Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-13
CHAPTER v.
A DILEMMA.

Then there was lull in the storm, and
the armies retired to winter quarters. This
gave Harry a chance to make inquiries
about the Frobishams; but, though many
were acquainted with them, none could
give him the slightest clew to their where
abouts, so nothing remained to him but to
trust to the chapter of accidents which
had already afforded him two strange OPP
portuni,>es Of meeting members of the fam
lily in whicI he was so deeply interested.
The months dragged YEARLY along; for
it is one thing to spend tho winter in gay
city, adored by the women, feted at ball
and party, and another to drone the days
away IN a squalid village, with no compan-
iOnShip but such as the barrack-room af-
forded, meeting the same faces overy day
and going through the same dull rounds of
duty. Some found refuge in cards and
drinking, gambling their pay away; others
turned to study, but the few books they
possessed were ragged and dogseared by
constant lending; and oil looked eagerly
forward to the stirring times that the
spring would bring them, even though
death himself was their herald. Harry's
fathers letters. too, worried him, for the
old man was beset with a strong PRESENT.
ment OF evil, to be brought about by Al
phonse LecroiX, against whom he was per-
petually warning him. Then his constant
illusions to ''that grip were not of q nature
to be agreeable to one who loved her so
paSsiOnately that he would not believe it pos
sible for her pure nature to do any wrong.
Like these impetuous young fellows who
put their lady-loves on pedestals and make
goddesses of them. Their generous
natures are rarely deceived, for I notice
that such implicit devotion is usually re-
wa1a1ed by the GROWING blessing of good
woman's love.
sat one day In the sQualid chamber of q
cottage he had deemed himself fortunate to
secure as quarters, when the door opened
and Gordon Grey entered. There was
sheepish, hang-dog look about the lads
face which caught Harry's eye at once-so
different from the bright abandon which
usually Illuminated the young fellows hand
some features.
"See here, Winthrop he blurted out,
without preface, as he flung himself on
Harry's bed, "I'm in a hole.''
There was such a climax of comical dis
tress in the expression, that Harry could
hardly repress a smile.
ooh, you needn't grin. I'm regularly
freed. There's nothing left for me, as far
as I can see, but to just go and blow my
brains out, unless
"Well, unlesss"
"Yor can let me have two hundred dol
lars and ask no questions what want it
for"
Harry looked at his young lieutenant
'curiously, but not unkindly.
STwO hundred dollars is large sum-" he
SAID, gravely, and must know what YOU
want it for, or shall not feel like lending
it to you. Besides, I haven't such an amount
by me, and should be driven to borrow it
from"
''Oh, no, you wouldn't Gordon inter-
rupted, eagerly, "Chatterton said he'd take
your note of Aand, if -
$50 you have fallen into the clutches Of
that unprincipled scoundrela" Harry burst
forth in righteous indignation. "After all
my warnings, too; oh, Gordon Grey, this is
too badr'
ST did not know"
''You did! When you told me that YOU
had been seduced INTO that gambling den of
a canteen, told you what the end would be.
If you had listened to me-
"Oh, yes, 1 know. But, Harry, was
dipped SO deeply that 1 was obliged to make
an effort to win back my losings, and
"You thought they would give you
chance to do so; yes, just such a chance as
q kitten would have of getting redress from
. pack of terriers"
"Why, Harry, they are officers"
ST know it; and thank God there are few
such black sheep among us. Well, they
viii have in this case to wait for their plum
der, for won't help you"
"But they won't wait"
"They must What can they dos''
"Chatterton says that if I do not take up
my notes this very day, he viii send them
to his brother to collect from my mother"
"Pshawi You are minor, and she is
not responsible for your gambling debts''
sob, Harry, you do not know her. She
has scrimped and saved out of her small
means to send me money; and she would
beggsr herself rather than blemish should
We ON her boyss character. Not payl I