Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-03-25
[CopyEight. 1899. by F Tennysou Neely.l


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 a voice SO exquisite
~ sweet and penetrating that 1t 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 a follower, and for two
evenings she was seen with a 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.
Loring frankly told his story as to
Mrs. Burton to the general. He had
merely asked Mr.. Lamb bert if he could
tell him of 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 a woman has a 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.
1t was a lovely summer morning.
Lieutenant Loring had walked down to
the office and raised his hat to the gen.
eral az that genial officer was driven
by behind his sturdy old team, and
waving his hand cordially to the grave
young gentleman who walked so erect,
with such measured stride and with
never glance into the windows Of the
shops or bars. Loungers had no use for
Loring. He never stopped to pass the
time of day or suggest a toddy, and
Loring had less use for them. Ten min
utes later the lieutenant found the office
in connection, clerks and orderlies has
and Stanton with the general in his
room, the general himself pallid and
mopping his wet forehead.
"This is horribly sudden" he said,
as he thrust an open dispatch into Lor-
ing's hand. 1t was the brief announce
ment that the general commanding the
department of California, the chief
Loring had so recently left, had dropped
dead at his desk the night before. Little
as he had liked him, the engineer was
shocked and grieved.
SIT may make grave changes" said
the adjutant general little later. sit
may send our kind and thoughtful chief
to the Pacific coast and give us-who?"
sit will make one at least" said
Stone impetuousIy. "It'll send that ga
loot Petty back to his regiment right
here in Nebraska and give him taste
of service he will little like"
why do you say back, Stone: Where
did Petty ever serve with it except when
it was in the garrison of Westinghouse
asked the adjutant general. "You know
him, believe, Loring?''
81 know him-yes.
'Think he'd pan out we'll in an In
dian fight?''
HE might
you're an optimist, Loring," said
Stone, who was ever seeking yet never
succeeding in the effort to penetrate the
armor of Loring's reserve. 81 believe
you think even Burleigh would fight at
pinch
''I'm sure he would,'' said Loring as
lie walked thoughtfuIly away.
''That's the dash, dashest man I ever
met" said Stone in terms he never
knowingly used in the hearing of his
commander. "What he'd say to man
can only guess from letter Skinny
wrote from Alcatraz after that row
they had at Frisco. OF a man you can't
get him to speak"
''We may have to-" said the adju-
tant general to himself as he turned
back to his desk and to a packet of pa
pers and dispatches from Gate City.
1t was day of pertur baton. Not ten
minutes later the engineer was called
to conference with the department COM
mander and found him cIoseted with his
chief of staff. "You were not favorabIy
impressed with Major Burleigh," said
he after a moment of silent study of the
young officers face. ''WilI you tell me
why?''
Loring stood and coIored. He had
spoken no word of BurIeigh. except in
answer to direct question. Stone must
have seen bis aversion and had nnssihIv