Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-04

tache ought 10 nave Deen, toid me at once
of the ''old saber."
Several times 1 caught his eye closely
scanning me; at last, with hand to fore
head, in quick salute, he spoke:
''Beg pardon, sir; but ar'nt you in the
servicel"
replied that had that honor, and fur
Their said that l recognized the soldier in
him.
Proud to know that it amt rubbed of
yet, sir l could tell you from your set up
the moment clapped eyes on you"
Well, we talked and talked. at least nc
did and with the simple honesty Of the sos
der; recognizing my interest, he told me
much of his life, and here's part OF 1t;
II listed when / was buta boy, not twelve
months from the old sod, sir, and boy and
man ate Uncle Sans rations and burn.
his powder for nigh forty year.
Wounded? Oh, yes Of and on I'd get
a shot or a hack, but all that goes with the
fun you have; and sure it's part of the trade,
amt it, was a wild slip Of boy at first,
hut / married young, as good luck d have
II, and married well, better soldiers wife
never stepped than the girl won. She
kept me up to the mark, sir, and made all
the man that was in me tell for all it was
worth, and it's me that's proud to say that
there are few officers, high or low, OF the
old army, that amt glad to give the good
word and honest grip to First Sergeant
Bernard Darcy Of the ould dragons.
"Why did leave the sarvice? Because
me heart was broke, and /: broke again to
carry the coat sleeve without the stripes.
But I'll tell you of it,
1T was just after the war, in sixty-six and
we were quartered at - Barracks. The
wife and JEANNE, that's our daughter, sir,
had come TO join the command again; they
had left when we took the field, JEANNE
was then just short fourteen; but myi
when she came back, she was that Of
beauty and lady that, faith! she took the
breath out me mouth.
1--WE had fine Accommodations at the bar
racks, for the wife and myself were favor
ties, and vet / misdoubted that it was the
right place for such a diamond Jewel as our
girl. So when with her Independent spirit
she would go into the city to- learn the
dress making, forced myself to give con-
sent But of and On, two or three times
week, and always OF Sunday, the darling
was with US.
There was one Liftinint in our troop that
had learned to love as q son; brave and
true a lad he WAS as ever threw leg over
saddle. l knew, or thought | knew, that he
was all good, yet l could not but worry
when I found him making chances and ex-
cuses to see our JEANNE, and watched the
face of my girl when he came near her.
His people were millionaires and aristo-
Gratis, and what could be between the son Of
such and an old sergeant's daughterl
There came one day, in the evening,
when l were looking about IN the stables,
and in not an over-pleasant humor, when
up comes the Liftinint, holding out his hand
20 me. Charles Foster his name was
a must bid you goodbye in hurry,
Sergeant Darcy says he. i want TO catch
the train in the city
land where might ask would you be
going Of the suddint sirr said l, taken all
aback.
"'Oh, I'm going-going away said he,
kind Of confused ike. i sent in my resig
nation some time ago, but we kept it quiet.
The acceptance and order has just come,
and now I'm off. Remember me always and
kindlv, sergeant and he was gone.
"Weu, that upset me entirely and l went
to my quarters, wondering how JEANNE
would like that news, for it was her regular
evening 70 come TO US.
$50 when | walked in and slammed the
door, looked for her, but no JEANNE there.
where's tae girll' l said to the wife.
'How's to know says she. she'll be here
presently I've 10 doubt There's your sup