The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1918-12-28

"You iucnn the remembrance would
be too bitter?'
II mean that that position is the
one and only position That she Is dis
qualified from holding. by reason OF
BIRTH
"Stll," urged Wallace, ut isn't in
the blood. The mother was decent.
Why should that baby be furnished
with her fathers treachery?"
"Its written In the Good Book"
began the major.
"And there's something else about
Goals OF fire, too. Major, which came
as sort OF revision of the old law.
It's just what we ought to do, because
It's the only way to adjust the mat
ter"
adjust it2 Adjust what?" cried
the Major, with sudden passion.
"The whole OF that helllsh business,
Major. The man was once an officer
of the Seventeen. He's dead and his
crimes have died with him. We want
to forget that such thing could have
happened, and the only way Is to leave
out all bitterness from our hearts.
You quoted Scripture to Newell, /
gave you the answer from the same
Book. Let death bring oblivion to the
mans memory He's left us the child.
Start here. Start fresh. have the
right to the kid, but what you have
told me makes me feel strongly that
there's Providence In this affair.
and I'll lend her to you-mark that
word, Major lon that condition or
none."
Major Howard pulled at his mus
tache In agitation. "You don't really
mean 1t. Wallace7" he asked.
~ do. II you want me to let you
take her till the wars over"
ut means forgiving that black
guard"
ut means forgetting him and letting
the Judge Judge"
at goes against every instinct. I'd
bring her up away from the regimental
life. Besides, there are the Others"
"Who else knowsf"
"Well, of course, nobody else knows
who the dend man was. The colonel
will have TO know. But he needn't
know we've adopted the child. He's
going South after the war. However,
I'm afraid Kellerman knows. He rec
ognlzed what was left OF the face, or
suspected somehow. l could tell from
his manner"
~ don't see any overwhelming diff
ficulty In that. You can trust Keller
man?"
The major nodded, and II occurred
TO Wallace that he would rather trust
any of the officers than Kellerman. He
had conceived n prejudice against him
which he could not have explained.
"And Hampton's name was erased
from the old mess list" Wallace con-
tinued.
The major, who had been pulling at
his mustache ana thinking deeply.
came to his decision.
"Well. I'll take her on those terms,
Wallace" he said. "The fellow was
bad lot, but, as you say, there may be
no reason why this little animal should
suffer for his sins. The mother was
decent, and there may be something In
that idea of vlcarious restitution.
I'll agree. Wallace, If youll let me take
over the charge OF her till the wars
ended. Wen enter her on the mess
book and settle fictitious parentage
on her nfterward and may she never
know her fathers history. BY the time
she's old enough to understand mas
cots duties, flrt with the lieutenants
and plead for the drunks, maybe wen
have forgotten IL ourselves. Good
night, my boy. Take care of your
wound. III send In that milk and bis
cult and couple OF cakes OF naphtha
sonp, and a porcelain tub with silver
trimmings, for you to make start on
her in the morning."
He glanced at the sleeping child,
out Of the tent. Under the sky he
stood still for few moments.
"The d--d scoundrel" he NUT
tered.
AT that instant his alert ear heard
what the sentry, posted some distance
away. had failed to catch-the rustling
OF some moving figure In the dense
jungle grass at the edge Of the camp.
The major remained perfectly mo-
tlonless. except for his right hand,
which was swiftly Withdrawing his re-
volver from Its case. Suddenly he was
transformed into action. He leaped
between the two last tents of the line,
to zee a man confront him for an In
stant. In the light Of the quarter
moon the major could not distinguish
how the intruder was dressed. II was
evident, however, that he had been
prowling outside the tent which held
Wallace and the child.
Halt" shouted the major and the
sentry together, and. as the man drop
ped into the grass, the rife and revol-
yer rang out simultaneously.
The sentry, shouting to the guard,
came running up. The major and he
searched the spot, but they found no