The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-05-16
BAKER RAsnA.

hut0d ny sky
Rocket In my eye
BAKER PASNA.
1istezy Il tie Amir that 1aastsa xss 1aA
-00srts 6ee his 1aEAoa.
London Letter to San Francisco Argonant
The most engrossing topic Of CONVEX.
sation in all circles at present seems un.
questionably to lie the proposed rein,
statement in the army of Colonel Val.
entine Baker-or Baker Paslla, as he il
bestknown nowadays the incidents
of the event which caused his social
downfall are called hack to mind and
discussed with an interest as keen a,
though they took place yesterday.
In order to understand the matter
properly, it will be necessary to go bach
to the year 1876, in the summer of which
year Valentine Baker was the lieuten'
ant-colonel of the Tenth Hussars, one
of the, if not the, SWEETEST light-cavalry
regiments in the service. He had been
in the service since before the Crimear
war, and had served throughout that
campaign as lieutenant in the Twelfth
Lancers. After that he saw service in
India and China, and became noted moi
alone in those dashing qualities and
good looks which are supposed by the
readers of "Ouida" to distinguish all
typical "plungers"-as light-cavalry
Officers are called-but for thorough
knowledge of his profession, particularly
that branch which embraces light cavalry
tactics. Indeed, when he became COM
manding officer of the famous Tenth,
he was looked upon as the finest light.
cavalry officer in the service, and his
career as o successful general in the
next European war that should break
ont and involve England was accepted
az q foregone conclusion in the minds
of his admirers.
Although a married man, with nearly
grown children, and though streaks OF
white were growing painfully marked
in his dropping mustache, he retained
with the fair sex those fascinating
graces of speech and manner which had
ever made him the charming companion
he was. alike in drawing room, boudoir,
club smoking-room. or at regimental
mess-table. Brilliant, handsome, gift
ed, clover, brave, and able, he was fa-
vorite among men and pet among wo-
men. He was great friend of the
Prince of Wales-or rather, more prop
erly speaking, the Prince of Wales was
o great friend of his. The prince was
the colonel of the Tenth Hussars tan
honorary position which gives pay and
uniform without requiring any duty in
return), and his being SO, of course,
gave an extra eclat to the corps and its
officers.
In June, 1875, the Tenth were quar-
tered at Aldershot, and on the afternoon
of the seventeenth day of that month,
Colonel Baker left North Camp Station
by the southwestern train for London,
occupying tirst-class compartment all
to himself. At Woking station, Just as
the bell was rung to start the train on
again. q wagonette and pair dashed into
the station yard. In it were Mr.. Click
enson 10 gentleman residing in the Vi
entity, who was driving his wife, daugh-
ter and groom. With barely time to
catchsthe train, the first compartment
Mr.. Dickinson reached he opened the
door of, and put his daughter into. It
happened to he Colonel Bakers. I
don't know if her father thought any
thing of it at the time; but as it turned
out it was the most unfortunate selec-
ton that could have been made for both
its passengers. Had Miss Dickinson
been put into any other compartment in
the whole train, her name and fame
would not be the public property it has
been for years, and the promising career
of one Of the cleverest officers in the
army blighted.
Miss Dickinson was known as o great
beauty at this time. 1t was the period
when blondes were all the rage, and she
was regarded as o sample to swear by.
Her brother was an officer in the Royal
Engineers, and she herself was by no
means unknown at garrison balls and
places where officers do mostly resort;
and her golden hair and azure eyes were
set off by form and figure that might
have been model for q sculptor. Nor
was her dress the least of her attractions,
On the present occasion she was dressed
in q short travelling costume of blue
serge, which fitted her like glove, and
displayed beneath her scant draperies-
it being the zenith of the "pull-back"
period-a pair of fairy like feet in pat
ent leather boots and golden clicked
blue silk stockings A jaunty blue vel
vet round hat with white gull's feath-
er in it crowned her head, while q mar
row strip of black lace served as an ex-
cuse for mask veil.
A friend of mine who happened to be
in the train, has given me this descrip-
ton, accompanying it with the remark
IF the Judge had seen her then, per-
haps he wouldn't have been 80 hard on
Baker"
It may perhaps he only fair to remark
here, without wishing to say aught
against the young lady, that her repu-
tation among those who knew her was
one that would lead person into calling
her free in her manners with men.
At all events the train went putin z
on again and seemed all right until it
stopped at Chaplain Junction. Then
the passengers were thrown into O great
state of excitement by the intelligence
that when the train had come dashine
up to the platform, the door of Colonel
O1AOA . comparatively WAS W1U0 open,
and the colonel holding fast with one
hand to Miss Dickinson, who stood hat
less upon the step outside. A great
ccmmotion followed. With many tears
and sobs the golden-haired beauty told
her story, the gallant Baker was taken
into custody, the Young lady's relations
telegraphed for, and the train went on
| its way again.
Briefly, Miss Dickinson's story was
that she did not know Colonel Baker
even by sight; that the train he'd hardly
left Woking when lie entered into con-
versation with her; that her short re-
plies had no effect, but that in spite Of
her GOODNESS his manner became more
familiar and his language improper,
bis offensive actions eliminating in his
STOPPING down and grasping her by one
of her ankles; that therupon she jumped
up and tried to set the alarm in motion,
but being.intercepted by Colonel Baker,
and not knowing what else to do, she
sprang to the door, hurst it open, and
swung herself ont upon the steps, the
train going at the rate of forty miles an
hour; that Colonel Baker sprang after
her, and unable to draw her back
| into Tho oov,,,,o,A,,,ook l,.11 ~. nj