The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-05-29


turned and ran back to the creek. She
sank down with a cry of despair. From
the upper end of the island came the
noise of more horses. of another com
mand I'm another voice. that of Adju-
tant Wynn.
She listened breathlessly. and soon
she heard a sharp challenge: "Who
goes there? Halt, or you'll be fired up
on! Faval"
There were a pause. momentary
scufiie and a petulant, boyish cry Of
rage. Then came the officers quiet.
searching voice:
Got him? All, fancy he must be
cold lying out here. Take him to the
guardhouse, sergeant, where he can
get warm"
The girl, white and trembling, slipped
silently across the stepping stones.
"You fool" said Sergeant Holmes to
his prisoner. You should have been
miles away. What made you hang
aror I'd here? Do you suppose wished
to catch you?"
The unhappy musician looked up at
the grim sergeant's SCARED and ugly
face wrathfully.
You are farther away from her than
ever now" he said.
Mrs. Malones moods were at most
times uncertain. but for weeks she had
been without even temporary relapse
into amiability unless indeed toward
the mOrose and taciturn. Sergeant
Holmes, Katy Malone. her daughter,
and First Sergeant Malone, her hus-
band, found it more comfortable 10 be
out Of the house as much as possible.
1t was month after the capture of
Noel Faval when Mrs. Malone found
herself alone with Holmes. That hap
pened frequently. The sergeant's visits
TO Katy's 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-
liability and the sudden storms of
passion which copvulsed him when
crossed. Fifteen years in the service,
he had never made a friend and, the
men said, had saved the greater part
of his pay. They added that his saw
inGs were the sole reason he was well
coined In the house of Mother Malone
"She's the divil Nv darter. sergeant,
so she Is" said Mrs Malone in tears,
San 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 lady. It's yerself
sergeant, knows that same, sure, an
grateful is Michael Malone an mesilf
fur the help We gave. We're not on
grateful, an it'll be paid back
Il 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, IAN niver
a lad shall have the girl wild my lave
save yerself, Holmes, SO there, an the
wee fiddler's out iy the way anyhow.
Should we be after hearin' the sintince
of the court martial, sergeant"
THE sentence? Faval? Any day
now" Holmes said.
'Itll be two years fur sure" she
went on, maybe four, fur sp'akin
back TO the adjutant himself Two
years in the prison at Leavenworth
will give Mistress Katy time to furget
him. Ye must be patient, Holmes, an
fur the bit iv money we've lint me-
Hang the money! cried Holmes,
jumping TO his feet. "Do you want
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 watt 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 her"
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, Holiness"
she said softly, "an' they're an ig'runt
lot iv min, ye're a good man an true
man, an Katy yen have if her mother
has got word to say"
The door burst open, and a young
ster came rushing in with n 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 il thick. And have you
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 Holmes!'