The Columbus commercial., 1913-03-30
CHAPTER xxxvII.-continued.

Hey. there, you gray-back!" he
shouted, hold on Bit"
AS came to a pause and glanced
back. wondering IL 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 a slight rise of
ground, 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, 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 a haystack. You have been
paroled then?"
Yes, I'm completely out of It at
last | answered, feeling to the full
the deep sympathy expressed by his
face. 1T was bitter pill, but one
which had to be taken"
II know 1t. old fellow" and his
hand-grasp on mine frightened warm.
ly. If you have been beaten there
is no disgrace in II, for no other ma
tion 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 7 do
not believe there is today a spark Of
bitterness in the heart Of fighting
Federal soldier"
Il know. Caton." | said--and the
words came hard-"your fighting men
respect US, even as we do them. II
has been sheer game of which could
stand the most punishment, and the
weaker had to go down. know all
that, but. nevertheless, 1t Is a terrjblas
ending to so much Of hope, suffering
and sacrifice"
Yes" he admitted soberly. 'you
have given your all. But those who
survive have wonderful work be.
fore them. They must lay anew the
foundations; they are to be the re.
builders Of states. You were going
homer"
] smiled bitterly at this designation
of my journeys end.
Yes, II you can so name a few
weed-grown fields and a vacant negro
cabin. l certainly shall have 10 Law
the foundation anew most literally"
viii you not let me aid your" he
questioned eagerly. Il possess some
means, and surely our friendship is
sufficiently established to warrant me
in making the offer. You will not re-
fuse?"
i must" ! answered firmly. "Yet
I do not value the offer the less.
Sometime l may even remind you OF
1t, but now prefer to dig. as the
others must. / 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 II 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 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
knew"
There was much longed to ask
regarding her, but | would not venture
TO fan his suspicious. In hope that
might turn his thought asked. "And
you: are you yet married7-
He laughed good-humoredly. NO
that happy day will not occur until
after We are mustered out Miss
Minor Is ss.r 80 loyal yirEinian sr~