The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-13
cHAPTRE XIX.

A pleasant welcome awaited Mr.. Wal
Ter Loring OF the engineers when he OPEN
ed his office and got settled down TO work
at his new station Here was COM
msnding general who knew something Of
his past whose nephew was with him at
the Point. and one at least OF whose aids
had found reason 10 respect him highly,
even though they had differed as 10 the
site for the new post. as the engineer had
seemed 10 take far more kindly TO the
companionship OF an unheard OF sub in
the cavalry than he did TO the society Of
two men so distinguished I'm the depart
ment as Major Burleigh depot quarter
master at Gate City. and Brevet Captain
Omaha Stone, the aid In question.
Burleigh had surprised the aid by
display OF great interest In and an inn
patience TO meet the newcomer, who
had hurried out from Omaha with not
a days delay and who overlook them at
Fort Frayne after riding by night
through the mountainous region OF the
Medicine Bow. with only a single troop
er as attendant and escort. Burlegh had
been oddly inquisitive. thought Stone, and
had piled the taciturn engineer with
question after question about officers
whom he knew and matters he seemed to
KNOW along Inc 1hClUC Slope MI l4pi-
ing was evidently a bit surprised, yet re-
piled courteously. though very briefly.
Bireigh did all thestalking the first day's
drive in the big ambulance over the roll
ing open prairies north OF the Platte.
giving Stone no chance at all.
He enlivened the occasion and relieved
the tedium Of the journey with anecdotes
OF the general whose command Loring
had recently left. and Strain. his chief OF
eta nd paffy-stfhaf dashed fool Pot
ty," he called him-and Burleigh had
nothing good to tell OF any OF them. and
much that was derisive, II not detri- |
mental. OF all. LoringN listened with |
neither assent onr dissent. as a rule, |
though when appealed TO he said he had |
no opportunity to study the Characters |
tics, as described by Burleigh. as he had |
spent most OF his short service there sur
veying In Arizona. and saw little and
knew less of the officials In San Fran
cisco. One man OF whom Burleingh spoke |
with regard and regret was stanch old |
Turnbull. whose sad death by drowning
in the surf of Pinos the quartermaster
referred TO several. times. He seemed
familiar, too, with the story OF Loring's
conduct the night Of the collision at sea
and the striking OF the Idaho and referred
10 that more than once In terms OF COM
They stopped for luncheon
and TO bait the mules and TO give the
cavalry escort a brief respite, and II was
after this that Bxrleigh, as though sud
denly reminded of something. began:
II don't know what made me think OF
II unless II was Stones speaking OF New
Orleans a moment ago. but did you meet
a long legged fellow named Blake In
knew the girl that drove him
out there. One winter she was In New
Orleans while her father was command
Ing the monitors moored at Algiers-Miss
Terrence Saw her afterward In New
York She married old Granger. you
know" Granger was about Burleigh's
age. but Burleigh was widower and de-
sirous of being considered young. And
Stone wondered why Loring should look
disquieted II not embarrassed.
II met Blake. yes, was. however. his
prompt reply.
'Tiows he standing it7 He was a good |
deal cut up at first, They were to have
been married last summer. IIe was regu-
larly engaged to her and never knew
she'd thrown him over until he met
Granger in St Louis
Then Lorins did thing they both
noted was unlike him. Ordinarily he
listened courteously until the question |
was finished. This time he broke In:
Blake is I'm his element doing caval- |
ry duty. We had a lively chase together |
after an officer who was deserting to |
Mexico.
$50 you did" said Burleigh. with In |
terest IT remember hearing OF IT, You |
were on his escort weren't you? Why.
what was the fellows namef remem-
ber having met him in New Orleans, too.
when read the order to the court. Let's
see. You were Judge advocate. weren't
your"
Yes. And his name was Nevins."
"Ah, yesl Dismissed, believe. What
ua
that he had died"
80 the consul at Guaymas reported"
was Loring's brief reply.
well. was II never settled? Wasn't
Il proved In some way7 heard story
that his wife had followed him out there.
She was a dashed sight better lot than
he was. I met her more than once In
New Orleans. She came OF good family
but she was stranded down there by the
war They say she had a younger sister
who bled her 10 death-a girl she was edu-
eating I remeber Nevins told me some