Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03

Lane In answer TO her cold and even cruel
letter. though he had told her in many
words that she need never dread another
visit from him, he could not so suinmarily
shut her out OF his thoughts. He could
not but long to know the result of Nal
loy's homegoing. Gaffney, the Emmets and
the Buckeyes, generally, had written many
disdainful thing of the new major to
the old folks at home, but the major was
there on the spot. and so was the crippled
colonel, the latter loaded with hospitality
at the hands of the senior Malloy, and
whispered promises of the speedy coming
of the yellow sash and silver star, pro-
vided he would stand up" for Malloy, jr
So what could he do? The new regiment
was recruited up in the old western reserve.
The men were camped or housed, and the
majors duties were not so arduous that he
could not spend much time in Cincinnati
Presently Colonel Pride was able to hobble
about on crutches and say good words for
him in society Major Lane had gone TO
Nashville, leaving his business and his
household to the fostering care OF Senator
Malloy, and 1t all looked like plain sailing
for the lucky young field officer when Kate
Ray was called TO Cincinnati by a sorely
troubled mother, They had had news OF
Theodore brought by an oficer-an ex-
changed prisoner. 1t gave much relief to
the mother, but Daisy seemed going into
a decline"
No wonder Kates letter was of vivid in
terest to the Kentucky adjutant.
Daisy is listless, nervous, ftful, but de-
clares there's nothing the matter. The
doctor talks vaguely and seems puzzled.
Major Maloy, so Mrs. Lane tells me- has
been a frequent visitor, and so helpful, kind
and considerate. But since my coming he
has been very busy at Dayton. The regi-
ment is to be sent forward in a few days,
What | do not understand is Senator NAL
loys position. l did not tell you, but when
was here before he appeared just as | was
leaving, Now he is very frequently a
caller Mrs. Lane says she has to confer
with him about Mr.. Lanes business affairs.
But Daisy ought to be spared those con-
ferences, yet twice she has had to go down
TO see him, and both times looked wretched
when she returned. Tomorrow | must
hasten home. l am needed there But /
so wanted to see Colonel Pride, who has
been taking up the cudgels for Major Nal
10y, and of course what the colonel says
has great weight against what has been
said or written by brother officers, 'envious.
here in time TO see the officer who brought
Theodore's letter. 1t seems the gentleman
had been captured when severely wounded,
had given his parole and was sent through
the lines after a month at Chattanooga. He
has resigned and gone home, but Mrs. Lane
said he spoke OF the kindness shown him
by your brother Henry and of having seen
Henry with Captain Wing, who is quite
well OF his wound and eager for exchange.
II was through Henry that Theodore was
able to meet this officer and send letter to
his mother--an appeal for money, mainly,
but he writes he knows now that you
were in no wise connected with his de-
lection and capture | can't help think
ing be knew then when he made his furious
denunclation. ] can't help thinking, too,
that Henry had something to do with his
putting that in his letter, 1t Is my belief
that Henry and your dear impulsive old
father have long since learned through
Captain Wing the real truth about that
Belleyiew affair, and that they were as
unjust one way as certain of your superiors
were in another. They knew Of your court
martial and pardon. They know 80 very
much more about what Is going on in oul
army than we do Of theirs. But Norman
II Is OF Daisy | am thinking now. II yoL
were only here, II you could only come q
few days Can't you? | cannot get heI
to talk, but a woman's intuition is keen, ant
it seems to me that she Ia being entangled
in a net she is vainly struggling against
Now, II you were here, Norman, ! thnl
you could break IT, What | dread mus
tell II you--is that they are striving tC
persuade her to marry Major Malloy before
be goes again to the front
"Now forgive one question. | know tina
! Judge Mcintyre had invested all that you
mother left, and that most Of it was lost
but wasn't there something for you an'