And so, little by little, the details of some, at least, of Galahad"s benefactions became known, though no man knew how many more were held in reserve. For three long years he lived his simple, studious, dutiful life at Worth, a man the soldiers and their wives and children learned to love and look up to as their model of all that was kind and humane (they well-nigh worshipped him at Christmas times),--a man his brother officers of the better cla.s.s honored as friend and comrade, worth their whole trust and esteem, and from the armor of whose reserve and tolerance the shafts of the envious and malicious glanced harmless into empty air.
There were women, old and young, who thought him lacking in more ways than one. The Fraziers said not much, but looked unutterable things when they went North on leave and people asked for Galahad. It was a family tradition that he had treated "Manda very badly; that is, mamma said as much, but the elder sister had views of her own not entirely in harmony with those of her beloved parent. "Manda herself found consolation by marrying in the army not two years later, and her husband thinks to this very day that Barclay, with all his wealth, secretly envies him his treasure, though admitting, in those lucid intervals to which so many lords are subject, that perhaps Barclay wasn"t so confoundedly unlucky after all. It was at their quarters some years later still, at a far-distant post, that in the course of an evening"s call, in company with his host, Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks, the chronicler of a portion, at least, of this episode of old-time army life was favored with the most important facts of all.
"What do you think!" said the stout possessor of Mrs. "Manda"s matured and rounded charms, as he came bustling in with the _Army and Navy_ in his hand, "Galahad Barclay"s married at last. Here it is: To Ada, only daughter of the late Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence, --th U. S.
Cavalry."
"Ada Lawrence! That child!" screamed madame, with eyes and drawl expansive. "Well, of all----"
But others, who have seen her in her happy wifehood, declare that Ada Lawrence grew up to be one of the loveliest of the lovely girls that married in the army,--and they are legion.
THE END.