The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-16

trooper swear Ike an anger 10 SEE Ou
and to see me-; and it was | always had
the headpiece. not YOU. Well, It's q
1aighty queer world. Sometimes
think I'll hang myself; and | would
too, if l wasn't sure somebody would
come by and cut me down. Somebody
always spells whatever want to do
Whats to be done with a fellow
like this?p 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 a circu.
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 a horse anyhow, I'd
had enough of the circus, and got q
place as postbOy at a house on the
North Road.
And which happened that time,
horse or grip
''Oh, sure cnOug5, it was horse that
time. They said famed him through
being drunk; of course twas lie, fol
the brute was going at hand-galoI
when | 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 them"
"Well. nobody can put it against me
/ 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 ca
well enough at that if there hadn't been
something about a horse. No-the
horse got into the bottles; it was tine
girl that time. You wouldn't think, tC
look at me, I've been in quod? have,
though. No; you needn't look like
that Inever go after mischief. It's
always mischief comes after me. If
was on Crusoe's island l should be in
somebody else's scrape. If ever Tn
hanged twill be in somebody else:
shoes"
And after the gypsying?" Stephen
chose to ignore the Jail.
Then went to sea"
Anyhow, there are no girls or horse:
there.
NO But somehow or other 'twa
all one as if there were. You can't cal
it my 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 good of going through
the whole Confounded things all over
again? I've been twenty things forty
for aught / know. And by somebody
COMPOUNDED fault or another they've al
gone wrong. | can't even have forty
winks in a wood. where nobody comes
but somebody else tumbles over me.
can't drink a glass of ale but what il
makes somebody else drunk, and ther
l get the blame"
but that red jacket"
LAY. That's the Kings. He gave
me a guinea, too; but that s gone"
"Dick, listen to me. You can't 60 to
your father as YOU are"
Il must. though las 1 am. Need,
mus W hen the devil drives"
Then you must pull the reins out o
his hands. l won't say it 5 al youI
fault, but at this moment be hasn't ;
penny he can call his own. Patience
b.l ewes in You still; don't believe il
vou-much; but can't believe YOU r,
such SCAMP that you'd come back T.
Quarter Yourself on him just whrn you
ought t. lie putting your shoulder t.
the wheel. Come, lie man. | sup
pose you belong to the regiment who I
drums | heard TO day. As you are F.;
sold er, BE- a good one. Write Patenc
letter which your father shall read a
the right time; ald the minute one car
Get YOUR Discharge I'll SIC Ia it. and pu
YOU in the way of work under my owl
eve. For your fathers and your sis
ier's sake there's nothing too much
can do for YOU
Dick hung his head and again turned
sullen.
No" said he; Il suppose you wan
me to 90 and get killed. No such lucl
for You, nor for me. I'm going to SEE
Patience. She won't want me to b,
killed. She is good girl; and there
may be one good horse somewhere, Il
we'll"
You shall do what's 1ight-thcre
I'll go back with YOU t. Manchester
Who ought one 10 see about your dis
charge? They won't want to keep,
suppose, respectable yeoman's onl'
son. that enlisted out OF some stupiI
folly, and wants TO be free, ald can pa
to b. free"
whats the good? If fathers 90
no money
Il have. then I can get it. any way
Think of Your father. Your sister; tlinl
of right and manhood. and come witt
me-"
There That just my luck all round
again. It's too late. now"
Too late. Wen see about that. IT.
never too late TO try"
1T is. though. I've discharged my
self That's what I've done"
Discharged yourself? What do Vol
mean?"
Taken French leave"
And what"
I'm deserter. That's what am.
"You wretche1 Or
Stephen could no more help speakin;
out his anger than he cou d help feel
ing it-thi', Patience's brother Dick
this IRE ieemable scamp, if not worS
than a scamp. Is he seemed to be. VIVA
was to be done? Anything, anythin:
rather than that Farmer Blackthorn'
reviving self-reSpect should receive tn
fatal blow of learning that his son W.,
unworthy even of the living of common
soldier; the proud old man would wall
straight into his grave. Anything
rather than that Patience's stubborn
faith in her brother should be shattere,