San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-28
Az iRMY PORTlA.
By CHARLES KING, q. s. A,
Author of "The Colonel's Ddatghter, t" INC
Deserter," "From the Ranks" Dun
rapen Rnnch,n "Ttco Soldiers"


dispelled the atmosphere OF gloom that
hung for few minutes about the lower
end of the table. He and his strange
visitors were still closeted, so 10 speak,
in the parlor, but now they came forth.
In some mysterious way every woman
had by this time learned that Mr.. Schon-
berg was there, and at the sound of the
opening parlor door 2ni of the mellifu-
GUS accents of that gentleman's voice
they instinctively huddled q the other
end of the piazza. Lawler walked with
the two men as far as the gate, and when
they finally disappeared in the direction
of the store came sauntering back to join
the ladies'
"As / don't smoke" he said, 81 will
take my enjoyment here. Where shall
I sit?"
'Take this chair, Col. Lawler," said
Miss Marshall, noting the aversion with
which all the others of the party had be-
come inspired. "May 1 send for coffee
for your?
miss Marshall, have no small vices.
l never drink anything stronger than
milk: never smoke, never chew, never
swear"
"Never even swear, colonel"
"Never. What is it youare smiling
at?'
"Have you ever read the works of
Josh Billings, Col. Lawler?'
81 have no time to waste on nonsense,
Miss Marshall. And | never could see
anything funny or witty in such men as
Billings and Artemus Ward"
well, it wasn't his fun was think
ing of quite so much just now as his in
sight into character" said the young
lady musingly, as she still gravely looked
him over with her big eyes.
Two young officers came strolling
along tine walk at the moment, and pass
ing beneath the lamp raised their caps
in salutation to the ladies. Miss Mar
shall nodded and smiled with marked
cordiaiity.
"All wasted, Miss Marshall; they
could not see it."
"No, colonel, and particularly want
ed one of them at least to do so. Now,
that's part of the army that l decidedly
like"
"Who are they, may ask"
"Mr. Wallace and his especial friend
Mr.. Hearn."
"And is it possible that you find such
young men to your taste? gave you
credit for having rather a higher stand
ard"
"But it is their standard that l so
much admire, Col. Lawler. l don't sup
pose anything would tempt either of
those young men to say or do mean or
cowardly thing"
mo" said the colonel, with superior
smile; ''and yet, do you know, I'm ready
to stake my professional reputation that
one of them at least is quite unworthy
your trust or confidence"
s'Now, are you not a trifie prejudiced,
colonel? l thought the law presumed
man innocent until proven guilty"
Theoretically, yes; practically, men
who have studied human nature through
the courts, as | have had to, get to see
through the veneering of high tone that
these youngsters are so apt to assume"
"And so you are probably quite ready
to agree with the correspondent of The
Palladium, colonel, that most officers
are frauds, especially the second ieuten-
ants?"
"My experience has certainly not given
me high opinion of the young men,
Miss Marshall"
"And now, do you know, colonel, my
intuition is very much in their favor"
But is your intuition as'well founded,
do you think, as long legal experience"
"Well, your experience has been con-
fined to the limited few that have come
before courts martial, has it not? My
intuition covers the great array of their
number-the ninety-and-nine. Now, l
haven't any especial knowledge of the
matter you seem to be investigating,
Col. LAWYER, but fancy that evidence
such as Mr.. Schonberg might give would
have little weight before court of intel
hgent men,"
"You will change your mind when
you come to see the books, young lady"
"Have you changed yours"
"No; they simply confirmed my judg-
ment."
"Then my intuition was right, colo
nell"
How so, may | ask"
st told me that you had prejudged
the case"
At this moment the officers came saun-
tering out into the open air, joining the
group of ladies, who had fed back to
The western end of the piazza as soon as
they saw their obnoxious visitor safely
anchored by Miss Marshalls side.
where's Lawler?" queried Morris in