The Irish standard., 1891-03-14

could utter her trenau}ons plea for recon-
Citation, for the poor child's patriotism
had been put to Il fearful strain during
the hours of darkness. and with the
dawn she had arrived at the conclusion
that she could not give Frank to her
country after all, though al. the while
he knew she Was weak and selfish. so
she was half-glad when she learned
that the temptation of wooing him from
his duty was taken away.
And, while these two tender women
were mingling their tears and giving
each other consolation, Frank Besant,
in company with James Lawson and
two young farmers from the neighbour
hood, was i1ieing away as fast as Ii
local freight train would carry him to
Columb bus
Three of the little party were miser-
able enough, for there had been home
wrenchings, which had played havoc
with the emotions OF the honest lads,
but Mr. Lawson was in exuberant
spirits, as he had thirty dollars and
bottle of whisky in his pocket, and
was cutting adrift from many un-
pleasant "reminiscences AS for paying
his debts--such a piece of extravagant
folly had never entered into his head,
and he grinned to think OF Miss Ruth's
innocence in supposing hi1n capable OF
such a. waste of money. The caboose
WIS full of countrywide going to
market, and, If you had asked the
rosy-cheeked farmers daughters which
they thought the bravest Of the little
band of raw-recruits, they would have
unhesitatingly given him the palm
Not SO the officer i'm command of the
military depot at Camp Chase, near
Columb bus. who was SO extensively per"
sonal and rude in his remarks to him,
that he was Disguised with soldering
before he had even donned his uniform.
Thirty days of severe drill and dis
cipline did not tend to improve James
Lawson's appreciation of military
career, nor did frequent confinement In
the guard-house and extra fatigue duty
lend a. roster hue to his surroundings.
Not that he had not his own circle Of
bosom friends and syn1pathazers, jolly
good fellows like himself, who scorned
hard work and fretted under the igno-
BILE strains of military discipline
Nor was Frank Besant's path entirely
strewn with flowers. The contrast be"
tween the quiet home at Meltonburg
and the rough and tumble barrack Life
was a severe strain upon him, but his
keen sense of duty and innate courage
carried him through the worst OF It, lie
had come from a different home than
any of his companions; for the Widow
Besant was well-to-do in the world
having been left twenty thousand dol
lars and the homestead by her husband,
physician in large practice, and, being
a woman Of broad accomplishments and
exquisite taste, shehad brought her
bow upin all atmosphere OF refinement
his present comrades had never enjoyed.
This to degree separated HIM tor
time from congenial companlonshlp,
and even lead TO decided unpopular1ty;
so that when the company elected OF
ficers his name was never even offered
for consideration,
ssNeyer mind, old chap: they don't
know how to appreciate merit, out we Ii
show them when we get to the front,
who's Who Lawson said, taInlilarly
slapping him on the shoulder, a piece
of sympathy which the poor lad did not
very heartily enjoy.
Then he got into trouble with the
drill sergeant, an Englishman, who had
been drafted from the regular army
to teach the new recruits the noble art
of war, and who, having spent his early
DAYS in humble submission to his pas
tors and masters y loved, now that he
was clothed with little authority, to
tyrannize over one better bred than
himself, especially when the object OF
his animad7ersion obstinately refused
to observe the details Of military
etiquette in remembering that they
kept very fair whisky at the canteen and
that a sergeant's' throat was naturally
dry. .
Thus it fell out one day when Ser
geant Briggs was more than ordinarily
abusive, that Franks patience nearly
gave way.
ssKnees and heels together and head
up, you longslegged counter-ski pperl'
the sergeant yelled, giving the young