The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-03-14
CHAPTER xxxvII.--continued.


Hey, there. you gray-back!" he
shouted hold on bit!"
AS l came to pause and glanced
back, wondering if there could be any
thing wrong with my parole, he swung
his cap and pointed
That officer coming yonder wants
to speak with you"
Across the open field at my right.
hidden until then by slight rise of
ground, mounted cavalrynan was
riding rapidly toward me. For the
moment his lowered head prevented
recognition, but as he cleared the
ditch and came up smiling, saw it
was Cation
by Jove, Wayne, but this is
lucky!" 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 beer
paroled then?"
Yes, I'm completely out Of it 1t
last" I answered, feeling to the full
the deep sympathy expressed by his
face. ut was a bitter pill, but one
which had to be taken"
Il know it, old fellow" and his
hand-grasp on mine frightened warm
ly. "If you have Leen beaten there
is no disgrace in it. for no other ma.
ton 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, l tell you. do
not believe there is today spark Of
bitterness in the heart of fightine
Federal soldier"
Il know, Cation" 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. | know ALI
that, but, nevertheless, it is a terrible
ending to SO much of hope. suffering
and sacrifice"
Yes. he admitted soberly. won
3 have given your all. But those who
survive have a wonderful work he
fore them. They must lay anew the
foundations; they are to be the re
builders of states. You we're going
home?"
| smiled bitterly at this designation
of my journeys end.
Yes, if you can so name few
weed-grown fields and vacant negro
cabin. / certainly shall have to lay
the foundation anew most literally"
WIN you not let me aid your" he
questioned eagerly 81 possess some
means, and surely our friendship is
sufficiently established to warrant me
in making the offer. You will not re-
fuse %
Il must" answered firmly. .eYet
do not value the offer the less
Sometime | may even remind you of
it. but now | prefer to dig, as the
others must. l shall be the stronger
for it, and shall thus sooner forget the
total wreck
For a 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 bcaa
away"
"Oh, yes: she returned North immc-
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. 1t 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 l longed to ask
regarding her, but l would not venture
to fan his suspicious. In hope that |
might turn his thought asked. And
you; are you yet married?"
He laughed good-humoredly NO,
that happy day will not occur until
after we are mustered out Miss
Minor is far too loyal a Virginian ever