Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-09-18

from mote sne a' linn LIES howery Wales with
''s SLOW of golden day.
n,sr 0cea,. ---=
THOMPSON OF OURS.
rhore between Quetta and Candahar
, ,ats yerv cold in January nasty,
; e., clustering cold that nips the
=. ,r'' and shortens the. temper; that
,ss, whistIi"g r"nn;l your mud
Wi with northc:,., Mind from off the
~, and cracks tho shriveled skin off
like old parchment.
Tha Colonel blew on his fingers,
r s for fresh wood to be piled upon
fire, and fell to the contemplation
lis thumb. WHICH was FROST bitten.
Rafore him upon the table lay the
(thsome sheets of foolscap known as
annual Confidential Reports. {"
ma of these we're already filed in,
me- blank as yet. Each was headed
the impertinent personal riddles sent
srly for commandments to answer,
Now, even when forced to look from
point of view of disapproval upon
one of his boys" this honorable,
bdlv English gentleman held the
ITEM Of confidential disparagement in
rror But really this morning, what
n the cold, and the maggots in the
which had put him off his break
and the extraordinary delay in the
ii letters, she felt inclined to damn
ery man-jack of them, himself in
ded. With roaring blizzard search
your bones, and q suspicion of fever
your blood, and nothing decent to
yot don't feel like certifying that
ery soul under your command is re-
Irkab!e for all qualities that go to
Ike saints upon earth.
ANYHOW the Colonel did not feel like
He began turning lover the sheets
III that sickly. languid feeling of
bit with which monotony in its un-
gasant forms is apt to inspire one after
g years of patient grind. He hated
Use grim skeleton sketches in black
b white. 1t was always the same
ng-the same weary struggle to COM
be strict truth with fair words; to put
les" where it ought to be "No," and
70" where it ought to be Eyes" For
re they indeed-all these youths
llous in we'll doing, all talented, all
Ftful, all OF equable temper? Had
By, every one of them, been endowed
m their cradles with unnatural sa-
pity and aptitude for command?
Ere they, in short, ready-made gen.
Is from the moment they entered the
ice? Alas, no! The Colonel's eye
hdered to his crippled thumb again,
then back to the sheets under his
her hand, and presently fell upon q
rtain name heading one of them.
hereupon he cursed the authorities in
heart for pack of fools and sighed.
was Thompson-Lieut. William
Pompson-known by the name Of
billy"
The Colonel took it in his hand and
Bled again. There was not one, or
raly one, of those cut and dried ques-
pns that could be answered gracefully,
conscientlously, as regarded this
|nng man. II could describe him in
ree Words" groaned the Colonel
'srum.scarum young devil"
Then, for he liked the lad, he began
wonder how on earth he was to fill
that report. He was keen soldier
nself, and, if the truth be told, had a
rtiality for the type so pithily de.
lbed IN those three words. He would
ther have such with him in the field
IAN some others for whom perchance
lore could be said on paper. OF such
knew was the kingdom of heroes.
The ghosts of many haunting tragedies
ne crowding into the old soldiers
Ind as he sat lingering that internal
eper. Did any Of these harsh moral
h0tographs Of them, with "Yesses"
pa Noes" in the most unbecoming
aaees, lie rotting still perhaps in the
t-Generals Offices?
he got up shivering and kicked the
g into blaze, then returned with
efn determination to the study of the
s1ns questions in hand. What could
say for Billy Thompson? The lad
~ the temper of a game bull-terrier,
ae tact and judgment of a Newfound.
saa puppy, and about as much ability
~ requirement as the average Eng
sn schoolboy. The thought of Billy
thompson as ornamented with the
!aplete list of confidential report"
a'ues was nothing less than gro
esque
ne glanced down the list. Why,that
ssy morning he had spent a bad hall
a ouf ln wigging the youngster for short
,ulngs in almost every item. Late
kSa1n tor parade. Violent with a Sepoy
Nd so on.
10, What on earth am I to say for you
IL :. ne asked angrily, tapping the bun
;I, VI uncompromising papers, at which
1au glanced with rueful despair in hi
LSuest eyes. "You are distinctly care
s ''s Wanting in tact. useless at Office
'oas the use of complaining o
n uui writer's, sir?-inattentive and argu
SSs su Ride? OF course; ane
s sa.s about all you're it for. That aat
E. uals; but unluckily these won't I'd
ny, ouce you in your profession, nor gail
~ respect, nor fit you for command.
H. .aen the Colonel had stolen . look .
tb s rank an, bright face, aud thought TO-
s ue mlllionth time how ridiculous it 81
w. The lad was honorable and brave
d. y not trust to time and training +
9vo ,u :. rest? He wanted tight hant
"er him of conrsa l,,,t ,,hr he force.