The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-02
CHAPTER VilI-continued.

The captain caught the words, ana
turned. "Yes," he drawled, 81 reckon
I'm good Union man, all right. 3. :.
had a right smart start In business
in Chattanooga. home there, and
all that, and now my family's been
turned out, of course. They're in Chi
cago, my wife and two little girls, In
a boarding house. An here am. in
a blue uniform, fghtin' FIR the North.
against my own brothers an my wife's
father. Yes, 1 reckon I've earned
q right to be considered a good Union
man. I've paid the price"
Ann looked at him with shining
eyes, in the embarrassed silence
which followed his outburst.
When they rode on several Of the
officers received permission to go with
them, and Hendricks was crowded
away from his coveted place by AIMS
side.
They came across the colonel, max
ing the rounds of his outpost, and he
begged well-known Mr.. Cortlandt, the
pretty girl and the group of brilliant
young staff officers to come back to his
tent for refreshment before returning
to Washington.
"Try our camp fare" he urged. ut
is rough but 1t Is what your army
fights on"
Ann accepted at once, eager to SAM
pie the soldiers rations, but when,
after some delay, the collation. was
prepared it proved to be rather
elaborate luncheon, served with cham
payne from a box under the colonel's
camp bedstead!
When they had finished they had to
hurry back to Washington, lest Lien.
tenant Renneslyer should overstay his
leave. The escort of young officers
parted from them regretfully at the
gates of the Lee mansion, and Ann
and Mr.. Cortlandt and Hendricks trot-
ted steadily on. They had little op
portunity for -Jnversation until the
bridge was reached, when they pulled
the horses down to walk. Then Hen.
bricks spoke, with an air of one who
unburdens himself of something he
has long had on his mind.
"Ann, I'm not sure / shall allow you
to go on with this hospital work.
don't half like It."
Ann was frankly aghast Was this
what it meant to become engaged, she
wondered? Must she submit to Hen
bricks judgment-she who so seldom
agreed with him?
81 wouldn't stop working In the
hospitals. even If uncle told me to,
she said, with heightened color.
Mr.. Cortlandt FASTENED to intervene
"In that case, my dear, l shan't inter
fere. e. But think you are wrong IL
this, Hendricks. entirely approve
of her work. 1t has my sanction"
At this important support the DO,
allowed the subject to drop, but h,
reiapsed Into gloom again, and did no
emerge when he left them. on the out
skirts of town.
At the hotel Ann learned that Their,
was to be reception that evening a
the White House.
Couldn't we get invitations?" sh
demanded Of Mr.. Cortlandt.
He laughed. 1--WE wouldn't need any
walk in"
'"Then we will go? We needn't sta
long, uncle, but 1 must see the Pres
dent"
That's good reason for going, n
admit" he allowed, yielding with
sigh.
The crowd was extraordinarily va
ried. Congressman from agriculture
districts, bearing timid rural wives O
their arms, dumped in, in thick boot!
Elegant young men from the foreig
embassies sauntered through th
throng, detached and amused at tbi
spectacle Of democracy, generals |
gala uniform stood Importantly abou
fashionable creatures, dressed, lik
Ann, in their best, Unanswered thei
vast skirts skillfully, shrewd-eyed gel
tlemen, who were in Washingto
angling for contracts, lay In wait fo
senators and cabinet members. an
plain people of the inconspicuor
walks Of life rubbed elbows with til
rich and great.
The President stood at the door {
the second parlor, with secretary b.
side him who gave him the names
his callers. AIMS first impression WE
of his extraordinary height, for
lowered over the people about hir
and then the amazing charm of h
face caught her: tragic. humorou
distinguished and kindly, she adore
him, at first sight. He was obviousl
bored at the tiresome ceremony