The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-22

only half hearing her enthusiastic calculations
about the young eoloneis handsome uniform
and eliftering sword, and the pomp and vanities
OF the parade of war. Ned Guest had foreeeen
That solomon might be rival and all this out
Dmonssng II praise OF the soldier troubled him
ben they reached the village street there were
stern lines in she boys face that perplexed the
girl. and she said. half timidly. but with q tone
oL triumph too: Why don's you talk 20 me,
you Rlum old dearf
do you really like soldiers so much. Beesier
Just love them" she replied excitedly as o
niue lonaer roll OF the drum. and shriller
note OF the hfe reached their ears II lust love
them
Good NIGHT darling was his answer. .swhat.
kissas He asked in surprise as Rassia snrnad
her back mon him and started slowly % the
path to the house She hesitated moment bus
soon she came running back laughing cheer
FULLY and cryins out as she gave him the de-
sired EN- brace:
There. you silly thing-but you don't deserve
IT, you've been SO awful cross"
GOOD night" he said again. and then he walked
straight 10 the recruiting office and enlisted
1t 10 unnecessary to describe the sensation
which WAS caused by this enlstment-the old
mans passionate cutlery and his final yielding TO
the discrimination of his son. nor Bessie Gray's
smiling acquiescence when the boys commission
as second lieutenant came, and he donned the
uniform which pleased her vanity. When the
regiment marched away, however. the bright
ness of her eyes was sdimmed by tears and the
day before she had said as well as she could for
the sobs that ehoked her
Yes, yes NedIll-l1lmarry you when you
come back for IL do love you. my sweet boy.
do love you. Ned, and can never. never, love
anyone else"
prised that Solomon appeared 10 be dispirited.
He had been jealous and suspicious of his rival
until now he had won the prize for which both
had been contending. HIS triumph had made
him com passionate, and he set himself TO doing
friendly services to Solomon which we're
cepted because they were useful When other
officers spoke derisively of the coonel's soldier
" qualities muttered against him for his sell
hshness, the young lieutenant was always his
defender In camp, Guest worked hard to mas
ter his new profession. He cheerfully bore his
share of the tolls and discomforts of the march,
and when the fighting came, no one was Drawer.
Wherever the colonel was. there was Guest
close at his side Once he shot confederate
cavalrymsn who aiming q death-stroke at
the co1onefs head. AT another time, he Quelled
q mutiuy OF hungry soldiers who wanted food.
and who lad gone 10 headquarters TO demand
that the enlisted men should be better cared for.
If the colonel did anything that caused grumb
ling in the regiment. Guest smoothed it over aud
propitiated the GROWERS.
Letters came from Bessie-at first with every
mail that reached the front. and then less FREE
quently. The early missives were full of sweet
ness of love. Then there came complaints that
the war was lasting so long. and playful doubts
Of his constancy. In response. Guest wrote
with all the fervor of his ardent heart. and
again and again protested his eternal fidelity.
But, indeed, he had need to do this. for his
manly and chivalric loyalty was recognized by
all who knew him-by all save one
Almost year had gone since the regiment
41ess8I8.
duty, and more than once had been mentioned
IN disnatches. The colonel had been orevetted
for Rallantry in an action in which Guest had led
the men and solomon had acted as file closer.
The young first lieutenant now
and adjutant. but Bessie Gray was dissatisfied
with the slowness of his promotion, and she
chided him, telling him that she had hoped that
she was to marry general. but it was apparent
that her am hilton was to be realized In
the same mail came other letters from Thes-
salia. IN one of which the disturbing nsws
OF n ri m An fhM Eam
who was very attentive to Bessie. Stung by all
this piled up misery. Gnest wrote 20 Miss Gray
neither tainted nor npbraided her. He simply
told her that il she was disappointed, their en-
gagement was at an end
Il was year to day since the regiment
took the field and Guest was captain. The
brigade of which the regiment part was
facing an equal number or confederates in Ten
nessee. The lighting was sharp and obstinate.
Solomon had the right of the line and the most
serious attacks were directed against his force
Two or three times there had been signs of way-
ernR, but Guest-it seemed always to be Guest
kept the men to their work just at sunset
the coloneIs horse shot, and falling, broke
its riders leg. Solomon q little 20 the right
and front of his men when this happened, and
body of the enemy. seeing that officer
down, rushed forward TO capture him. Imme-
diately Guest seized musket, and, with several
men of his company, kept his assailants at bay
until Solomon was extricated and carried to the
rear. In the struggle, Guest received a gun
shot wound in the head and. for many weeks,
IL
When he was strong enough TO travel he was
taken to Thessalia. The colonel had been pro-
NOTED for the part he played in the fight
which Guest was wounded. He was a brig
lough nursing his broken leg.
Bessie Gray received the WIS of her quondam
lovers mishaD iearfuy Tears fell from that
young persons eyes easily smiles played
round her lips, SO that CAPTAIN Guests mother
may be pardoned if she did not set much store
by either Her son had told her of the broken
thGrAfOr6 ha
woman's inquiries with such GOODNESS that they
became infrequent. and at last ceased alto
gether. On the day when Guest reached Thes-
salia. Bessie departed for q visit
to the East. and very soon came news
Of her social triumphs in New York,
and Philadelphia and Washington, news which
woman, with tongue that kept pace with a
lively imagination. Captain Guest never ut
tered word that betrayed his deeper hurt, but
be was longer in recovering from the gunshot
wound than the surgeons had expected. and the
village people recognized the fact that the hap
py. joyous boy had grown to be q serious man.
with somewhat gloomy manner. He seldom
spoke unless he Was first addressed, and when
he began to walk about it noticed
that he chose unfrequented ways and that he
avoided bis old friends. Even when he was APP
oarently well he professed TO be too weak to
sept the kindly attentions of those who wished
10 celebrate his recovery. Feasts and merry
nakiugs were not for him.
On Solomon's recommendation, he had been
promoted and was major. His commission
reached him just as he was about to return to |
he 'front.' and with it came the news of Eliza |
beth Gray's marriage. The shock that he had |
yrimly waited for was felt as keenly SO il he |
lad not nerve6 himself to receive it. but with |
ais unhappiuess. came also great pity for his |
chief and comrade, and he said to Solomon az he |
oade him goodbye:
We've both lost her. general. but we'll stand |
ogether and show her that we both were worthy |
IL her.
Il must be confessed that Solomon did not |
ook like 8 disappointed lover when he heard |
he news of the marriage. On the contrary. he |
accepted Guests proposal with evident pleas /
ire.
.Dsvelish funny" unused the general as he |
ode home ward. ''but be is too useful No, I'll |
ct him think 3d."
Major Guest went back to the army. He may |
lave had talk with his mother. who knew his /
tory. but TO that cannot cay. It 10 suff- |
ent that no one else. not even Solomon again. |
,ver heard a moan. He was on Solomons staff. I
md was recognized the real head of. first. the |
brigade and, then, the division which the war /