The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-03-25

dent pride he handed it to me fillei
with some thin, sour white wine, but
which tasted to me like nectar to tht
gods. | handed it back to him, ant
before readjusting it he took mouth
ful of the contents, adding
ITO the kings health. He gave me
step in the Legion Of Honor, and il
is but right that [ should attend him
to the frontier. When that's done, as
[ have nothing but my epaulets to live
by, | shall return to my regiment
It's my duty"
He said this more as if speaking to
himself than to me, and set his mule
again in motion, whilst | rode slowly
along by his side for more than quar-
ter of an hour without hazarding any
remark, so fearful was | of putting an
end to our newly-formed acquaint-
anceship by what might prove to be
an indiscretion With a man who was
evidently somewhat peculiar. As he
soon stopped again to rest his tired
mule, | took the opportunity Of get
ting rid of the rain which had soaked
down into my long horseman's boots.
] OuI DOOGS StCUl W SI1Ch
tight to your feet said he.
It's a long time since I've had
them off" | replied.
Bah! you must learn to think moth
ing of that" he reioined, in his grutf
voice. IF you mean to be a soldier,
especially in such stirring times as we
are likely to live in-'' Then turn
ing half round, he added, 'What do
you suppose I've got in the cart
there?"
Il am sure I don't know" I an
swered.
Its a womanw
"Ahr' said I, with sort Of grunt,
but not venturing on any other sign
of astonishment, and following him at
a foot's pace.
"That poor old wheelbarrow there
didn't cost me much, nor the mule
either. Nevertheless it's all I've got
to make the march on, although the
road drags out like a linen-draper's
measure"
| at once offered him the loan of nv
horse, and as he saw [ had no inten-
ton of sneering at himself or his con-
veyance he seemed on a sudden at his
ease, and coming alongside my stirrup
he gave me hearty smack on the
knee.
well, you are a good fellow, al
though you have the crimson breeches
The recollection Of the dislike with
which our four favored regiments Of
the body guard had been always re-
garded by the line flashed across my
mind; and [ believe I blushed at the
way in which we had been preferred
to the old soldiers.
However,, added he, Il won't ac-
cept your good-natured offer, for the
very sufficient reason that [ don't
know how to ride
But, major, officers Of your rank
are compelled to rider
bah, once year, at the inspection,
and then we hire any old hack. As
for me, | began life as sailor, and
ever since [ have been in the line [
never troubled myself about learning
to ride
I could see he was eyeing me close
ly for the next few minutes, and ap-
parently expecting me to say some
thing, but as he found | was still 81
lent he went on
$50 you're not curious? [ thought !
| should have astonished you"
I'm not SO easily astonished as you
think"
IF ] were to tell you why [ left the
sea | should astonish you, whatever
you may think now"
"Well, why don't you try? At all
events it might warm us up, and make
me forget the rain that gets IN at the
nape of my neck and runs down to
the heels Of my boots.
The good-natured major was evi-
IDENTIFY as pleased as a child to tell his
story, and forthwith prepared himself |
for it. He readiusted his shake, COW
cred with oil-skin on his head, and
gave hitch forward with one Of his
which could have satisfied
even the rawest recruit that he be-
longed to the infantry; that veritable
shrug that the foot soldier gives his
knapsack to shift the load and tighten
the weight, and which never forsakes
him after he becomes an officer At
ter this convulsive gesture he drank a
mouthful from his cocoa nut, gave
dig in the ribs to his mule by way of .
and began.
TO BE CONTINUED.