The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-29
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His one auditor had coucred his gravt
face aUitll his hands.
ter behind the flag draped coffin when
they neared the grave. Convulsively she
chung to Ronald, sobbing and unnerved,
as the comrades of the Grand Army
fired their yolleys over the veteran s
bier. Plaintively she lowered about him
during the days he remained there, set.
thing the affairs Of his fathers humble
estate, and then he told her that per-
sonal business would compel him to
leave for awhile, but she would have
her aunt and Gertrude By the way,
where was Gertrude? She had not been
to the house; he had not seen her since
the day Of tho funeral, and then only
for minute. Grace merely didn't
know. "She came much less frequent
ly CT late" and Ronald vaguely felt
that it was better SO, yet wondered at
the cause.
And now at last the sister asked no
question, interposed no objection to his
going. Well she knew that the deep
SORROW in his brave young face was
there before their fathers death, and
that much Of it was her doing. Well
she knew that she had that to answer
for which be never yet suspected.
Well she knew that should he learn
that in her overweening sense of her
duty in the case she had blackened the
good name of Nathalie Baird in her rev.
citation to Captain Walters her broth.
er's love would go as had the old faith
and trust. He was master now. What
would he say when tho whole truth
came to light?
Two days later Maynard was at the
store of Mr. Williams in charming
littlo New England village and had sent
in to the Office, with his card, a letter
of introduction from Major Barry. The
face that greeted him was that of Il man
bowed with care and sorrow, but il
lighted with frank kindliness as il
glanced up from the letter, and with
cordial hand clasp Williams babe him
welcome.
An hour later, tho days work done,
the bowed form Of the broken country
merchant and the erect, athletic figure
of the young officer strolled away to.
gether i'll the twilight to a grove "where
Nathalie used to walk" and here May
nard told his story. Before it was halt
finished his one auditor had covered bis
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. "Ono night,
however, after she had been there about
q month I saw prowler under he1
window-a tall, heavily built stranger
in civilian dress. He threw pebbles at
the window and hoarsely called to her,
'Nathaliep She was frightened and
fled. She had been leaning out of the
window when he first appeared. I chal-
lenged and grabbed him, and be knocked
me flat as though were boy. Only
day or two later man strongly resem-
bling this was at the head of gang Of
street loafers that took the horses of
patrol of which l was in command and I
dashed out on the street. We halted ,
them, and I hurled the ringleader, who
had evidently been drinking, out of his ,
saddle. He was stunned and carried
into DOCTORS office. No one knew him {
except as Boston, and all agreed that he I
had been there in Cheyenne but u short q
time and had gambled away what mon. $
ey he had. He was still senseless and r
as the doctor opened his shirt q silk bag ,
was lying on his breast, swung around {
his neck by silken string. On it in I
were worked two letters, us ,
could plainly see--an Fl and W. (
"A few days later this same man way +
aid Miss Baird away out on the prairie. r
she came home looking badly unnerv. g
ID, yet that very night late stole out of t
he house and met him and probably
ave him money. Again they met, Q
hough she would 10 longer venture out I
IN the prairie. He dared to come into h
he post after the garrison had taken the e
Ield. Again he demanded money and s.
ot it-all she had left. Mrs. Barry d
old me that Miss Baird had SO confess O
d to her. All this had been seen by Ia W
les, officers and soldiers, and people b
eclared this rough looking man to be tt
er lover, and her good name suffered.
l1ortly afterward, early one morning, CT
Il Irish saloon employee came out to a
ne post, shouting aloud that he had a II
sitter for the Young lady at Major M
arry's, and she came down to him, and o.
little later walked three miles to town W
here the writer Of the letter was ly- Vi
lg, wounded in some fight the night HI
efore, and no again demanded money SC
her, and she sent away out to the te
ost for a25, and then they let her go. ia
Ter health had suffered seriously, as m
ad her good name. The Barrys begged 81
ar to reveal the name and whereabouts IL
this stranger that they might put All "
I'd to his Matchmaking, but she i'm 81
ored them to do nothing. ask for moth. OF
g. She lad given her word not to be,
ay him. But, Mr.. Williams, she i'm.