The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-08
CHAPTER II,

Wn6n tn0 lrGle TWO company post OF
Fort Fred Winthrop was broken up,
Major Barry Of the -th cavalry was
left without command, and SO was
sent to the headquarters of the regi-
ment at Russell. The Junior major,
rStannard, was already there, but eight
troops had been crowded within the
rickety fenced Enclosure, and that gave
each major four troops-what was then
called a battalion. stannard swore
little after his explosive fashion. He
had been second in command ever since
their return from the Sioux campaign
Of 1876, and he hated to see an officer
come in between him and the top. Not
that he disliked Barry. They were on
very good terms, though not exactly in
innate. But Barry coming neeessitated
general shaking up a. to quarters, for
he had to turn out a senior captain in
order to get the house to which his rank
entitled him; and there were several
more midwinter movings as a conse-
quence. "I'm sorry" he said, "hearti-
ly sorry, but you all know Mrs. Barry
is an invalid, and I have to find COM
Portable quarters for her,
Mrs Barry was indeed On invalid,
She lay for hours every day on couch
especially prepared for her, rarely even
drove in the open air and was in bed
every night by 8 O'Clock. Her main en-
tertainment consisted In being read to,
and this duty was divided between her
devoted husband and her companion,
Miss Nathalie Baird. Mrs. Barry was
essentially gentlewoman, courteous
and considerate by nature, and refined
with that almost ultra refinement that
is the product Of long prorracted phys.
ioal suffering. The few relatives left to
Miss Baird considered her very fortu-
nate girl when she was offered the posi-
ton Of companion to Mrs Barry, even
though the salary was not large, and in.
deed her lot, for an orphan girl prao.
tically homeless. was anything but
hard one.
She had been teaching in the village
school and leading life of almost |
thankless drudgery. Her health was
suffering. She had not even nourishina
food, boarding around, first in one fam.
lily, then In another, In that narrow
New England circle, and she hailed |
with delight the change that took her
to the broad, free frontier, to q little
army home where there were sympathy,
kindliness and comfort. Her duties
were light. She read aloud from books
Of Mrs. Barry 8 selection each morning
from 10 to IL, but was given most OF
he afternoon for exercise and recrea.
ion. From to 4 the major ,'mself sat
~ the side Of the gentle ipva..d, and in
he evening, as rule, both were with
ler. Mrs. Barry's tastes were scholarly,
md the morning readings were liberal
education to the village girl whose pre-.
'ious life had been so cramped and re.
tricted. She proved most faithful-in-
Iced most grateful. She grew and
hrived and blossomed in the society of
Ter protectors and friends. She grew to
owe Mrs. Barry as she had loved none
+ her own kith and kin since the death
I her mother, five years gone by. Her
ather she could remember only vaguely.
he was barely 4 years old when his
offined remains, draped in the flag he
ad died to defend, were brought back
'om Virginia and laid away in the lit.
70 churchyard. She was gentle, pure
earted maid, only 10 this stormy
7ring Of 1878. She had been somewhat
ngular and bony and followed eyed
I'D sallow checked when first she came
the Barrys, but healthful food and
seroise and the braoing mountain air
Id sound sleep and sweet companion
Zip and freedom from care and worry
,e and all had done their work, and I
re-. Barry woke up one fine day to the
that they had a genuine
CIV England beauty under their roof q
winsome girl, whose features and coll !