Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

seriously, ana macDlne SlateSMeil Iar
and near were sorely worried. There
is nothing so sure to stir things the
wrong way for all parties and prinei-
pally for himself as the injection of the
martial hero into politics. Langdon
was for announcing in so many words
that he would never permit the use of
his name, but Cresswell, the veteran of
q dozen campaigns, bound him to 81
lence. "Think what you please, do
what you please when the time comes.
but meanwhile keep your own counsel.
No matter il you don't want the gov
ernorship or any civil Office, let 'em
think you do. It's the surest way to |
get what you do want" The whole |
state delegation in congress, the gov
ernor and his hackers were clamoring
by wire for Langdon's immediate pro-
motion to the grade Of brigadier gener-
al That would insure his going back
to the PhilippineS and being far out of
the field when nominations were In or
der. But Washoe is too many hun
dreds of miles from Washington for
them to importune in person, and let
tiers and kilograms are far easier to an
swer than personal pleas, and "influ-
ence," said Melville, sis inversely as
the square of the distance" The brevet
of the silver star was wired without
much objection at the war Office, and
the Washoes reared with Joy over the
news that for conspicuous bravery in
half dozen actions. including Baliga-
bangbang, where he was severely
wounded, their colonel was brevetted
general. ~.
1t was relief at night to get away
from the thronging camp and the i'm
portunities of statecraft and to find
refuge at Melyille's quiet ,cozy suit of
rooms at the homelike old hosiery.
Lips that smiled and eyes that shone
were ever there to welcome him, and
with the general he could talk unre-
servedly. Neither by education nor
temperament was he fitted for political
life. Its intrignes and devices were
detestable to him, its associations
CALLING AS lawyer he had seen-he
had had to see-much CT the chicanery
with which the, whole edifice is sur
rounded. He had no ambition in that
direction. His law practice had begun
to be lucrative before the outbreak Of
the war and bade fair to become more
so as soon as lie could resume work.
| All the old debts, with interest, had
| long since been paid. He had bought
! land and was drawing plans for pref
! ty home when the trumpets sounded
| to arms. He had even begun to dream
of chatelaine for that chateau. Ger
tain batteries of the old regiment We're
/ stationed In the harbor, and officers
who We're his contemporaries in the
old days at Pawnee, seniors and
| juniors both, now came to his disci-
pinned well ordered camp and looked
with appreciative eyes upon those stall
wart. seasoned battalions and envied
/ him his experience and opportunities.
Torrance had got his double bars at
! last and gone on to Manila g. the vol
unteers were coming home. but he had
long since broken with Nathan. and
tie soldier in him sought reconciliation
/ with the man who had won such hon
ors in the campaign. The full realiza-
ton of the wrong he had done Lang
Con, long since dawned upon him. and
yet how horribly awkward was his
position. Other men in the regiment
WHO had qua1reied with their kind and
wanted to end the strain of long mis-
understanding could so to Melville
sure of sound advice and sympathetic
aid. Melville could harInoni2e where
others only meddled. But Torrance
was barred. Melville was the only man
to whom he could not go. for in his
rancor he had so far forgotten himself
md what was due a woman as tc
name one of Mclvilie's household In
his denunciation Of his brother lieuten
snt.
I.angdon had cordially greeted ant
received certain of the old regimen
who had held aloof in his days of trou
bic, but who came to him frankly an'
told him of their contrition and regret
They had wronged only Langdon. Tor
rance had spoken disdainfully of
brave girl whose offense in the eyes 0
the small snob element at Pawnee wa
, that she stood by the sorrowing ma
, and thought him despitefully used. an
now would Langdcn be apt to forgiv
ali affront to Ethel Grahamc? Mrs
Torrance after the new captain sale
, for Manila, wished to take rooms wit
, these pleasant army people at their ia
: vorite carayansarS. She loved societ.
but everybody knew her husband ha
: been knocked ilat by iangdon for in
: pertinent mention of Miss Grahan'
: and. though it happened ten years b'
f fore, the breach had never been healet
@ Torrance had never sought pardon
1 How could she go there? The n;
t thans were taking the mountain air U
r at Tahoe, waiting for the volunteers
4 dispense. but the majors leave was ft
O only two weeks. The Washoes wei
s still in camp and the day of muster OF
t not yet determined. The governor an
v his satellites were now less clamorol
G for speedy settlement Of their paper
J. and somewhat given to suggestion tina
n after all. lit wouldn't pay for the reg
l. ment to come to the capital. The
d wouldn't have their arms and the