The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-30


"Hush" Interrupted Brooks. "Here h
10 nOl1." .
had dreamed Of, and Lawrence, spur
ring eagerly ahead, rode in at night II
fold his motherless little ones to hi
heart and found loving army womer
aiding their faithful old nurse in minis
tering tothem, but read disaster in tn,
fearful eyes and faltering words thai
welcomed him.
Then he was i'll q fortnight, and Their
he had to go. He could not, would not,
believe the order final. He chung to the
hope that he would find at Washington
dozen men who knew bis war record,
who could remember his gallant services
in dozen battles, his popularity and
prominence in the Army Of the Potomac
Everybody knows the favorite aid de.
camp Of corps commander when colo.
nels go begging for recognition, and ey-
erybody has q CHEEKY, cordial word for
him 50 long as he and his general live
and serve together, but that proves
nothing when the general is gone. Colo.
nels who eagerly welcomed and shook
hands with the aid -de-camp and talked
confidentially with him about other
colonies in days when he rode long
hours by his generals side later passed
him by with scant notice and "always
thought him much overrated man."
Right here at Fort Worth were fellows
who, six or seven years before, would
have given months pay to win Ned
Lawrence's influence in their behalf,
for, like Perfect Bliss of the Mexican
war days, Lawrence was believed to
write his generals dispatches and re.
ports, but who now shrank uneaslly out
Of his way for fear that he would ask
favor
Even Brooks, who liked and had
spoken for him, drew back from the
window when with slow, heavy steps
the sad faced, haggard man came slowly
along the porch The orderly sprang up
and stood at salute just as adjutant's
call sounded, and the band pealed forth
its merry, spirited music. For O mo-
ment the newcomer turned and glanced
back over the parade, now dotted with
little details all marching out to the
line where stood the sergeant major.
Then he turned, entered the building
and paused with hopeless eyes and pal.
lid, careworn features at the Office door.
way. His old single breasted captains
frook coat, with its furnished silver
leaves at the shoulders, hung loosely
about his shrunken form. The trousers,
with their narrow welt of yellow at the
seam, looked far too big for him. His
forage cap, still natty in shape, was old
and worn. His chin and cheeks bristled
with stubsly grayish beard. All the
old alert manner was gone. The once
bright eyes were bleary and dull. Neigh.
bors said that poor Ned had been drink
ing deep Of the contents of a demijohn
sympathetic soul had sent him, and
half an eye could tell that his lip was
tremulous. The colonel arose and held
out his hand.
"Come in, Lawrence, old fellow, and
tell me what I can do for you." He
spoke kindly, and Brooks, too, turned
toward the desolate man.
"You've done-all you could-both
Of you. God bless you" was the falter-
ing answer give come to say start
at once. I'm going right to Washington
to have this Strengthened out. I want
to thank You, colonel, and you, too,
Brooks for all your willing help. I'll
try to show my appreciation of it when
get back.
But Ada and little Jim, Lawrence
Surely they're not ready for that long
journey yet" said Frazier, thinking
sorrowfully Of what his wife had told
him only tho day before-that they had
no decent winter clothing to their
names.
"It's all right. Old Nanny stays
right here with them. She has taken
care Of them, you know, ever since my
poor wife died. l can keep my old quar-
tiers a month, can't II" he queried,
with quivering smile. even If the
order isn't revoked, it would be month
Or more before any one could come to
take my place. Mrs. Blythe will look
after the children day and night"
Frazier turned appealingly to Brooks,
who shook his head and refused to
speak, and SO the colonel had to.
Lawrence, God knows hate to say
ono word Of discouragement, but 1 fear
i fear you'd better wait till next
weeks stage and take those poor little
'olks with you. I've watched this
hing. l know how dozen good fell
ows, confident as yourself, have gone
IN to Washington and found it all use.
ess"
1T can't be useless, SIR" burst in
he captain impetuously. "Truth is
ruth and must prevail. If after all my
ears of service can find no friends in
he war office, then life is lie and a
ham. Senator Hall writes me that he
will leave no stone unturned No. colo. :
eel, l take the stage at noon today.
Will you let VIM ride with me as far
S Castle Peak? I've got to run down ,
nd see Fuller now" !
"Winn can go with you, certainly
ut indeed, Lawrence, shall have to :.
go you again about this. q
TN stop on the way back" said II
lawrence nervously. Fuller promised CO CO
, see me before he went out to his b
anch." And hastily the captain turned Il
way. al
For moment the two seniors stood ~ D,
lere silently gazing into each others .
res "What can one do or say?" asked
le colonel at last. II suppose Fuller
going to let him have money for the
ip. He can afford to- God knows, after
] he's made out Of this garrison. But
10 question is, ought l not to make
'or Lawrence understand that it's q e
me case? He is legally out already.
is successor is on his way here 1 got =.
Q letter this morning" ~
"On his way here? Who is he?" n
eried the major in sudden interest. X
They didn't know whenvStone came =,
rough San Antonio ten ago" ~
Man named Barclay bt got his u
ptaincy in the Thirtieth-6bnsolidated W
t of that, Of course. =,
"Barclay--Barclay, you say?" ejacn. 81
ID the major in excitement "Well, =,
all the''- III
"Of all the what?' demanded the =.