The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-17

fiourishing. It's enough to make a
trooper swear like an angel to sec you
and to see me; and it was always had
the headpiece, not you. Well, tbs a
Iaighty queer world. Sometimes ]
think I'll hang myself; and / would
too. If / wasn't sure somebody would
come BY and cut me down. Somebody
always spells whatever want to do
whats 10 be done with a fellow
like this?' Stephen asked himself. But
he only asked Dick. "Well?"
Il can't even remember what the old
rumpus was about" said he. 'Twas
either about a horse or a girl: but
then everything's a horse or a GIL.
ANYHOW. meant to be my own master,
as who wouldn't? So joined circus
company at Manchester. and took a
new name. As long as I'd my pockets
full twas all right: but when they run
out. there was a row. think it was
about girl or horse ANY how, I'd
had enough of the circus, and got a
place as postboy at house on the
North Road"
..And which happened that time,
horse or grip"
.'Oh, sure enough. it was horse that
time. They said famed him through
being drunk; of course twas lie, for
the brute was going at a hand-galor
when l was thrown. But there was a
pair of baronets in the chaise; and, be.
ing as drunk as owls themselves, they
said it was me-"
..And then?"
"Well. nobody can put it against me
l haven't tried. Talk of father! II
he'd been through what / have, instead
of living at home at ease. he'd have
some call TO talk of gray hairs. l forget
what came next-whether twas wash.
ing bottles. or whether twas gypsying.
think twas gypsying: and | got on
well enough at that if there hadn't been
something about a horse. No-the
horse got into the bottles; it was the
girl that time. You wouldn't think, to
look at me, I've been in quod? have.
though. No: you needn't look like
that. Inever go after mischief. Its
always mischief comes after me. If
was on Crusoe's island should be in
somebody else's scrape. If ever I'm
hanged twill be in somebody else's
shoes"
And after the gypsying?" Stephen
chose to ignore the jail.
Then | went to sea"
Anyhow. there are no girls or horses
there
mo. But somehow or other 'twa'
all one as if there were. You cant cal
it nv fault. | suppose. that the coaster
ran on the sands. They said it was. o.
course: that was another of their lies.
But what's the coed of going through
the whole oonfounded things all over
again? I've been twenty things forty.
for aught I know. And by somebody $
COMPOUNDED fault or another they We all
gone wrong. l cant even have forty
winks in wood. where nobody comes,
but somebody else tumbles over me.
can't drink glass of ale but what ii
makes somebody else drunk, and then
l get the blame"
but that red jacket"
"Ay. That's the Kings. He gave
me n guinea. too: but that's gone"
dick. listen to me. You can't go to
your father as YOU are
II must, thoughts l am. Needs
must W hen the devil drives.
Then YOU must pull the re;ns out oil
his hands. | won't say lis all youI
fault. but at this moment he hasn't 4
penny he can call his own. Patience
b,l ewes in YOU still; don't believe in
you-much; but can't believe YOUR
such a scamp that you'd come back II
quarter Yourself on him just when you
ought t. lie putting Your boulder to
the wheel. Come. lie man. | sup
pose YOU belong to the regiment who &
drums | heard 10 day. As you are &
solder. b. good one. Write Pat enc
letter which yopr father shall read nj
the right time; and the minute one can
get yoIr Discharge I'll SIC 10 it. and put
YOU in the way of work under my own
eve. For Your fathers and your sis
tiers sake there's nothing too much
can do for YOU
Dick hung his head and again turned
sullen.
No" said he: Il suppose you want
me to 90 and ge: killed No such lucb
for YOU. nor for me. I'm going to see
Patience. She won't want Ine to b,
killed. She IS good girl; and there
may be one good horse somewhere, a:
we'll"
You shall do what's Iiyht-th re
I'll go back with you t. Hunchestcr
Who ought one 10 see about Your dis
charge? They won't want to keep.
suppose. respectable yeomans onl,
son. that enlisted ont OF some stupit
70 ", and wants TO be free, aad can pa,
to be free"
whats the good? If fathers go
no money
Il have, then II can &c. it. any way
Think of Your father. Your sister; tiinl
of right and manhood, and come witt
me-"
There. That's jus; my luck all round
again, It's too late, now.
Too late, Wen see about that. 1t.
never too late 10 try"
1T is, though. I've discharged my
self. That what We done
Discharged yourself? What do yo'
mean?"
Taken French lea7e."
And what"
I'm deserter. That's what am.
"You wretchei T OH
Stephen could no more help speakin:
out his anger than he coud help feel
ing it-thi'. Paiience's brother Dick
this IRE ieemable scamp, if not worS
than 4 scamp, Is he seemed to be. Wha
was to be done9 Anything, anythin:
rather than that Farmer Blackthorn'
reviving self-respect should receive tn
! fatal blow of learning that his son Wa
unworthy even of the living of a common
soldier; the proud old man would W, ill
straight into his grave Anythin;