St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-17
A Breach of Discipline.

"It's no use speaking, Brereton, |
must CO."
care you mad, Kendall It's your
night on guard, and yOu know what "A
martinez the colonel is"
"COnfOund the colonel. | tell you |
will go. The colonel is not dancing
man. He'll know nothing about it,"
"DOn't you believe it. The colonel
is thick with those Lindsay girls, and
I'll bet you ten to one he's there to
meet them"
"Oh, hang it! I'll take my chance
them" was the reply, in the dOgged
tone of man who knows he is III the
wrong but does not choose to yield.
The speakers were two officers of the
-th regiment, which had been quar-
tered for the last six months at Single
borough. The subject of discussion
was a great public ball which was to
take place that evening. The regiment
was to be relieved in Il day or two, and
the ball would be the last at which the
gallant officers of the -th would ap-
pear in that hOspitable town. 1t had
been II gay season and the red-coats
had entered heartily into the festivi-
NlCS3 anu llON Jlldl IuCll uIcN
nigh, there might have been many an
incipient heartache in a gentle bosom
here and there. The girls, indeed, OF
that favored district were so pretty
that even brave soldier might be ex-
cused if pang shot through his manly
breast at the thought of leaving them
behind.
Capt. Kendall looked very obstinate
| lis he answered the prudent admOni-
tions of his friend Brereton, who gave
IL long whistle, and tapped the ground
ominOusly with his cane.
81 gave you credit for more common
sense" he resumed after a pause.
"Then you weIe mistaken, you see
$50 it seems, but it is an awful pity
You'll be cashiered to certainty, fOl
the old fellow is keen as a hawk and i!
sure to find you out. | say, man, b'
advised; give it up; the games too
dangerous"
"POOh !" exclaimed the other testify
II tell you the colonel won't be there
and if he were, trust to me to dodg,
him. Why, bless you he's blind us
MOLE"
His friend looked utterly uncon
| buO WIS
of no use.
ats all because of that Leslie girl,
he said ruefully, for he was honestl.
attached to his messmate, and say
clearly the consequences which nigh
be expected to follow upon his attend
ance at the ball. "Lord what an as
spOoning makes of fellow Thanl
heaven, Pm not i'll love ~
''Spare your eloquence and hav
done now, can't you ?" replied Capt
Kent ungraciously. "GO, l must an
will, but trust to me to take care G
myself"
The two friends walked down til
rest of the street in silence till Brere
ton turned into his club, while the 9th
er went on, with a slightly anxiou
frOwn on his handsome sun-burnt face
and swinging his cane uneasily. ii
knew Brereton was right, but wrong
apt to be stronger than right some
times, and the temptation ill this cas-
was powerful. He was about to CON
init, deliberately, a glaring breach {
military principle, which, if discOv
cred, would assuredly cost him dea
and put an end to more pleasant hope
than one. Nevertheless he was quit
determined to risk it. 1t was his dut
to keep guard that night at the Roy;
bank, and his colonel was not a ma
who would lightly overlook even tr
fling offence against the military cod,
. What, then, was the motive whic
:, could induce this gallant young offic,
u of her majesty's service, who had a
ready won distinction for his braver
ON the battlefield, and who had alway
acquitted himsslf well and honorabl
heretofore, to plan recklessly so gray
an infringement of duty as the abal
/ dOnment of the post he was bound
honor to guard
Z We offer no excuse. But the explal
' alton of his conduct must be found
s his state of mind, which was abnOrma
'S BreretOn was right. There was w
man in the case. Before his mind
eye, there danced a lovely vision til
lured the infatuated young man fro
the right path pair of blue eyes,
sweet smile, a graceful, girlish form,
gaze on which the foolish fellow won
have travelled miles
i And she was to be at the ball, su
rounded by admiring swains, of one
two of whom he was madly .jealOu
r and who knew what might happ,
while he was absent
He might, of course, have spoken
certain mOmentOus little word befOl
! and he had thought, now and the
that it would not have fallen on relu
tant ears. But he had gone on bas
ing in the sweet sunshine of her smil,
too happy in the present to think mu
= - g.. I. - l..
casually that tomorrow morning eal
e; she was to leave town for her home
'st the country.
N To-day, too, chance had brought
sudden revelation to his heart. I
, then he had not been fully aware of |
strength of his own feelings for Il
. blne-eyed charmer. On turning do
a street corner he had come suddel