Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-18
CNAPTER XIV.


\ remarkable winter, from q cavalry
point Of view, was that, the first which
the old regiment spent at Ransom, but,
like many other things temporal and
most things military, it caiuo to an end,
and pooplc looking back upon j after
ward declared they were rather sorry,
after all, for there was so much to make
it wildly interesting at the time and to
form topics tor talk III the weeks to
come.
Sensations fiattencd on ]amentably
for nearly "a fortnight after the quash-
ing of Mainwariug 5 martial indictment
against "the swell Of the sorrel troop"
as Blake described Hunter and when
they reopened, about the height of the
holiday season, other names and house.
holds than those herein mentioned were
mainly conspicuous, although Blake
managed TO mix in more than one Of
them, Between him and Mainwaring
was patched truce, based primarily on
the latter 5 admission that he had prob.
g bly, made mess Of the whole business,
but really couldn't be held responsible
in the face of such testimony as was Of
fered by prominent officers of the til,
Messrs. Brady and Rawson. Then Blake
spoioGizud for comparing the head of
the junior major TO the wreck of the
magazine, and peace with honor, though
not without difficulty, was established
60 far as the men were concerned. 1t
was, in fact, less difficult than in the
case OF the women, for Miss Leroy had,
seems, very pretty will of her own
hat Mrs. Mainwaring could neither
bend nor break. Mrs. Mainwaring was
If an old and distinguished family, and
20 was Miss Leroy and the woman Miss
Leroy most seriously affected was Mrs
Blake, nee Bryan, daughter of rather
dissolute old ranchman once we'll known
about Russell. 1t stung Mrs. Mainwar-
ing that her niece should have, as she
said to her and whispered to others, so
little pride The story spread in the
regiment through what was whispered,
not through what was said, and Miss
Leroy, already popular, became hot
tavorite forthwith.
She had come to spend the winter,
but as soon AZ the holidays were over
and her precious post children had their
Christmas tree and other Christmas
loys--even before the new year was
fairly ushered in-she returned from
the morning reading one day and found
Mrs Mainwaring impatiently awaiting
Aer. There were invitations for dinners,
etc, extending a week, even ten days,
ahead, and Mrs. Mainwaring wished to
know which it was her niece's pleasure
30 accept and was aghast at the reply
any that might be acceptable to aunty
up TO Jan. 3, none for her after that
date, AS she would then have to return
TO New York.
Reinonstrance proved utterly useless.
The second week in January saw Miss
Leroy accompanied to the station by
most Of the ladies and few Of their
lords, safely aboard the east bound
train, with old 1873 and Jimmy Long IL
the lead. There were dozens of the chill
dren there to bid her goodby. There
were even a number of enlisted men
with whom she warmly. shook hands
before she took her seat il the roomy
Pullman. Captain and Mrs. Blake, hel
devoted friends went with her as far al
Omaha, where she was to Join anothel
party, Mrs, Mainwaring fairly dis
solved in tears as they kissed each othe
goodby for, after all, Kate was thu
daughter Of long loved, long los
brother if she was headstrong aud in
dependent, and never yet had woman
left the dingy precincts of old Ransom
so generally and thoroughly esteemed.
But every one wondered for all tina
even the many who would not Civ
their thought eXpression-whether al
understanding did not exist, whethe
she was not going with the expectation
of meeting somewhere the remarkabl
recruit by the name of Hunter, TO
Hunter had left on months furloug
just ten days before.
Mrs. Mainwaring declared that Kate
sole reason for going was that she wa
too conscientious She found her healt
restored, no one remembered hayin
heard Of it as impaired, and she felt sh
must return to her kindred in the eas
and resume her interrupted duties there
But Mrs. Stannard and other wise won
en- we'll knew that the main reason fc
her going was that life with Uncle an
Aunt Mainwaring was not as peacefr
or congenial, despite their pride in an
affection for her, as it should have beer
And then there was still another an
more vital reason. Every W.