Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-09-29

[coNTINuED.]

chum, Mrs. Raymond, hunting in
couples as of old, came to call again
at the STANDARDS, prepared to be civil to
MIR. Maynard's sister. With Maynard
confined to his bed and most of the other
young men off with Barry on winter
campaign, time was hanging heavily
on Mrs. Turner's hands, and one thing
she could not do was sit at home alone,
even, as she said, "when the captain
was there" The STANDARDS little par
Tor was bright and cheerful, but the
master of the house was over at the
colonel's just then, talking of the prob
abilities of Barry's needing help, and
growing not little that he was held
in leash when he longed to be on the
warpath. Whether the Cheyennes ha6
heard of the preparations to head them
off and were needing them no officer
could say. At all events the threatened
outbreak had not come to pass, but the
troops from Leavenworth and Riley were
rapidly closing on the reservation
while, farther to the north, squadrons
from Mcpherson and Russell had been
sent to the field.
Mrs. Stannard came in to greet her
guests, hlithe and smiling, and present.
~ Miss Maynard was heard descending
the stairs. She entered, looking as prim
and impassive as ever, yet fancying she
was receiving the visitors with all cor
diality. These latter began, of course,
at once with inquiries for the invalid,
accompanying them with every assur-
ance Of sympathetic interest, and Miss
Maynard was pleased to say that he had
had very comfortable day and had
vastly enjoyed the warm tea Mrs. Stan
nard had made for him half an hour
since To refer to it or to any edible or
potable as hot would have been Grass
violation of Miss Maynards tenets as
to what was delicate and refined in
speech. She experienced something akin
to shock on hearing an officer of the
regular army, her burly host, importune
his smiling wife to order more hot
buckwheats for village ethics in this
behalf, first applied by imported school
ma ANS to purely personal conditions
as when they gently rebuked the maid
ems running in from the game of tag at
recess and saying "I'm so hot''-had
gradually extended to provincial en-
barge against the adjective on any
terms. All the same warm" meant
shot when applied to toast and tea,
and Mrs. Turner took the word, as say
the French, and hustled briskly into
conversation.
"Ah, yes, we all know how good Mrs.
STANDARDS tea is! My cook never can
get it like hers, but just as soon as Mr..
Maynard's able to eat anything I'll be
too happy to bring him some dainties
myself. Does he like jelly?'
Every much, (" answered Miss May
nard, with somewhat astringent
smile. His appetite is coming back,
and he wants to eat everything" But
she made no mention of the jelly he
had eaten and rejoiced in only an hour
before far more than he did Mrs. Stan
nard's tea, SO it was the latter who
spoke.
Miss Baird brought him some deli
cious jelly this afternoon" she an
nounced, "and it was good to see how
he enjoyed it.
eyes, but it was Mrs. Barry, not
Miss Baird, who was the donor, y
quickly interposed Miss Maynard.
"Miss Baird was merely the bearer,
though am sure she was very kind,
and am very grateful to her,
1t was impossible that such veteran
society women as their visitors should
not note the almost intense eagerness
with which Miss Maynard seemed &c
desire to impress them with her theory
that Miss Baird was in nowise connect
ed with the preparation of the jelly for
her invalid brother. A quick glance was
exchanged, but no comment made. In.
deed. there was no time, for the major
voice and step were heard at the door as
he came noisily into the hall, ushering
the adjutant and subaltern or two
who had come to inquire for Maynard
and to pay their respects to the ladies.
They focked into the little army parlo1
with the easy confidence of comrades
sure Of welcome and dropped into seats
wherever they could find them, even
the piano stool bearing it's share, and
the chat and laughter rippled on, Miss
Maynard speedily relapsing into silence
and study of the faces about her with
deep interest, yet with the same i'm
passive, almost solemn visage; old
xStannard beaming on the party from
the doorway, where he stood in his
habitual of duty attitude, hands deep
in trousers pockets and legs straddled
apart as though long years in saddle
had rendered it impossible to lounge in
any other pose. Presently he turned and
tiptoed up the narrow stairway, saying
he'd go and have peep at Maynard.
who was reported half awake, hall
doing and pretending to read.
"Queer we don't hear word from
Barry" said one of the younger officers,
flushing bit as he caught the adju.
tant's baleful eye glowering at him fol
the omission of Barry's title at the
hands Of one SO many years his junior.
eve dropped in there" he plunged
d ahead, in nervous effort to cover the
solecism, "hoping to get some news,
but Mrs. Barry hadn't had line fol
two days."
"Did you see her, Mr.. Graham, y
1 queried Mrs. Stannard, cor did Miss