Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-04-27
CHAPTER Xxx.

Within the fortnight that followed
came climax in the life of Loring, and
astrologers who could have heard would
have made much of such combination
of strange influences. Having told the
general that it was his desire to find
quiet place in the northwestern section
of the new city, Loring had moved back
to the hotel. Having told the rector ne
desired to obtain table board at Mira.
worthy ecclesiastio should speak to her
at first opportunity, and that she should
speedily come in search of Mr.. Loring
to inquire why he had failed to carry
out his plan and further to intimate
that on the strength of the rector'E rep.
reservations she had ordered a much
nicer set of china and laid in stock Of
provisions that just then were to be had
at lower rates, which, except that she
expected him, she could not have
thought of doing. Indeed Mrs. Burton
not only called once at his offios, but
followed it up by visit to his lodging,
where she shed tears in the presence Of
UAO HOAoOA AAoA1A WAOlA 4lC 1SuG6u LIS
rooms, and, this still proving ineffeo-
tual, she came again to department
headquarters with the manifest object
of taking the general and his staff into
her confidence, to the equally manifest
dismay of the chief and the disgust of
his adjutant general, neither of whom
could check the volume of the good la
dy's words of woe.
Loring found his soldierly commander
grinning whimsically when ne dropped
in to say good morning. The general
was that rare combination-a devout
ohurchman and a stalwart fighter. Time
and money had he devoted to the build
ing up of this little church in the will
derness, and the communion service was
his gift. More than once had he knelt
to receive the sacred elements from the
trembling hands Of the worthy rector
and listen to Mrs. Burton's ELUSIVE
"Amen!" on his left ere she parted
with the cup that was then passed to
his bearded lips At the chancel rail all
good Christians knelt in common and
meekly bowed their heads, but when
Mrs. Burton came up to headquarters
with rail of her own the general
couldn't stand it, and said so to worthy
Lambert, who demonstrated with the
widow.
"Then the least he can do as gen.
tleman after deceiving me SO is to help
pay for them things l bought on the
strength of his promise to board with
me, was that pragmatical person re-
ply, and this view of the case the ener-
getic lady ventilated to her six board
ers, and they to the flock. There was
one boarder, temporary sojourner only,
who listened and said naught. But that
was only another Of her aristocratic,
stuck up ways, said they. She was "a
lovely young lady," as all admitted on
her first timid appearance, and the
three women who sat at table with her
were eager to take her into close fellow
ship and confidence, and the two young
men, olerking in the new stores no
doubt, We're as eager.
But it became apparent within "a
hours that she held herself above and
desired to hold herself aloof from them,
which led to a dissection of her per-
sonal charms on the part of the women
and of her mental gifts on the part of
the men. Mr.. Lambert had commended
her to the care of Mrs. Burton. Her
board was paid in advance and no ques-
tions asked. She went to church and
sang softly, but in voice SO exquisite
~ sweet and penetrating that it tenn.
pered the strident melodies of the de-
vout Omahannas and caused many a
head to turn. She spent the first few
days at the rector's or in her room
Then came a roomer with the rumor
that she had follower, and for two
evenings she was seen with strange
young man pacing slowly up and down
the walk, but never going into town.
Within ten days after Loring settled
in Omaha Mrs. Burton's boarders were
engrossed in just two topics-the young
lady in the second story front and the
story of the young officer who first
would and then wouldn't be one of her
number. No exception to this state
ment as to Mrs. Burton's boarders is
made in the case Of the damsel herself
Lpring frankly told his story as to
Mrs. Burton to the general. He had
merely asked Mr.. Lambert if he could
tell him of a place to board. Lambert
had led him to Mrs. Burton's. He found
it too far out and otherwise unsuitable
and had abandoned the idea. He had
never seen Mrs. Burton or authorized
any one to speak to her for him. The
general laughed and said he understood
it all, was perfectly satisfied and never
thought of questioning him and salts
fed he was for several days. Then sud-
denly it was announced that Loring had
decided not only to return to the hotel
for table board, but was actually room
ing there, and the landlord of whom he
had rented his rooms turned up with a
grievance, at least his wife did, and
, when woman has grievance nine
times out of ten the world gets the ben
eft of it. Mrs. Landlord came round to
the chief quartermaster with her COM
plant.
It was lovely summer morning
Lieutenant Loring had walked down to
the office and raised his hat to the gen
eral as that genial officer was driven