The Red Cloud chief., 1886-01-15

uhnb eai aItiJt uc MO seen upon inc
stage, and for the tine At least her
voice had taken him captive. Shakes
peare for once had found an actress
worthy TO interpret him. and surely no
other man who had ever lived could
have created a part sweet and bright
enough for SO exquisite 4 creature to
play in. He smoked . cigar in COM
pany with his " %agrecably f'uttered
fancies. ard then lie went TO bed and
slept soundly and forgot them He
was not nearly so much impressed with
Miss Churchill in the morning; and
though she ,ouched his thoughts pleas
antly once or twice. he got through tho
days business with nc great hindrancc
from her.
Late afternoon found him at head.
quarters, with Little more than time to
dress for dinner. Colonel
Pollard had resumed the active CON-
mand OF the corps. and took the head
place 1t the mess-table. Treearihen
was presented, and formed a poor opin-
ion Of the bloated old warrior, who met
him with a disreputable Jest. and told
straightway an Objectionable story
which grated on the comets cars.
When the rcal business of the dinner
began the manner OF the officer in
command were not 1T all 10 the taste
OF the young gentleman. who was, pos
sibly. fas;idious. The Colonel eyes
goggled and his face crimsoncd a he
strained over the table 10 get IL his
soap. and his wicked speech was half
choked by Wheeling and paintings. He
gobbled a a gentleman ought 10: 10
goDblc. end he drank - a Gentleman
ought MOTTO dirk. When dinner was
over the naughty old man told shame
less tales Of his youth and manhood;
and Trcgar:hcn. who had been bred to
reverence old are. and & think pur ty
- desirable and lovely in = man - in 4
woman, found In: evcn!nS Almost in
~supportable.
"Somebody ought TO put 4 stop TO
all that" lac told Captain IIarcourt.
after dinner, 10 that gallant officers
great astOnishmcnt ''in a society of
gentlemen the thin. is into!crablc. We
serve alady.' he added. with the GEN
crous pOmpoSity OF youth. land that
OF Itself might teach us better man
ncrs."
The Captain stared at him with an
amazcmcnt lie took no pains TO dis
guisc. a touch Of contempt was dis
cerniblc even in his wonder.
Shouldn't advaisc yah talk lake
that" he said. Cursed inconvenient
have yang fcllahs ollerin' that sort
opinion in the army"
81 shall make il my business" re-
turned Tregarthcn. in some heat at the
Captains coItemptuoms wonder, ''to
represent Colonel Pollard tina, al least
one OF his officers finds his style OF con-
vcrsaiion irhsomc. and thinks i unbc-
coming
Don't be an ass. Tregarthen." said
Captain Ilarcourt. Tregarthen inclined
his head stin'y. and marched away. The
Captain told one ortwc of his closest
friends the story OF the youngsters IN
accountable cIazc and they all agreed
that he was i prig and "A greenhorn.
polly" SAID Uarcourt. us about the
best sort IN the service. Idea If young
fool ike that pretending 10 dictate 10
officers old enough to be his father
Captain IIarcourt's friends c~oncurrcd
with him, and the story of Tregarthcn's
ia SS"iblAioh sliNssi lat'blh Ailot1iDut
the regiment. Next day he was treated
with c~riicn: GOODNESS. and some Of his
brother officers who had hitherto been
on friendly terms with him took pains
10 avoid him. lie was not unpopular.
to begin with, but IL wa the general
sense of the corps that the sort Of inso-
lence he had shown deserved rebuke.
He must be made 10 see nj once that
this was not the tonc to take.
That evening there came 4 time when
the conversation at the head OF the
table was animated and loud. The
youngsters At the lower end smoked
and listened. and got little good by
listening. 1t was nothing less than the
the seniors. One man held out against
the rest, and avowcd his belief that the
lady was ch:ste rs ice and pure as
snow. The others naturally laughed
n him. for the woman he defended was
An actress: and in those days-it may
be better now-an actress was any
body's fair game a 4 mess table.
Wait a bit." said the Colonel, with
his wicked. bronchial old chucklc. IN
tell You Z story q propos."
Everybody listened. and the Colonel
told his story. 1t rcdounded infinitely
70 his own credit rs y man of Caliantry.
and infinitely to the discredit of the
lady whose personal charms he sang
and whose character he stole.
Now. who do YOU think that was""
asked the Colonel. Nobody answered.
and the fat old TOue relit his cigar and
gazed about him with Il look of twin
king triumph. None o:hcr.' he said. /
after Il pause. ethan our chas.e young
Miss Churchill. What do You
say 10 that"
II happened at this moment that tho
Coloncl's twinSling eyes looked full into
the eyes of Tregarthcn. who was bend
inc forward 4 little 1T the bottom
OF the table and watching his command
ing officer with an expression of sat
urninc disdain. The biack-browcd Cor
net half rose in his place.
Il beg your pardon. SIR he said.
slowly and distinctly. You seemed to
address YOUR question to me. If YOU
press ne for an answer | mus: give YOU
one
Ii was generally felt that the hour
men braced themselves to support
authority. IL the Colonel had under
stood the situation h. would probably
have snubbed the queriSt. by leaving
him unseen and unanswered. But.
being :akcn by surprise. he raped out:
We'll sir??" and stared ut the Intruder,
with a look. half surprise. half anger.
Il am TO answer your question. >ir?"
said Tregarthcn. II think, then. sir.
that 10 gentleman could have told such
a story. and tina. 40 asSemblage of gem
tlemen could hear il without marking
their sense of lis cowariice. its brutal
ity. ard its general oflensiveneSs."