The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-12

QlI)aA}
Mrs. Blythe was doing her utmost to COM
fort accepting Ada.
erly eye to business, had lost no time
in urging upon her liege the propriety
indeed the imperative necessity-of
his riding out to meet the wounded
officer and moving him at once under
the shelter of their roof. Amanda could
and should give up her room (she was
only too glad toy, and the girls could
sleep together, then the mother and
daughters would have sole charge of
the nursing Of this most eligible young
man. What might not be accomplished
by such . matron and such dear girls
under such exceptional circumstances?
Indeed Frazier was given to understand
that he must do it, for If Barclay was
allowed to return to his own quarters
right next door to the Withstand
Mr.. VIM away-who could say what
couldn't be said-what wouldn't be
said?
Everybody knew that. Laura VIM
had been doing her best, said Mrs.
Frazier, "to reset her nets and lure her
whilom lover within the meshes, and
this would give her opportunities i'm
measurable Frazier had sleepless
night Of it. He could not combat his
wife's theories, though he would not
admit the truth Of all she asserted.
"But" said he, Everybody will see
through the scheme at o glance"
II don't care if they do. 1 don't care
what they say" said his energetic and
strategic spouse. "The end justifies the
means. Something must be done for the
girls you've buried out hero in this
wilderness. AS for Laura VIM, better
a sneer at my precautions than scan
dial for lack of them"
But Frazier demonstrated. Barclay
isn't the man to get mixed up III a
scandal" said he
"But Laura VIM wouldn't finch at
it," said she. land it's the way the
woman acts-not the man-that sets
people talking" wherein was Mrs.
Frazier schooled beyond the sphere in
which she moved. At her bidding, Fra
zier sent for young Brayton, who had
marched back with the detachment not
sent in chase, told him Of Mrs Frazier's
benevolent plans for his captains COM
fort, and suggested that such Of Bar
clay's things as he might need be sent
over beforehand. $50 as to have every.
thing ready, you know"
The youngster looked embarrassed.
said he would attend to it, but immedi.
ately sought Major Brooks, who was
doing q good deal Of resting at the time.
"What am to say to Colonel Frazier,
sir?" he asked. 1.-THE colonel tells me
Mrs. Frazier has room all ready for
Captain Barclay and wishes me to send
over lot of things, and have mes
sage from the captain saying he will
probably arrive day after tomorrow and
to have his room ready, and, be adds.
in case any one plans to put him else.
WucIG, W utClluO al Lib
ooh, wise young judgel growled
Brooks to himself Every day was add
ing to his respect for Galahad.
~ can't decline the commanding off,
GERS invitation, can !, sir?" asked Bray
ton in conclusion.
mo, you can't with safety" said
the major, "but I'll speak to Collabone
No." he added abruptly as he reflected
that Mrs. Frazier might eventually
hear of it, Collabone being a man who
knew no guile and told everybody any
thing no knew "No. You tell Cola
bone what the captain wishes and let
him fix it." And so between the three
it was arranged, through tho couriers
at that time going back and forth every
day, that Barclay should be notified On
the honor in store for him, and notified
he was, and gravely passed the letter
over to Asculapius Junior.
"Help me out Of this, doctor, in some
way" he said. II wish to be nobodys
guest" And so, when old Frazier did
actually mount q horse, and, with
Amanda in stylish habit beaming at
his side, did actually ride forth-the
first time he'd been in saddle in year
and meet Barclays ambulance full a
thousand yards out from tho post and
babe him thrice welcome to the room
they had prepared for him, Barclay
beamed back his thanks and apprecia-
lions and babe the colonel believe he
would never forget his kindness and
Mrs. Frazier's, but that he had every
possible comfort awaiting him at his
own quarters and could never consent
to incommoding Mrs. Frazier or the
young ladies. Indeed the doctor had
made other and very different plans for
him, as indeed the doctor had, and Fra.
zier rode back vaguely relieved, yet
crestfallen. He knew Barclay and the
doctor were right. He knew he himself
shrank from such throwing of his
daughters at fellows head, and then
he quailed at the thought of Mrs Fra
zier's upbraidings, for she, honest wom-
an, felt it a mothers duty to provide
for her precious lambs, the more SO be-
cause their father was so cuipably in.
different, If not shamefully negligent.
A baked and angered woman was
Mrs. Frazier at the captains politely
yelled refusal to come and be nursed
and captured under her roof. Tartaric
acid tinged the smiles Of her innocent
children the next few days, and if ever
there was a time when it behooyed
Laura VIM to be on her guard and be.
have with the utmost reserve as regard.
ed her next door neighbor it was here
and now. She could have read the
danger signal in the Fraziers' greeting
at parade that very evening, as, most
becomingly attired, she strolled languid-
ly down tho line at tho side Of Escu.
lapius Junior. who inter seeing his
patient comfortably slowed in bed,
came forth to find her on the piazza,
full Of sympathetic interest and eager
to know what she could do or make or
have made in the way of appetizing
dainties for tho sufferer. Nor did she
let him free until he found refuge in