The Delta independent., 1898-06-10
MZsHNEZEN ~ED.~
N06kk NN22s
<sexc.sAkH4sJ - |n~o.1s. At'a%

because Of the implicit trust placed in
her silence and discretion and the un-
bounded respect felt for her opinion.
She bad been arbitrator in many fam.
lily difference in the old days. but Of
late years had declined to serve-the
climate Of Arizona, where the -th had
spent four years before returning to the
plains. having proved far too arid and
peppery, and therefore 20 temper trying
that even her mediation had teen occa-
sionally rejected. But envy her as they
might and deplore the partiality and
bad Judgment Of the young officers a.
they might, the other matrons Of the
regiment could not help loving and ad.
miring Mrs. Stannard, and all this Miss
Baird had heard in one form or another
time and again.
Was it fancy. then! thought Mrs-
Stannard, a. she sat by the invalid's
bedside. Was she mistaken in thinking
that every little while, ~ Nathalie fiit.
ted about the room, she caught the
girls eyes seeking hers with such ? look
Of distress and appeal In their blue
depths tbat it nlledl her with longing to
take the motherlsss child 70 hsr heast
and bid her pour out the torrent OF her
sorrows and and at least sympthy and
comfort II not immediate ssliefl
And yet Nsthalie ned whea Mrs
Stannard's swimming eyes betrayed the
depths ok her interest ~ abe ross to 60.
1--WE ahsll both b widowed for the
time being. =" abe said, ~ she bent over
Mrs. Barry's pillow, "and ! hope you
will let me come In every day and read
to You. fear Miss Baird isn't quite a.
strong a. We could wish. She looks very
fragile tonight"
For answer Mra Barry first placed
her finger on her lips, then BY un in
quiring glance seemed to say. els she
sonei' and then aloud, would you
mind cloAing the door?'
Softly Hrs. StannaYd stepped thither.
glanced into the adjoining room and
saw that It was empty, shut the door
and came back 10 the bedside. Mra
Barry took ber visitcr's hand. MR.
Stannaxd," said she, ''like everybody
else In the regiment, I come 70 you
when troubled, and I'm sorely troabled
about Nathalie. You know. do yoa not,
how oaDe 70 And bert MOI Wells ]
ha~ea't told u - . rsle. Her father I'D
served On the ame division STAG with
Major Barry during the war. and .
sErong friendship grew mp bstwcen
sAsn. When Captain Baip2 was killed.
his bruthsr-in- came all the way 70
Virginia after his body, and Major Bar.
y was allowed to 60 with 1t ~ far -
Washington, snd there he met this SEN
tleman, Nathalie's uncle by marriage.
He impressed Major Barry - being
sturdy, warm hearted fellow who would
do all be could for the widow and
orphan, especially for this little girl
who was named, ~ Nathalie hes only
recently told me. for his own wife I
wondered how she caine BY that name.
but it seems that this was NfA Baird's
younger and favorito sister. Already.
however, this gentleman hsd four chill
dren Of his own and could not we'll pro-
vide for moro. A desultory correspond.
enoi was kept up fos swhile, and thsn
it dropped OF, but in 1875 this Mr..
williams wrote that his niece was peae-
tically destitute. that his own businesg
was completely ruined, and he begged
us TO do something for her. nying that
she was . good, pure minded, lovely gil
and intimating that he would have bssa
only too thankful had heaven blesssd
him with such children.
$50 the major went there wbsn east
a leave, and she has been with us for
. year BOW. and she IL lovely and was
oonteot and happy until just . few days
ago. watched her narrowly 1t The
dime Of Mr.. Naypard's mishap, half 81.
pecting her 10 be greatly shocked and
distressed Shocked she was and meas
ur.bly distressed, but not 70 the extent
bad expected. This change in her hes
not come through him. 6he has suddsa-
ly met some serious mental strain, and
IL 10 the moro trying because slss cannot
tell OF will not tell what it IL. She begs
me not 70 ask any moro, but sometimes''
and here Mrs. Barry looked appeal
iugly up into the gentle fsos q beg
friend -"sometimos feel sure abe
would confide in you, and you could
help her. Will you?" ....
"Indeed will IL she will Let me, I"
was the warm hearted reply. Nov !
must get back to Major Staanard Or
he'll be seeking for ms and 0ytpg
dreadful things in Apache. Tomorrow
morning Ill come 20 you again"
An hour Later Nathalie Baird, knesl-
ing by the bedside Of her friend and
protector. gased long and earnestly tsto
the placid fscs, bent hsr ear 10 lisesa
to the gentle, measured brsa3biag -
though 20 assure herself that the s1s>a
was sound; then slowly, cautiously.
noiselesely ross 70 ber fest, sHtingutabsd
the lamp and set The night light o. the
6oor, slippsd into the dimIy lighted
front room and thence TO the halI.
There, taking . hooded cloak frum .
~. she % noiselsssly opsoed ths fruos
door. pcesed up apd down ths row.
noted IL fitting lights - tie bassscks
end the sound a bssy prepasas30.
hastily withdrew Q 0oOsot - - -.