Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-08-14

men have been known to have to qui
their beloved profession on that account
and get something soft in the east for 1
year or So"
The color mounted to Noe1s cheeks
but he gave no other sign OF understand
ing the shaft as aimed at him. Promptly
and loudly as ever he spoke out:
"Oh, of course, if he's used up in ser
vice and has to go in to recuperate, al
well and good; but / always supposed
Cassidy was stalwart in point of health
and constitution. Who's going to tn,
doctors tonight? you, Jack?'
Jacl1-otherwise Lieut.. John Tracy
| shook his head as he whitfield at the Gig
arctic he had just lighted and then
stretched forth bis hand for the foaming
| glass of beer which the attendant
brought him, but vouchsafed no verbal
reply. Lee and Martin edged over tC
where the two captains were playing
their inevitable game of seven up. Two
of the juniors-young second ieutenants
despite the extreme cordiality of Noel'l
invitation, begged TO he excused, as they
did not care to drink AnythinS-even q
| lemonade; and no sooner had the party
finished their modest potation than there
was u general move. Wallace and Hearn
went into the billiard room; Wharton
and Lee started in the direction Of their
quarters; and presently Mr.. Noel was
| the only man in the clUbroom without
an occupation of some kind or acomrade
to talk to.
Now, why should this have been the
case: Noel's whole manner was over
flowing with jollity and kindliness; his
eyes beamej and sparkled as he looked
from one man to the other; he hailed
each in turn by his Christian name and
in tones of most cordial friendship; he
chatted and laughed and had comical
anecdotes to tell the party; he was a tall,
stylish, fine looking fellow, with express
sive dark eyes and wavy dark brown
hair; his mustache was the secret envy
of more than half of his associates; his
figure was really elegant in its grace and
suppleness; his uniforms fitted him like
a glove, and were invariably of Hatfeld's
choicest handiwOrk. Appearances were
with him in every sense of the word; and
yet there was some reason why his soci-
ETY. was politely but positively Stunned
by several of his brother officers and
cultivated" by none.
1t was only a few years after the great
war when Gordon Noel joined the Elev-
enth from civil life He came of an old
and influential family, and was welcom-
ed in the regiment as an acquisition. He
made friends rapidly, and was for two
or three years as popular youngster as
there was in the service. Then the troop
to which he was attached was ordered to
the plains, via Leavenworth. 1t was a
long journey by boat, and by the time
they reached the old frontier city orders
ald kilograms were awaiting them, one
of which, apparently to Mr.. Noels great
surprise, detached him from his COM
pany and directed him to report for tom
porary duty at the war department in the
city OF Washington. He was there eight
cen months, during which time his regi-
ment had some sharp battles with the
Cheyennes and Kiowas in Kansas and
the Indian Territory Then a new sec
rotary of war gave ear to the oft repeated
appeals Of the colonel of the Eleventh to
have Mr.. Noel and one or two other de-
tached gentlemen returned to duty with
their respective companies, and Just Is
they were moving to the Pacific coast
the absentees reported for duty and went
along. At Vancouver and Walla Walla
Noel seemed to regain by his joviality |
and good fellowship what he had lost in !
the year and a half Of his absence, though |
there were ont and out soldiers in the |
Eleventh who said that the man who
would stay on Fancy duty" in Wash
mgton or anywhere else while his com
rades were in the midst of stirring |
campaign against hostile Indians couldn't
be of the right sort.
UP IN Oregon the Modoc troubles so@
began, and several troops were sent
southwark from their stations, scouting.
There were several little skir1nishes be-
tween the various detachments and the
agile Indians, with no great loss on either
side; but when Capt Jack" retired to
the natural fastness of the lava beds.
serious work began, and here Mr.. Noel
was found to be too i'll to take part in
the campaign, and was sent in to San
francisco to recuperate. The short but
bloody war was brought to a close with
out his having taken part in any of its
actions, but he rojoined after delight
tuI convalescence in San Francisco
where it was understood that he had
broken down only after riding night and
lay and all alone some 300miles through
the wilderness with orders to a battalion
ot his regiment that was urgently needed
1t the 'front.'. and was able to talk very
chilly of what had occurred down in the
klamath Lake country. Then came his
to first ieutenancy, and, as
uck would have it, to a troop stationed
1t the Preside.
For three months he was the gayest of
the gay, the life of parties of every kind
both IN town and in garrison; he was in
'xuberant health and spirits; he danced
hight after night, and was the most pop
lar partner ever welcomed in the parlors
# hospitable San Francisco. And then all
Il sudden there came tidings of an out
Freak among the Arizona Apaches of so
formidable character that the division
commander decided to send his Preside
roopers reinforce the one regiment that
vas trying to cover a whole territory.
there was pathetic parting. with no end
4 lamentation. when Mr.. Noel was spir-
ted away with his lynx eyed captain;
ut they need not have worried-those
air danes and damsels; not a hair =
L his handsome head was in danger,
or the til had grappled with and
hrottled their foes before the detach- t
1ent from the Eleventh were fairly in I