ty and blame to words of cheer. No one, of course, was ever
told by Mrs. Ray or by Sandy of what had passed in the sanctity of the
family circle, but in her humility and contrition Priscilla spoke of it
to Mrs. Stone and to others, who soon came to try to show her she was
forgiven. There were a few days after Dwight's fever in which she seemed
utterly heartbroken, and Mrs. Ray believed her seriously ill. There were
days in which she begged Aunt Marion to send her home, when, really, she
had no home; to send her East, then, where she could begin anew and work
her way in the world. If it came to the worst, Maidie Stuyvesant would
keep her from starving. But Aunt Marion would listen to no such
proposition. Priscilla must stay with her and at Minneconjou and live
down the unhappy repute. Aunt Marion knew how very much genuine good
there was in Priscilla when once she could rid herself of that
propensity ever to correct, criticise, and condemn; nor had Minneconjou
been slow to see this and to speak of it. Now that the tide was turning,
by dozens they came to talk of her real charity, her devotion to the
sick and sorrowing, the hours she had given--was ever ready to give--to
reading to the bed-ridden and helpless in hospital or the humble
quarters of the married soldiers. Men who had laughed among themselves
at her lecturing and preaching took to snubbing men who spoke in
disparagement of her motives. One thing was certain, whether they shared
her views or not, all Minneconjou believed in her sincerity, and
soldiers honor those who fight and suffer for their convictions. Of
Priscilla it might therefore be said she had made friends in spite of
herself, and though hardened sinners at the mess and humor-loving
husbands in the quarters _did_ indulge in little flings at the ultimate
and inevitable failure of all feminine meddlings in matters that were
purely military, there were few, indeed, after the first mirthful
explosions, who having seen her sorrowful face did not feel genuine
sympathy for her in the collapse of her Anti-Canteen Soldiers'
Benevolent Association.

For with Blenke's fall Priscilla was left indeed lamenting and alone.

Something of a _cause celebre_ was that of Blenke's when it came to
trial. The summary court officer had had his hands full since payday.
The number of cases of absence without leave, drunkenness, disorder, and
disrespect to non-commissioned officers, etc., had sextupled. All were
what might be