
return was asked if Bridget was up
stairs as had been reported, and Mary,
with puzzled face, said, "No; neither
was she in her own room back of the
kitchen" But minute later, after the
maid had retired, Bridget's voice was
heard in the kitchen, and speedily she
herself approached the parlor door, but
stood respectfully and modestly back in
the dining room and inquired with
great Difference Of manner was Mrs.
Barry needing anything?
"Not now, Bridget, was the an
swer. II needed you few moments
ago to make some tea for Miss Baird :"
"I'm SO sorry, mum, !" said the invis-
ible domestic. Il had just stepped over
to Mrs. Gregg's moment after coming
in to see if anything was wanted Ism t
there something can do now, ma 'am?"
Nothing, thank you, Bridget, unless
you'll step up to Miss Baird and see if
you cannot suggest something to coax
her appetite. " Whereupon Bridget's
footsteps We're heard passing through
the bedroom into the hall and SO on up
the stairs, the goddess of the kitchen
thereby coyly defeating the possibility
of being seen in the garb of her servi-
tude as we'll as avoiding the parlor as a
thoroughfare-not SO easy matter to
teach to frontier "help,"
GA most excellent. faithful crea-
ture, said Mrs. Barry to her visitor,
"and SO good tempered! She's worth
six of her predecessors.
81 hope she will prevail on Miss
Baird to eat something said Maynard
anxiously. "She seems to have been SO
i'll for days and weeks
Poor child, yes" was the answer,
"and she has had enough to drive girl
distracted! OF course, Mr. Maynard,
you must have heard something Of her
singular adventures of late''
~ have both seen and heard some-
thing, Mrs. Barry, was the prompt
reply, "and I'll stake my all it's-it's
to her credit, not to her discredit, if
anything. Surely that man must be
some kin of her people. 1t cannot be
anything else"
He was glad Of chance to champion
her cause, glad to show Mrs. Barry the
depth of his faith and trust in her, and
yet there was that in his tone which
told her he had been harshly tried and
that he longed for the support of her
opinion.
"That is my conviction, too, Mr..
Maynard she said, "but the poor girl
will not even admit that. There is some
tie or obligation, but what cannot I'M
agine. 1t is all powerful She seems to
have pledged her word to silence about
him. I'm praying for the majors re-
turn, for then shall have some one 20
advise u.s. both. Oh, what did Hiss
Baird say, Bridget"
And from the hall came the reply CT
the still invisible mcsserocr "M;.s
Baird thinks she would H.. Aer not V
to eat anything just now. s9ho is lTiag
down, ma'am, but by and by she will,
| feel sure. Ill just broil her some
chicken, ma 'am''
And then abruptly Bridget broke OF,