Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-06-14
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! Colonel Grice always felt it his sduty t
be at these occasions, preparatory t.
| the great regimental parade. The eXer
cises, after many hours, were coming
! to an end, as the companies marched
with short intervals between, dowl
the one street of the village, prepare
tory to disbandment Alternately
had the colonel been complimentary and
censorious, as he rode, sometimes in a
walk, other times at full gallop, up and
down the lines.
"Peerter, peerter, major" he re.
monstrated with Major Pounds, re-
spectfully indeed, but with warmth
that seemed difficult to suppress
"perter make them captains peerten
up their lines. My blood and thun-
der nv Juberter and julius Caesar !!
if the enemy was to come upon us with
fixted bannets- Oh, you've done
your part admirably, major. It's
them captains"
1t was just before the final halt that
the colonel addressed Captain Collins,
whose company was in the centre, and
then Immediately in front of BANDS
store. "Ah, Cap'n Collins, look to
your rar. It's SO fur behind that it
look like two companies 'stid o. one.
That sergeant o. yourn you'll have to
talk to and drill in private. He's
arfter maxim twins out o. your COM
pany. Sergeant Williams is great
man for twins you know, cap'n. But
you better tell him to make 'em keep
his cubs at home. We want solid
columns when we come to the field of
battle"
The warrior enjoyed his jest, that
had been heard by all in the company,
and others besides. But he did not
allow himself even to smile when at
the head of the military forces of his
country, in order to keep himself ever
on the alert against sudden attacks of
of her enemies. His gloomy brow in
dicated Indignation at the thought
that petty subaltern, from some vain
notion of making his own domestic
status the model of the nations princi-
pal means of defence, sought to demor-
alize it, and actually invite invasion.
"My Lord !" said Allen Thigpen,
when they told him, "if Bill don't
fight him for that, | will To think
that Car'iine's feelin's is to be hurt by
hearin' OF sich as that ~
81 don't think, Abom," said Miles
(who overheard the remark), "that it
can be put off any longer. Ef there's
that in William Williams which |
been a-supposcn is obleeged to be thar,
he'll fetch it out now. Now you go
right on home, Abom."
Miles said afterward, "My respects
OF Abom was that as he wouln't stand
up to his brother, it wouldn't look
right to be agin' him"
When the battalion was dismissed,
Allen walked rapidly to Mr.. Bill
The latter was wiping the tears from
his eyes with his handkerchief. Hav-
ing finished this operation, he went
with a resolute step towards Bland's
piazza, whittier Colonel Grice, after
and giving his horse to
"a servant to hold had repaired.
"Ah, Mr. Bland" SAID the colonel,
about to light cigar, "you peaceful
men, you who follow in the peaceable
ways-departments, l might ruther
say-of goods, and hardwar, and
molasses, and blankets, and trace
chains. and o.her sich departments, so
to call all o. the various varieties OF
sto'-keeper's business you don't
know may say you don't dream
Mr. Bland, of the responsibility of a
military man whose country's enemies
may be at the very gates"
Colonel Grice !" said Mr. Bill
Williams, in a tone nobody had ever
heard from him before. The colonel
turned to see who called Mr.. Bill
was standing on the ground, Allen
Thigpen and Miles Bunkly by his
side.
"Hello Bill" said the colonel, with
careless cordiality. "What'll you
have, my dear fellow 7"
"I'll have satisfaction, Nose Grlce.
Pm not iightin' mao, and l know l
have sometimes been keerless in my
talk, yit never went to hurt peoples
feelings a-purpose, and olways helt
myself more of a gentleman than to
insult women and little children, and
which you can't say for yourself with
out tellin' Of lie, and Gghtin' lie at
tha t."
Those words operated the greatest
surprise that ever bcfell Colonel Grice.
Partly in astonishment, partly in
wrath, and partly in depreciation, he
exclaimed
"What in this omnipotent wold
Is the Colonel Of the Fourteenth
Regiment got to study his langwid-
ges-"
Come, Nose Grice," said Miles,
slowly but distinctly, "the muster's
over now, and William Williams il
your ekal, and he is liable to have his
satisfaction, onlest you apologies foI
your langwidges." .,
al don't want his apologies" said
Mr.. Bill 81 won't have bis apologies
He's got to fight, 'ithout he gifts on
his hor 80 and runs away"
II can't stand that" said the colon
el. Throwing off his coat, be came
rapidly down the steps to where Mr.
Bill similarly stripped, awaited him.
V.
Whoever has not seen comba
between two powerful, irate men, with
no weapons other than those supplied
by nature, has missed the sight, though
he may not regret it, Of a thrilling
scene. The blows, the grapplings
the struggles of every kind, are as !
each combatart had staked every dea
thing upon the result, and set in T.
save it or TO die. The advantages OF
this occasion, except the right, wer
with the colonel. Taller by an inch
though perhaps not heavier, agile
anI Ia tha full maturity {