The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-21
CHAPTER Ix

From the night of her brilliant ap
pearance at the garrison ball, not once
had Mrs. Winn an opportunity to ex-
change dozen words with Captain
Barclay. Her husband, as has been said
had failed to call ON his new next door
neil Dor, although Winn had been we'll
enough to be about for several days, and
until he did call it was impossible for
Barclay to enter their doors, and expe-
dent that he should avoid Mrs. Winn
wherever it was possible to do so. This
might not have been difficult even
though the Same roof covered both
households-tha of the Wins on the
south and that of the Barclay -Brayton
combination ON the north side-but for
Laura Winn herself, who seemed to be
out on the porch every afternoon as the
captain came walking back from sta
bles, and the women who were apt to
gather at Mrs. Blythe's at that time de-
clared that there was something actually
inviting, if not imploring, in the way
Mrs. Winn would watch for him, and
bow aud seem to hover where he could
hardly avoid speaking to her Three
times at least since that memorable
party had she been there ''on watch, - as
Mrs. Faulkner expressed it, and though
his bow was courtesy itself, and his
Good evening, Mrs. Winn," most re-
spectful, and even kindly, if one could
judge by the tone Of his voice, not an
other word did he speak He passed on
to his own gateway, Brayton generally
at his side, and his stable dress was
changed for parade uniform or dinner
before he again made his appearance.
After the manner Of the day, most of
the cavalry contingent stopped in at the
clubroom on the way back from evening
stables. Brayton used to do so, but,
though no one could say his captain had
preached to him on the subject, some
influence either of word or of example
had taken effect and the young bachelor
seemed entirely content to cut the club
and the social tipple and to trudge
along by his new companions side.
They had been getting mighty thick"
for captain and second lieutenant, said
some Of the-others, but, serenely indif-
ferent to what others said, tho two kept
on their way.
Thought you were goin to wear
mournin for Lawrence the rest of your
natural life, Brayton, and here you are
tyin to Barclay as if Lawrence had
never lived, said Mr.. Bralligan only q
day or two before Lawrence S return,
and Brayton started almost as though
stung. What Brailigan said was not
half as i'll grounded as most of his state.
ments, and Brayton was conscious OF
something akin to guilt and self re-
proach. In common with most of the
regiment, he had felt very sore owe,
Lawrsnce's going. He had been much
attached to that gallant and soldierly
captain, but now that another had talzer
his place and he could compare or COZ
trast the two the youngster began tt
realize with something like pang o.
Distress as though it were disloyal tt
think SO, that. in many ways Barclay
was s'head and shoulders" the superior
man. Lawrence never rose till o'clocl
except when in the field. Lawrence
rarely read anything but the papers ant
interminable controversies over the war
Lawrence, despite the claims of Ada ant
little Jimmy, often spent an evening Il
the club and always stopped there Oh
his way from stables. Lawrence neve
studied and off the drill ground neve
taught. Indeed almost all the drills tn
troop had known for months and month
Brayton himself had conducted. N
wonder the boy had wasted hours O
valuable time. No wonder there was
little game going on among the young
sters in Brayton' S back parlor' man.