Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-08-10

correspondence at his right hand a
letter On club paper, studied it a mo-
ment, and then glanced up at Stuy-
vesant. 'Was not Col. Rays regi-
met with you at Chickamauga he
asked.
'It was expected when I left, gen
eral. You mean the til Kentucky ?''
Il mean his volunteer regiment
yes. L was wondering whether any of
his family had gone thither. But you
wouldn't be apt to know"
And Stuyvesant felt the blood be-
ginning to mount to his face. He
could answer for it that one member
had not gone thither. He was won
dering whether he ought to speak of
it when Drayton finally turned upon
him and held forth the letter. Read
that" said he, "but regard it as con-
fidential.''
1t was such letter as one frank
old soldier might write another. It
was one of a dozen that had come to
Drayton that day asking his interest
in behalf of some young soldier about
joining his command. 1t was dated
at Cincinnati five days earlier, and
before Stuyvesant had read half
through the page his hand was trem-
bling.
Dear Drayton," it said "I am in snarl,
and I want your help. My sisters pet boy
came. out to try his hand at ranching near
US last year. He had some money from
his father and everything promised we'll
for his success if he could have stuck to
business. But he couldn't. Billy Ray, COM
manding my first squadron, was stationed
with me, and the first thing I knew the
boy was head over ears in love with Billy 5
daughter. 1 can't blame him. Marion,
Junior, is as pretty a girl as ever grew up
in the army, and she's brave and winsome
lass besides-her dad all over, as her mother
says.
walters ranch was 80 miles away, but
he'd ride the 60 six times a week, if need
be, to have a dance with Maidie Ray, and
the cattle could go to the wolves. Then
came the war. The governor of Kentucky
gave Ray the command of regiment, ana
that fool boy of mine begged him to take
him along. Ray couldn't. Besides, | don
think he half liked Walters devotion to
the girl, though he hadn't anything against
him exactly. Then 1 was retired and sent
home, and the next thing my sister, Mrs.
Foster, came tearing in to tell me that
Walter had gone and enlisted-enlisted in
the regulars at Denver and was going to
Frisco and Manila, as he couldn't get to
Cuba. She's completely broke up about 1t.
Foster went to Washington and saw
the president and got commission for him
in the signal corps-voIunteers-a he
should be with you by the time you get this,
so l wired ahead. He isn't altogether bad
lot, but lacks horse sense, and gave his
parents a good deal of anxiety in his var
sity days abroad. He was in several
scrapes along with boon companion who
seems to have been so much like him,
physically and morally, that, motherlike.
Mrs. Foster is sure that very much of
which her Walter was accused was really
done by Wally's chur1. L m not so sure of
this myself, but at all events Foster made
it condition that the boy should cut loose
from the evil association, as he called it.
before certain debts would be paid. i
don't know what soldier stuff there is in
him-if any-but give him a fair start for
old times sake
Il need not tell you that 1 wish you all
the joy and success the double stars car
bring. I'd be in, it too but for that old
Spottsylvania shot-hole and rheumatics.
My eagles, however, will fold their wings
and take rest, but we'll flap 'em and
scream every time you make ten-strike.
Yours as ever
''MARTINDALE'
Stuyvesant did not look up at once
after finishing the letter. When he
did, and before he could speak, the
general was holding out some tele-
grams, and these too he took and
read-the almost agonized appeals of
a mother for news of her boy-the
anxious inquiries, coupled with sug-
gestions of the veteran soldier con-
corning the only son of beloved sis
ter. Drayton's fine, thoughtful face
was full of sympathy-his eyes
clouded with anxiety and sorrow.
Martindale was not the only old sol
der in search of son or nephew that
fateful summer.
you see how hard it is to be able
to send no tidings whatever" he said.
81 sent to you in the hope that you
might think of some possible ex-
planation-might suggest some clew
or theory. Can you?"
There was just one moment of 81
lence, and then again Stuyvesant
looked up, his blue eyes meeting the
anxious gaze of the commander.
General" he hazarded, sit is worth
while to try Sacramento. Miss Ray
is there