The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-06

news came OF the INDIANS crossing, anO
of our having to jump for the warpath.
Everybody thought yesterday morning
that the campaign was about over SO far
as we are concerned. Halloa! here comes
young Hayne. Now, what does he
want!'
Riding a quick, nervous little bay
troop horse, a slim built officer, with
boyish face, laughing blue eyes, and
sunny hair, comes Looping up the long
prairie wave; he shouts CHEEKY greeting
to one or two brother subalterns who
are plodding along beside their men, and
exchanges some merry chaff with Lieut..
Ross, who is prone to growl at the luck
which has kept him afoot and given to
this favored youngster 'mount" and a
temporary staff position. The boys
spirits and fun seem to jar on Rayner's
nerves. He regards him blackly as he
rides gracefully towards the battalion
commander, and with decidedly nom
chalant ease of manner and an "off-
hand" salute that has an air about it Of
saying, 81 do this sort of thing because
one has to, but it doesn't really mean
anything, you KNOW" Mr.. Hayne accosts
his superior:
"Ah, good evening. captain. I have
just come back from the front, and Capt.
Hull directed me to give you his compli-
ments and say that we would camp in
the bend yonder, and he would like you
to post strong pickets and have double
guard tonight"
"Have me post double guards! How
the devil does he expect me to do that
after marching all day?"
81 did not inquire, sir; he might have
told me twas none of my business, don't
you know" And Mr.. Hayne has the in
siderable hardihood to wink at the
battalion adjutant-a youth of two years
longer service than his own.
"Well, Mr.. Hayne, this is no matter
for levity," says Rayner, angrily. "What
does Capt. Hull mean to do with his own
men, if I'm to do the guard?"
''That is another point, Capt. Rayner,
which I had not the requisite effrontery
to inquire into. Now, you might ask
him, but couldn't. don't you known
responds Hayne, smiling amiably the
while into the wrathful face of his SUI
perior. 1t serves only to make the indig-
nant captain more wrathful; and no
wonder. There has been no love lost be-
tween the two since Hayne joined the
Rifiers early the previous year. He came
in from civil life, a city bred boy, fresh
from college, full of spirits, pranks, fun
of every kind; wonderfully keen hand
with the billiard cue; knowing one at
cards and such games of chance as col
lege boys excel at; musician of no
mean pretensions, and an irrepressible
leader in all the frolics and frivolities of
his comrades. He had leaped to popu-
larity from the start. He was full of
courtesy and gentleness to women, and
became pet in social circles. He was
frank, free, off handed with his asso-
ciates, spending lavishly, treating"
with boyish ostentation on all occasions,
living quite en- grand seigneur, for he
seemed to have little money outside
his pay-''a windfall from good old
duffer of an uncle" as he had explained
it.
His father, scholarly man who had
been summoned to an important under
Office in the state department during the
war of the rebellion, had lived out his
honored life in Washington and died
poor, as such men must ever die. 1t was
his wish that his handsome, spirited,
brave hearted boy should enter the army,
and long after the sod had hardened
over the fathers peaceful grave the
young fellow donned his first uniform
and went out to join "The Rifers."
High spirited, joyous, full of laughing
fun, he was "Pet" Hayne before he had
been among them six months. But with
In the year he had made one or two enc
mics. 1t could not be said of him that
he showed that Difference to rank and
station which was expected of Junior
officer; and among the seniors were sew
eral whom he speedily designated sun
old buffers" and treated
with as little semblance of respect as a
second lieutenant could exhibit and be
permitted to live. Rayner prophesied of |
him that, as he had no balance and was
burning his candle at both ends, he would
come to grief in short order. Hayne re-
torted that the only balance that Rayner
had any respect for was one at the bank
ers, and that it was notorious in Wash
lngton that the captains father had made
most OF his money in government con- !
tracts, and that the captains original
in the regulars was secured
through well paid congressional influ-
ence. The fact that Rayner had devel-
oped into good officer did not wipe out
the recollection of these facts; and he
could have throttled Hayne for reviving
them. 1t was ga game of give and take"
said the youngster; and be behaved
himself to those who were at all decent
IN their manner to him.
1t was a thorn in Ravnar,s aasl .to-o