THE WEST SHOKE.
At last ten o'clock came, and bundles and packages
were gathered up by the waiting passengers, who
btood expecting every minute the shrill whistle of the
locomotive would call them to the platform. Ten
minutes past ten some one ventured to ask the young
man in the office if the train was late. " Yes, twenty
minutes," he replied, without looking up. The pass
engers took their seats again, keeping their gaze fixed
on the clock dial. Fifteen minutes, twenty minutes
past, and no train in sight The suspense, as shown
in the faces of the waiting passengers, was easily per
ceptible, and just as another courageous man was go
ing to inquire at the office window the cause of de
lay, the welcome sound of the whistle was heard, and
a moment later the train stopped at the depot But
little time was given the passengers to get on and off,
and soon the "all aboard" of the conductor was
heard, and the train was off.
Mrs. Harrington and her daughter reached Wash
ington the next morning, and took up their quarters
at the Willard hotel, where, owing to the prostrated
condition of Mrs. Harrington, caused by anxiety and
the fatigue of the journey, she was compelled to take
her bed. Leaving her mother in charge of an atten
dant, Amy started out in search of information how
to reach the front Ascertaining how to send a tele
gram, so that it would go over the wires to the scono
of the recent battle, she wired Lieutenant Barber, the
adjutant of her father's regiment, that they were in
Washington, and, as soon as possible, would bo at tho
front
Returning to tbe hotel, she informed her mother
what she had done, and said: "Cheer up, mamma
dear, we will soon see papa."
" Oh, I hopo so! Did you learn how wo were to
get to the front?"
" Colonel Lester informed me, that owing to tho
movement of troops, and to tho great amount of sup
plies going over the road, there would bo some diffi
culty in reaching tho army, but promised to go with
mo this af terno m to tho secretary of war and see
what could bo done."
8oon after lunch, a telegram for Amy was sent up
from the hotel office. Hastily tearing open tho en
velope, she read tho message, and then exclaimed to
her mother
" Papa is hero in the city!"
" Where?" asked her mother, oicitedly.
" In ono of tho hospitals, tho telegram states."
" We will go to him at once," iho said, and com
mencod dressing herself for tho street
" I am not so sure about that," replied Amy.
" There are a great many hospitals in tho city, and
we must first find out to which ono papa was taken."
Tho hotel clerk was seut for, and on making his
sppoaranco he was questioned regarding tho lost plan
to proceed in tho search for tho wounded man.
" Unless you havo somo definite information as to
his whereabouts, you will havo somo trouble in find
ing your husband, madam," said tho clerk.
" Is thero no way in which wo might find out
where papa was taken? Barely, some ono can tell ua."
" Your best plan would U to call ou Culonel Les
ter; ho may bo able to assist you in tho matter."
Finding they could get no direct information con.
ccrning tho colonel's whereabouts from tho hoUd
clerk, that individual was dismissal
" I shall go at onco to Colonel lister's headquar
ters," said Amy when they were alona
" Yes, dear, and I shall accompany you."
" No, no, mamma, you must not I can find out
all there is to bo gainci Besides, you know, you are
not strong enough to walk so far. Bo a good dear,
and stay in your room until my return. I will bo no
longer than is ncceary to find out what wo wish to
know; then wo will go to mt papa."
" I would feel more contents! wero I to go with
you, but perhaj it is beat for mo to remain."
Amy hastened to tho headquarters of Colomd
Lester, but found that ho was out, and that ho would
not return for an hour, at least It was very trying
but thero was no help for it; sho ha! to wait until tho
colonel camo. Bbe was shown Into a prirato ofiic
where sho passed tho timo miserably until tho arrival
of tho cipccted officer.
" My dear child," said tho colonel, " you aro to I
congratulated on your cscaj from tho contemplated
trip to tho front, for I aaauro you it would not only
havo been a decidedly uupleaaant ouo, but dangerous
as welL Now, as to where your father was taken, I
am not ablo to inform you jut now, but will tako im
mediate sUq to find him, and will let you know in
tho morning."
" If you could only find him this evening; t
mamma will bo so dUapjinUL"
" I will s what can bo iW, and will call t your
hotel this evening and let you know tho molt"
u Thank you ever so much, Colonel Isto, and If
you will excuse mo I will return to tho hoUlas
mamma will bo quito anxious fur tws from papa."
Tho colonel accompanlM lt to tho door, and oo
learning that sho had walked, sail: "Are you aW,
and walking, Miss Harrington?"
M Yes, sir; but I don't wind it, I csl to walk.
leg.
M But I can not allow you to return alot. Ut
Mike." x
- Yes, sir."