Middletown transcript., 1912-02-17
his cap and pointed.

to speak with you"
Across the open field at my right,
hidden until then by a slight rise Of
ground, a mounted cavalryman was
riding rapidly toward me- For the
moment his lowered head prevented
recognition, but as he cleared the
ditch and came up smiling, I saw it
was Cation.
by Jove, Wayne, but this is
luckyi" he exclaimed, springing to
the ground beside me- 'I've actually
been praying for week past that /
might see you. Holmes, of your serv.
ice, told me you had pulled through,
but everything is in such confusion
that to hunt for you would have been
the proverbial quest after a needle
in haystack. You have been
paroled then?"
'Yes, I'm completely out of it at
last" 1 answered, feeling to the full
the deep sympathy expressed by his
face. 'It was a bitter pill, but one
which had to be taken"
81 know 1t, old fellow" and his
hand-grasp on mine tightened warm
ly. IF you have been beaten there
is no disgrace in it, for no other ma.
tien in this world could ever have
accomplished it. But this was a case
of Greek meeting Greek, and we had
the money, the resources, and the
men. But, Wayne, tell you, I do
not believe there is today a spark Of
bitterness in the heart of a fighting
Federal soldier"
Il know, Caton," said-and the
words came hard-"your fighting men
respect us, even as we do them. It
has been a sheer game Of which could
stand the most punishment, and the
Weaker had to go down. 1 know all
that, but, nevertheless, it is a terrible
ending to so much of hope, suffering,
and sacrifice"
'Yes," he admitted soberly, "yoV
have given your all. But those who
survive have a wonderful work be-
fore them. They must lay anew the
foundations; they are to be the re-
builders Of states. You were going
homer"
I smiled bitterly at this designation
Of my journeys end.
Yes, If you can so name a few
weed-grown fields and a vacant negro |
cabin. 1 certainly shall have to lay
the foundation anew most literally"
''Will you not let me aid you?" he
questioned eagerly. II possess some
means, and surely our friendship is
sufficiently established to warrant me |
in making the offer. You will not re-
fuse?"
Il must" I answered firmly. yet
I do not value the offer the less. J
Sometime l may even remind you Of
1t, but now prefer to dig, as the
others must. I shall be the stronger
for 1t, and shall thus sooner forget the
total wreck"
For few moments we walked on
together in silence, each leading his
horse.
Wayne" he asked at length, CLAN
cling furtiVely at me, as if to mark
the effect of his words, did you know
that Mrs. Brennan was again with
us%'
Il was not even aware she had been
away"
"Oh, yes; she returned North imma-
diately after your last parting, and
came back only last week. So many
wives and relatives of the officers
have come down Of late, knowing the
war to be practically at an end, that
our camp has become like huge pic
mic pavilion. It is quite the fashion
able fad just now to visit the front.
Mrs. Brennan accompanied the wife
Of one Of the division commanders
from her state-Connecticut, you
know"
There was much I longed to ask
her, but would not venture
10 fan his suspicious. In hope that
might turn his thought I asked, "And
you; are you yet married?"
Re laughed good-humoredly. mo,
that happy day will not occur until
after We are mustered out. Miss
Minor is far too loyal a Virginian ever
10 become my wife while l continue
70 wear this Uniform. By the way,
Mrs. Brennan was asking Celia onIy
yesterday If she had heard anything
'f you since the surrender"
She is at Appomattox, then?"
No, at the headquarters Of the
Sixth Corps, only few miles north
rom here"
"And the Major?''
Caton glanced at me, a peculiar
ook In his face, but answered simply:
Naturally I have had small init.
macy with him after what occurred
II Mountain View, but he is still -s-
aimed upon General Sheridan's stan.
At MIS-. Brennan's request we break.
asted together yesterday morning, but
belleVe he is at the other end of the
ines today"
we sat down upon a bank, and for
he time I forgot disaster while list.
snlng to his story of love and hts
'!ans 1or the future. His one thought
u Cela and the Northern home so
Don now to be made ready for her
omlng. The sun sank lower into tbe
Vestern sky, causing Cation to draw
own his fatigue cap until its glazed '
lsor almost completely hid his eyes. {
Win Duoyant enthusiasm he talked
H. eaeh word drawing me closer to
I'm IN bonds Of friendship, But the !
inc OF parting came. and after we :
ad promised to correspond with each +
tner' mad stood and watched while 6
9 RODE rapidly back down the road a
'e had traVersed together. At the a
ummtt of the hill he turned and {
7aVed his cap, then disappeared, t
saVing me alone, with Edith's face E
lore clearly than ever a torture to a
" memory Of defeat-her face, fair, n
milling. alluring. yet the face of an. t,
ther mans wife. h