The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-02
A Breach of Discipline.

"It's no use speaking, Brereton; l
must CO.
"Are you mad, Kendall? It's your
night on guard. and you know what a
martinez the colonel is
81 tell you will go. The colonel's
not dancing man. Hell know moth
ing about it,
"Don't you believe it. The colonel's
thick with those Lindsay girls, and
I'll bet you ten to one he's there to
meet them"
"Oh, hang it. III take my chance
then," was the reply,in the dogged tone
of Il man who knows he is in the
wrong, but does not choose to yield.
The speakers We're two officers of
the --th regiment, which had been
quartered for the last six months at
Singleborough. The subject of dis
cussion was a great public ball which
was to take place that evening. The
regiment was to be relieved in a day
OF two, and the ball would be the last at
which the gallant officers Of the -th
would appear in that hOspitable town.
Captain Kendall looked very obSti-
nate as he answered the prudent adj
monitions of his friend Brereton, who
gave long whistle, and tapped the
ground ominously with his cane.
81 gave you credit for more common
sense,' he resumes, after pause.
"Then you were mistaken, you see."
$50 it seems, but it is an awful
pity. You'll be cashiered to a GER
tainty, for the old fellow is keen as a
hawk and is sure to find you out. l
say, man, be advised; give it up; the
games too dangerous"
"PoOhr' exclaimed the other, test
lily. 81 tell you the colonel won't be
there, and if he were, trust to me
to dodge him. Why, bless you, he's
blind as a molen'
His friend looked utterly uncon-
Vinced, but remonstrance was plainly
of no use.
"It's all because of that Leslie girl, +"
he said, ruefully, for he was honestly
attached to his messmate, and saw
clearly the consequences which might
be expected to follow upon his attend
I'm not in lOver'
"Spare your eloquence and have
done now, can't you?" replied Captain
Kendall, ungraciously. $50, l must
and will, but trust to me to take care
of myself"
The two friends walked down the
rest of the street in silence till Brere-
ton turned into his club, while the
other went on, with a slightly anxious
l.; l,,,,, !
face, and swinging his cane uneasily,
He knew Brereton was right, but
wrong is apt to be stronger than right
sometimes, and the temptation in this
case was powerful. He was about to
commit, deliberately, a glaring breach
of military discipline, which, if discOv-
cred, would assuredly cost him dear
and put an end to more pleasant hopes
than one. nevertheless, he was quite
determined to risk it. 1t was his duty
to keep guard that night at the Roya
bank, and his colonel was not man
who would lightly overlook even
triaing offense against the military
then, Was~the motive which
induce this gallant young Officer
Dher majesty's service, who had al
Dready won distip ctiOn for his bravery
on the battlefield, and who had always
acquitted himself well and honorably
heretofore, to plan recklessly so grav,
an infringement of duty as the aband
onment of the post he was bound in al
honor to guard?
= We offer no excuse. But the eXpla
nation of his conduct must be foun'
in his state of mind, which was abnor
NAL. Brereton was right. There wa