Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-10

and First Sergeant Malone, her hus
band, found it more comfortable to bt
out of the house as much as possible
1t was q month after the capture oi
Noel Faval when Mrs. Malone fOunt
herself alone with Holmes. That hap
pened frequently. The sergeant's visits
| to Katys home were the gossip of the
post. for Holmes was not popular; ev
cry one knew that his face was honor
ably SCARED by an Indian knife, but
chiefly because Of his gloom, his unso
ciability and the sudden storms OF
passion which convulsed him wher
crossed. Fifteen years in the service
| lie had never made friend and, the
men said. had saved the greater part
of his pay. They added that his say
| incs were the sole reason he was vel
coined in the house of Mother Malone.
shes the divil iv darter, sargeant
SO she is" said Mrs. Malone in tears
"an ongrateful child. so she Is. Lux
what I've done fur her-scraped an
saved, an saved an scraped, an stint
| her at last to the convint to be eddi
| Gated an made a lady. It's yerself
sergeant, knows that same, sure, an
grateful Is Michael Malone an mesili
fur the help ye gave. We're not on
grateful, an it'll be paid back
81 wish you would say nothing about
it." said Holmes uneasily.
Mrs. Malone wiped her eyes and
raised her finger.
"Ye ave been good friend to Mike
an me an Katy" she said, ''an' nivel
lad shall have the girl wild my lave
save yerself, Holmes, so there, an the
wee fiddler's out iv the way anyhow
Should we be after hearin' the sintince
of the court martial, sergeant?
"The sentence? Faval? Any day
now," Holmes said.
It'll be two years fur sure" she
went OH, maybe four, fur sp'akin
back to the adjutant himself. Two
years in the prison at Leavenworth
will give Mistress Katy time to furgei
him. Ye must be patient, Holmes. an
fur the bit " money ye've lint me-
Hang the money" cried Holmes
jumping to his feet. "Do you wan,
me to wait two years for her, two
years more? Have been coming here
so often for years and yet you cannot
understand? Mrs. Malone, Mrs. Ma
lone, | can't wait-I can't wait longer
Since she was child at the post
school I've loved her. and God knows
that I'd give my life for her, to do the
smallest thing she bid me-the small
est. She liked me once. She was
learning to love mel know it, but this
this thing, this half French fiddler
bewitched her. And now you want
me to wait-two years. can't. II
love her. worship her. I'm burn
ing up. I'm mad about herr!
He frightened Mother Malone. He
dropped back in his chair, hiding his
face in his hands. Tears trickled
through his fingers, and his big form
shook. Mrs. Malone. calloused and
withered by the long struggle of years
was not yet so hardened as not to be
touched by the mans naked avowal.
Whatever the boys says, Holmes
she said softly, "an' they're an ig'runt
lot iv min, ye're good man an true
man, an Katy yell have If her mother
has got a word to say"
The door burst open, and young
ster came rushing in with shout-lit
tie Herman of the band. son Of the
leader and the delight and terror OF the
post.
Mother Malone" he shouted, "have
you any eggs? want six eggs with
fried ham, Cut it thick. And have yor
any biscuits? Give us some strong cof
| fee, too, with lots Of milk, and charge
it to me till pay day. Supper was rot
ten-mush and molasses. Hello. Ser
geant Holmesw
"Ye ratw cried Mrs. Malone. "SiA
eggs, he says. an cut the ham thick
An him stuffed full of mush and mo
lasses! Come here. ye wee divil. till
spank ye."
The boy was used to varied marks
of affection, but he kicked vehemently
as Mother Malone caught him up, lift
ed him high and kissed him loudly OF
each cheek.
That's a nice way to behave to the
men, he cried as he was let down
rubbing his blushing cheeks. "Wha'
would Malone say If told him?"
"Eh! Hark to him. laughed Moth
er Malone as she began to crack eggs
on the edge of the frying pan. "ls
there any news about Faval. Her
man?"
Holmes was on the threshold, pass
Ing out, but turned to listen.
"Faval? Yes, it's shame. No won
der he ran away. with the adJutan'
and the band sergeant down on hin
all the time, and he knows more
what news?" asked Mrs. halon
impatiently, and Holmes stood walt
ing.
"Why, the order was read out at re
treat-dishonora discharge, forfeit
ing all pay and allowance and so on
and three years in Leavenworth."
"Three years in Leavenworth," crie'
Mrs. Malone-"three years! Well, well
Did ye hear that, Sergeant Holmes
There's many thing will be forgottel
in three years, Holmes"
But Holmes was already stridin
away through the gathering dusk.
Holmes turned his back on the poa
and strOde out across the bluffs towar
the river. For long, long time now b
had been used to taking these sOlitar
evening walks, rain or shine, to tir
out the passion in his breast. Scared
alone In the world since he remambere
anything, he had never loved a livin
thing until now, and, having loved wit
all the might Of rushing, long sur
pressed flood, he found he had dashe
himself against rock. He had tOnigh
but one clear thought in his throbbin
head. Noel Faval was out Of the way
out of the way-out Of the way! Tn
words sang in his ears. 1t gave him
chance. For the slim lad Faval he ha
nothing but contemptuous pity. Ii
was out Of the way. His bewitchin
music. his big brown eyes. his slender
graceful form, would be heard and see
no more. That fancy would be forgo
ten, and he (Holmes) would have al
other chance. So unused the sefgeah
and the devil Of bitterness gradual
gave place to the angel of hope, and q
last by the bank Of the river he cam
upon the girl. She was lying In tn