The Delta independent., 1898-05-20
CHAPIl.i: IL

Major Barry Of the -th cavalry was
IN without . command. and no was
sant to the headquarters Of the rsgi-
nens At Russell. The Junior major.
6tannard, was already there. but eight
troops had been crowded within the
ricksty fenced inclosure. aud that gave
eoch major four troops-what was then
called Q battalion. Stannard swore .
little afse1 his explosive fashion He
had boen second in command ever since
their return from the Sioux campaign
a 1879. and hs hated to see an officer
cone in between him aud the top. Not
ahas he dialiked Barry. They were on
WY good terms. though not exactly in
tinats. But Barry coming neoessitatsd
Q general shaking mp as to quarters. fer
he bad to turn ont . senior captain in
ocdoe 10 get the house TO which his rank
sstitlsd him. and there were several
moss midwintsr movings ss . conse-
quenoe I'm sorry" be said. "hearti-
~ sorry. but you Ill know Mra Barry
h an invalid. and I have TO find COM
Portable quarters for her."
Nn Barry wAs indeed an invalid.
She lay for hours every day on q couch
especially prepared for her. rarely even
drove in tho open air and WAS in bed
every night BY o'clock. Her main en-
sertainment coudsted in being read 70.
and this duty was divided between her
devoeed husband and her companion.
Nia Nathalie Baird. Mrs Barry was
ssssatially . gentlewoman. courteous
and oonsiderate By nature, and refined
with that almost ultra refinement that
- ths product Of long protrncted phys
ical suffering. The few relatives left to
Min Baird considered her . very fortu-
nass girl when she was offered the posi-
tion of companion to Mrs. Barry, even
though the salary was not large. and in
dssd her lot. for An orphan girl prac.
siaally homeless. was anything but .
hasd one.
shs had been teaching in The village
ephool and leading . life Of almost
shanklso dTudeery. Her hsalth was
sa4sine She had not sven nourishing
1soA, bsaeding axound. FIRST in one fam.
N, ~ u another. in that narrow
New Eheland circle, and she hailed
With dsliohs Tie change that took her
- ~ hguAd, free frontier, 70 . LITTLE
aDy home wheso there were sympa0y.
kiDdlinea and comfort. Fer duties
Woe ligh& 6he Hsad alood from books
q NEa Hany's sslsstioa each morning
fsoo 10 - ~ ~ was Uivsa moss Of
~ afbssnooa for sxeeci0 and reores-
sion. Jfou . 70 tho major himself sat
h ~ sids a The esnels invalid, and in
shs evsaiAG. - . rule. both were with
R~~~.S~ - ~chc1~vlv
and ~ morning readings were liberal
easoakioa 70 the village girl WHOSE pre-
vioQs lie bad bsca 70 cramped and re-
sesicesd. She proved most faithful-in-
dssd most grateful She grew and
thrived and bloasomed in the society Of
hsf protectors and friendA She grew to
love ArA Barry - shs had loved mono
Il Asr own kith and kin since the death
Of hef mother. I've years gone BY. Her
father sbs oould fsmember only vaguely.
6hs was barely years old when his
colnned remains, draped in the dag he
bod died TO defend, were brought back
from Virginia and laid away in the lit
tle churchyaEd She was . gentle. pure
hearted maid, only 10 this stormy
spring ce 1873. She had been somewhat
angula1 and bony and followed eyed
end allow checked when first she came
70 ths Barrys, bus healthful food and
e1seciss and the beacins mountain air
end sound sleep and sweet companion
ship and frsedom from care and worry
cse and all had done their work. and
Nm. Barry woke up one nne day to the
realization that they had . genuine
~ r.-l>uA k,>>usw ,,x,A<x ek.olv vr,nR-
. winsoms girl. who's features and COL
oring wers - dainty and fair - those
a the Puritan maid Priscilla. Tho thin
neck and booy shoulders and arms had
given plsce TO arm, rounded, dimpled
member, beneath skin 20 white ~ to
b almost daszling. The hollow eyes
wsss eons, for . tsnder light burned In
their blue depths, delicate flush played
0v9 The soft, rounded cheek2 and .
mile Of sweet content lowered about
the corners Of hef rosy mouth, that, .
year gone BY, quivefed, pale and ptteoua
"HoW that girl bas improved since
yua heought hse ost, dear!" said the
major ooe sapsAiny afternoon ~ Ne-,
thalis slaFssd lse her brisk walk over
tse psaizia
"Thsa yoa'vs noticed it," answered
ths invalid. pssting bis big. brown
hand ut has besu veey sweet TO me to
watch H. shes good. true hearted
girl. Arthur"
"Oh, I'm not the only oos 20 notice
Il, Msryi Several people hsvs spoken of
It to me. asd - for yosns Maynard.
I'm afraid It's getting ss9ious."
my respoosibility 10 . vesy grave
one wheEe ahs h coocerned, aid Ara
Barry aftse . thoushtful peosa ''Of
coorss I could mot bat know thas Mr..
Maynard was greatly attracted. ele hs
woelda't have managed 70 walk with
~ a 70 call heFs 20 often. Do y0a
know asything Of his psopler'
''Nothing whaeeveF. and little of him
neunnH fhaf h acfa lika \ Renflawan a