Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-29

in to the office, with his card, letter
of introduction from Major Barry. The
face that greeted him was that of man
bowed with care and sorrow, but it
lighted with frank kindness as it
glanced up from the letter, and with a
cordial hand clasp Williams babe him
welcome.
An hour later, the days work done,
tho bowed form of the broken country
merchant and the erect, athletic figure
of the young officer strolled away to-
gether in the twilight to a grove "where
Nathalie used to walk, " and here May
nard told his story. Before it was half
finished his one auditor had covered his
grave face with his hands and, bowed
almost double, was shedding silent tears.
When first Nathalie came to Rus.
sell, she was the picture of health and
happiness, said Maynard cone night.
however, after she had been there about
a month l saw a prowler under her
window-a tall, heavily built stranger
i'll civilian dress. He threw pebbles at
the window and hoarsely called to her
'Nathalie' She was frightened and
fled. She had been leaning out of the
window when he first appeared 1 chal-
lenged and grabbed him. and he knocked
me fiat as though | We're a boy. Only a
day or two later man strongly resem-
bling this was at the head of u gang of
street loafers that took the horses of q
patrol of which was i'll command and
dashed out on the street. We halted
them, and hurled the ringleader, who
had evidently been drinking, ont of his
saddle. He was stunned and carried
into doctors Office. No one knew him
except as Boston, and all agreed that he
had been there i'll Cheyenne but short
time and had gambled away what mon
ey he had. He was still senseless, and
as the doctor opened his shirt a silk bag
was lying on his breast, swung around
his neck by silken string. On it in
monogram were worked two letters, as
l could plainly see-an H and w.
"a few days later this same man way
laid Miss Baird away out OH the prairie.
She came home looking badly unnerv-
ed, yet that very night late stole out of
the house and met him and probably
gave him money. Again they met,
though she would no longer venture out
on the prairie. He dared to come into
the post after the garrison had taken the
field. Again he demanded money and
got it-all she had left. Mrs. Barry
told me that Miss Bairf had so confess
ed to her. All this hssoeen seen by la
dies, officers and sol,1.ers, and people
declared this rough looking man to be
her lover, and her good name suffered.
Shortly afterward, early one morning,
an Irish saloon employee came out to
the post, shouting aloud that he had a
letter for the young lady at Major
Barry S, and she came down to him, and
little later walked three miles to town
where the writer of the letter was ~
ing, wounded in some fight the night
before, and he again demanded money
OF her, and she sent away out to the
post for $25, and then they let her go.
Her health had suffered seriously, as
had her good name. The Barrys begged
her to reveal the name and whereabouts
OF this stranger that they might put an
end to his matchmaking, but she i'm
plored them to do nothing, ask for moth
ing. She had given her word not to be-
tray him. But, Mr.. Williams, she i'm
plored Mrs. Barry to send her home
here because this was the one place that
fellow dare not follow her. There can
be but one explanation. He has commit
ted here or hereabouts some crime. He
is fugitive from justice and that
brave, devoted girl, for old times sake
and the love she bears those who were
good to her in bygone days, is shielding
him to this day to the detriment of her
own peace, happiness and reputation.
Mr.. Williams, will you lift the burden
from her life and tell me who this man
is OF wasp
God forgive him! God pity him."
was the heartbroken answer. "It is my
poor wife's Notwithstanding own
cousin-my handsome, reckless boy,
Harry" and the poor father buried his
face i'll his arms as though, in his pain
and misery, he longed to hide it from
the world. 1t was some time before he
could speak with sufficient self control,
and then he told his story.
Hal used to VOW when he was a big,
stalwart young fellow and she a shy
little schoolgirl in sunbonnet and short
dresses that Nathalie and he We're to be
married some day. He was always fond
OF her, but he was wild as hawk and
invariably i'll some kind Of trouble. He
went to Boston to work, and-I can't
tell you the whole story-drink, gam
bling, appeals to me for money-more
drink, more gambling, more appeals for
money, more trouble through pool buy
ing, and God knows what all. Then one
night he came back here unexpectedly,
hunted and fearsome. He had some
talk with Nathalie, for she came in cry
ing. Next day he was gone. Then came
the detectives. He had forged my name
and his employers too. He was caught,
tried, sentenced to prison, and after a
year escaped. That was the last of him
until now. Long ago we used to say
Nathalie was the only one who could
ever influence him, and long ago she
promised his poor mother ever to be a
friend to him, and now even to her nv
son has been curse, and through thick
and thin she has striven to protect him.