The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-09-14

lions III the world, there wasn't wOm-
an in officers row who could get at the
bottom facts Of the episode. Rumors of
the widest kind that were early in
circulation were best left to the imagi-
nation Of the reader. The only thing
actually known was that Mrs. Winn
and Captain Barclay were going out
riding at reyeille; that Winn surprised
them and knocked The captain down;
that Winn was now in close arrest, Bar
clay on the mend and again sitting up,
Mrs. Wipn confined by illness to her
bed, Mrs. Faulkner Ga most important
person sbe in devoted attendance, all
their differences forgiven, if not forgot.
ten, and there were few Mrs. Faulkner
would not have forgiven for the bliss
of being for the time the most sought
after woman at Worth, for every one
wanted to know how Mrs. Winn was
every hour OF the day, and hoped to
hear what dreadful imprudence of hers
it was that caused the equally dreadful
fracas.
Gravely and quietly the doctors told
their story to the colonel; that there
was no arrangement or engagement to
ride together; that Captain Barclay
had no idea Mrs. Winn ever rose-much
less rode-that early, and most men &C.
cepted the statement as true. But there
was the fatal exhibition of Barclays
letter by Mrs. Winn to confront the
women, who would have held him
guiltless and saddled all the blame upon
her lovely, sloping shoulders. What
had he to write to her about, unless it
was to ask her to ride or something of
the kind? And the idea Of their daring
to select such an hour instead of going
out when-when people could see. And
then there was the fact that MIR. VIM
still refused to be reconciled to his
wife. What did that mean if not that
he deemed her guilty? Blythe, who
had a kindlier feeling for Winn than
had most men at Worth (for Brayton
now was utterly set against him and
refused to go near him), sent in his
card and begged to be allowed to see
him, and Blythe's face was sad and
gray when half an hour later he came
forth again.
"Colonel," said he to Frazier, "some-
thing has got to be done for that poor
fellow or he'll go mad. Collabone has
told him> Barclay was totally ignorant
Of Mrs. Winn's plan to ride that morn
ing-that his assault was utterly un-
justifable, and between that and the
contemplation Of his wife's brainless
freak and all his old trouble I'm sore
~ afraid he'll break down-go all to
pieces. Can't something be done?'
Both Frazier and Brooks thought
something ought to BIZ done, and so said
Blythe and De Lancy and Follansbee
and Fellows when they came trooping
home empty handed from their scout
Only Mullane's detachment had accom-
plished anything, and such success as
he had was due almost entirely to
Winn's persistent effort and energetic
trailing. Something was being done to
hunt up stolen stores as revealed by
Marsden, but poor Winn, who had rid
den home SO full of hope and pluck and
energy, now paced his narrow room for
hours or lay upon his lounge, face
buried in his arms, either dull and
apathetic or smarting with agony.
On Mrs. VIM old Collabone had lit
tie sympathy to waste. Bluntly he told
her that she was responsible for the
whole business and deserved to be
down sick. So, too, he told the colonel,
who was having blissful time answer
ing the questions and squirming under
the nagging Of his household at home.
At first Laura had shown tremendous
spirit. Mr.. Winn's conduct was an in
suit The doctors comments were an
insult. The instant she was we'll enough
to move she would take her precious
child and return to her mothers roof.
"Your mother hasn't any roof,' said
Collabone. "She's boarding in Wash
ington, playing for another husband,
and you'd spoil the whole game, turn
ing up with grandchild. What you've
got to do is beg your husbands pardon
for all the scrapes you've led him into
this last one especially Laura wall
ed and wept and cried out against the
heartless cruelty of her husband, who
left her sick and dying, for all he knew
(Collabone had assured him there was
nothing on earth the matter but nerves.,
and she thought Mrs. Faulkner ought
to make him hear how ill she was. At
last she managed to have herself ap-
propriately arrayed, and with face of