The Advocate and news., 1898-11-16

Ot1cer years to square che account. He
most delioately inquired as to the gen.
eral health and well being Of Mrs.
Winn, whom he had had the pleasure,
he said, Of meeting several years before,
but more particularly he had asked
about Lawrence and Lawrence's chill.
dren and who was in charge Of them. It
was evident that he was deeply concern
ed about them and most anxious to meet
Captain and Mrs Blythe.
well, that's one thing at least in
his favor, was the verdict, for through
out Brooks battalion, as it was then
called, or squadron, as we should call
1t today, there existed an indefnable
feeling Of antagonism toward this
stranger within their gates thus coming
to usurp the place Ned Lawrence held
in their hearts and homes, if no longer
on their rolls. Some one slipped out
and brought in Mrs. Blythe, for whose
benefit Mrs Brooks not unWillingly
went over all she had told about UaD-
tain Barclays queries as to the children
and their benefactors, and that sweet,
tender hearted, motherly woman ought
to have softened to him, but didn't.
"He could have heard it all at San An
tonic for the asking" she declared,
"but he didn't stop two days at San
Antonio" explained Mrs. Brooks.
"The moment he heard that Colonel
Riggs was going on by special ambu-
lance he begged to be allowed to go with
him, and Riggs couldn't see way to
say NO and later confessed he was very
glad he had said Yes "
Brooks, you were all growing at
the idea Of having any outsider, much
less a doughboy, take Lawrence's
place." were the bluff old veterans ex-
act words, "but you mark what l say.
l was rather prejudiced against this
young fellow myself, and it has just
taken this jolt together from San An
tonic to satisfy me he is grit to the
backbone and you are in big luck to get
him."
At least q dozen men called at the
majors that evening to pay their re-
spects to the new comrade. 1t was long
after taps when the last one left, but
almost to a man they gathered at the
clubroom later to compare notes. Hodge,
of course, had called among the first,
his claim Of intimate or at least old aO-
quaintance rendering it necessary. Bar
clay's brown eyes certainly lighted at
the sight Of the face he had known in
the far northwest He chatted for mo-
ment with the infantryman and ex-
pressed his pleasure at meeting him
again. Then Blythe entered, with his
grave, massive face and courteous yet
reserved manner, and Brooks spoke Of
the fact that Barclay seemed to shake
hands more earnestly with him than
with any Of the others, and to look at
him oftener, though striving to slight
no one. They sat there, as men will at
such times somewhat awkwardly, only
one speaking at once, and generally the
same one. Hodge, for instance, had
much to say and many questions to ask
about fellows he had known in WyO-
ming, and when he left and others came
in, three or four went at the same time,
having sat stolid listeners, calmly study
ing Barclay with their eyes and finally
saying good night and "hope to see
you when you get settled, " ETC.
They were talking of him at the
store and wondering when and where
he would settle and whether he would
take Lawrence's quarters and what
would then become of Ada and little
Jim, who with Old Nanny still cccu-
pied their rooms there and had all the
furniture as poor daddy left it, but who
went over to the Blythes' three times
day to take their rations with their
army chums and playmates the little
Blythes "What godsend it would be
if he would buy poor Ned's books and
furniturep' said De Lancy. 1T would