Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-23

his clear headed young wife had al.
ready seen in Mrs. Mainwariug's some.
what studied courtesy of greeting that
something was amiss and had little
doubt that the major had carried home
his version of the Three Guardsmen cpl
sode In the courtroom, which was in
deed the case. though fortunately for
Blake Mainwaring couldn't remember
the strange names SO glibly given him.
Mrs. Blake had sought by every gentle,
tactful way in her power to make
amends for her beloved GeraId's uncan-
ny propensity to ridicule, but the
wound was deeper with Mrs. Mainwar-
ing than with the doughty major. She
refused to be Modified, while he, ever
tempting somebody by his irrepressible
habit of launching impetuous comment
or criticism at anybody whose methods
differed from his own, was as constant
~ inviting reprisals. Relations were
strained, therefore, and Blake should
have been more guarded. They had even
come to such pass that Mrs. Mainwar-
ing was finding serious fault with her
niece because of growing intimacy be-
tween her and Mamie Blake, and mat
ters were destined to come to climax
IN more than one garrison affair, and
come to it this very night.
Mrs. Ray had been in ignorance of
any serious difference between the Main
warnings and Blake. Indeed, she often
said she did not see how anybody could
take Blake seriously. But during the
dinner it had become apparent more
than once. Not in Mainwaring. He. as
Blake put it, was as mannerless as ever
Mainwaring talked as much and as
loudly to Blake as he did to his hostess,
on whose right he sat- There were few
topics that could be discussed, outside
OF horseshoeing, grooming and company
kitchens, in which Mainwaring could
be considered authority, hut in one and
all was he disputatious, challenging the
speaker to prove the words, even, as
sometimes happened, when the ohal-
lenged party was woman and entitled
to assert no stronger reason than "be-
cause. -
Mainwaring carried conversational
chip on his shoulder even at dinner par
ties, and tonight it had been more than
ordinarily in evidence. 1t was after din
ner and before visitors came dropping
In, and the five ladies were chatting in
the parlor. that Mrs. Mainwaring' con-
straint toward Mrs. Blake became mark
ed, as we'll as her frequent efforts at
breaking in upon the cordial, friendly
talk between that lady and her niece.
Finally, just after midnight, when it
was time for all to be going to their
homes, Blake, whose duty as officer Of
the day had twice called him away,
again was missing. Ray promptly threw
his cape over his shoulders to escort
Mrs. Blake, although she lived close at
hand, and with merry chat and laughter
the various ladies and their escorts were
trooping forth into tine keen night air,
when Mrs. Truscott, who was foremost,
held up her band and said, "Hush! T
hear something" and her face took on
an instant expression of alarm.
The wind was no longer violent, but
1t blew with steady force across the
parade, and sounds from the direction
OF the guardhouse near the south gate
or the stables along the east front were
carried out to the waste of prairie
stretching away toward the far, pine
crested heights Of the Elk range. Yet it
was toward the guardhouse, whose
twinkling lights could be plainly seen,
that Mrs. Trusoott was gazing. Main
waring was, as usual, talking loudest
OF the party and was the last to cease.
Nonsense, Mrs. Trnscott, you can't
hear the baby crying" he almost de-
risively exclaimed, whereat the lady
stamped a shapely foot and spoke as her
father, their old colonel, would have
spoken when his wife was not present,
and this time with effect.
Some one, painting, came running
across the parade. 1t was the corporal
of the guard.
Captain Ray" he cried, Captain
Blake says please come to him quick
at the south gate. "
Ray went like a shot. The corporal
started to follow, but Mrs. Blake,
alarmed and trembling, begged him to
stop.
What's happened?" demanded
Mainwaring who's hurt?''
81 don't know, sir. Nobody's hurt
that know of, but there's patrol
out :"
After some drunken man Of Rays
troop--that's all" said Mainwaring,
"and Blake DOM want to put him un-
der guard. See if it amt. Come, !" he
said, rendering an arm to his wife.
But Mrs Blake knew her own mind,
and without word of reply started
straight across the road in the direction
taken by Ray.
"Oh, don't 20, Mrs. Blake 2, "Don't
go, Mamie. I" '.I'm sure it's nothing
serious, z were the various cries that
followed her, but she never faltered.
Good night. ;" she cried. 'I'm going
to Gerald. Reluctantly the doctor
called after her:
"Oh, wait, Mrs. Blake. If you must
go, pll--I'll escort you.
Eyes, /" said Miss Leroy firmly, land