The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-07
CHAPTER TX.

From the night or her brilliant ap-
pearance at the garrison ball, not once
had Mrs. Vim an opportunity to ex-
change dozen words with Captain
Barclay. Her husband, as has been said,
had failed to call on his new next door
neighbor, although VIM had been well
enough to be about for several days, and
until he did call it was impossible for
! Barclay to enter their doors, and expe-
dent that he should avoid Mrs. Vim
wherever it was possible to do so. This
might not have been difficult, even
though the same roof covered both
holds-that Of the Wins on the
south and that of the Barclay .Brayton
combination on the north side-but for
Laura VIM herself, who seemed to be
out on the porch every afternoon as the
captain came walking back from sta
bles, and the women who were apt to
gather at Mrs. Blythe's at that time de-
clared that there was something actually
inviting, if not imploring, in the way
Mrs. VIM would watch for him, and
bow and seem to hover where he could
hardly avoid speaking to her. Three
times at least since that memorable
party had she been there ION watch, as
Mrs. Faulkner expressed it, and though
his bow was courtesy itself, and his
"Good evening, Mrs. Winn," most re-
Spectful, and even kindly, if one could
Judge by the tone of his voice, not an
other word did he speak. He passed on
to his own gateway, Brayton generally
at his side, and his stable dress was
changed for parade uniform or dinner
before he again made his appearance.
After the manner Of the day, most Of
the cavalry contingent stopped in at the
clubroom on the way back from evening
stables. Brayton used to do so, but,
though no one could say his captain had
preached to him on the subject, some
influence either Of word or of example
had taken effect, and the young bachelor
seemed entirely content to cut the club
md the social tipple and to trudge
along by kiJ new companions side.
They had been getting mighty thick"
for captain and second lieutenant, said
some Of the others, but, serenely indif-
ferent to what others said, the two kept
on their way.
Thought you were goin to wear
mournin for Lawrence the rest Of your
natural life, Brayton, and here you are
fyin to Barclay as il Lawrence had
never lived" said Mr.. Bralligan only
day or two before Lawrence's return,
and Brayton started almost as though
stung. What Bralligan said was not
half as i'll grounded as most of his state
ments, and Brayton was conscious Of
something akin to guilt and self re.
proach. In common with most Of the
regiment, he had felt very sore over
Lawrence's going. He had been much
attached to that gallant and soldierly
captain, but now that another had taken
his place and he could compare or con-
trast the two the youngster began to
realize with something like pang Of
Distress as though it were disloyal to
think so, that in many ways Barclay
was "head and shoulders" the superior
man. Lawrence never rose till 8 O'Clock
except when in the field. Lawrence
rarely read anything but the papers and
interminable controversies over the war.
Lawrence, despite the claims Of Ada and
little Jimmy, often spent an evening at
the club and always stopped there on
his way from stables. Lawrence never
studied and off the drill ground never
taught. Indeed almoss all the drills the
troop had known for months and months
Brayton himself had conducted. No
wonder the boy had wasted hours Of
valuable time No wonder there was
little game going on among the young.
sters in Braytons "back parlor" many
q day. He had simply been started all
wrong.