Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-03-05

by his orderly, was crossing the green
parade, swinging his cane in the nervous
and energetic way peculiar to him.
''Mr. Hearn," he said in his quick, al
most gruf manner, "the officer of the
day tells me he has confined Welsh. Of
your troop, for insubordination and for
threatening you, and that he had been
at the store with some men from town
who were forbidden the reservation.
You know the men, I'm told"
''Only one of them, sir. l knew that
Jew, Schonberg, the first winter 1 was
stationed here"
"Well, Capt. Brodie says he also used
threatening language toward you. What
does it means What could he have to
threaten you withsy
Nothing, SIR answered Hearn
promptly. SAT least" and now the hot
blood seemed bounding to his temples,
''at least nothing that have any fear
of. He is blackguard, and l was ut
terly inexperienced when came here,
SO that he got me into some embarrass-
ment in money matters at the time. 1t
was settled long ago, and have no idea
what he thinks he can trump up now.
He used to be clerk and attendant at
the store here when old Braine'
Yes, yes, know said the colonel
/ inpaiently. ''It is odd that you young
gentlemen will put yourselves in the
hands Of such people. Now that fellow
has been kept off the reservation all
these years, yet here he comes again be-
cause he seems to think he has hold on
1 you, and dares to disobey orders as
II consequence
II protest. colonel" said Hearn, flush
ing hotly, Il am in no wise responsible
+ for his actions You can have the de-
tails of the trouble he gave me at any
time, and can show you the papers
that long since ended the matter He
has no hold on me, sir, whatever" And
4 the young officer stood before his com
mander looking both grieved ana indig-
nant at the imputation conveyed in the
latter's wosds.
"Well, well, Mr.. Hearn, do not mean
to say that he has any ground, cnly you
young gentlemen cannot be too careful
about your associates. Contact with
such canaille rs this must defile YOU Just
as much as pitch. Now, Maj. Kenyon,
how is Corp. BRENT"
Thus having the last word, and hay
ing conveyed to the young subaltern a
distinct sense Of rebule, Col Morris
abruptly intimated his desire that moth
ing further should be said on the sub
ject. So long as he chose to transfer his
attention to Maj. Kenyon the com
mander could Of course prevSnt further
remonstrance; but as Mr.. Hearn stood
there in evident readiness to resume his
own defense, and as the colonel knew very
well that he had hardly been fair to him,
since Hearns character had been most
exemplary ever since his Joining the
regiment, his better nature told him
that he ought in further words to let the
young fellow down easily, as the army
expression goes. For reasons of his own
Col. Morris did not wish to unbend.
however, III presence of the infantry
major, his second in command No
sooner had he finished his inquiries than
he turned to Mr.. Hearn again:
q do not mean to say, sir that any
reason exists for that mans threats, only
that I consider it most unfortunate that
you or any young officer should ever
have put himself in the power Of that
class of people,"
Hearn would have retorted, but for a
moment he could not find words at once
respectful and convincing. The colonel
having delivered this final yolley from
his entire line now promptly retired be-
fore the other side could rally, and, as
though covered by the smoke of his own
fire, tramped away across the parade,
leaving the two officers gazing silently
after him. The orderly, with hand to
cap visor, sprang briskly past the pair
and stalked away in the wake of his
cane twirling commander.
AT last Kenyon spoke: 'sCome, Hearn,
when you're as old as am you'll not
fret yourself over glittering generalities
like that. Every colonele I suppose. is +
full of wise saws and modern instances, (
and must shoot 'em off occasionally. III
be just as full, no doubt, if / live to be q
colonel. It has taken me thirty years
soldering to get out of company duty,
and the Lord only knows how long it
will be before can swap this gold leaf
for the silver. Come along, man; Tn
going to Lanes moment to ask the la
dies to drive to town this evening, and
there's nothing like the women folk to
help one out of the gru1nps. There they
are on the piazza now-the women, not I
the grumps. And by the powersl yon-
der comes young Lee in his riding boots
to ask Miss Marshall to try a canter."
. But Hearn shook his head: Il can't go
now; I'm all upset by this thing, major.
By heaveni isn't it enough to make a
man swear, that low cad like that can
come into his daily life and poison the
ears of his friends and associates with
slander and innuendo, and that / have
to listen in silence to such rebuke as that
the colonel gave me?'
"Well, that's what you get for being
In the army, my boy. Three days ago
you were taking issue with me at Lanes
because I said if had my life to live
over again the army was the very last
profession I'd seek in this country, and
you thought you loved it. Here's Lane,
now," he continued, as the gray eyed
captain strolled up and laid his hand
kindly on the young officers shoulder.
IL u 4A3 w pun 1lCdlA Oub VI LuC
grumps, Lane. Haul him along with us,
or he'll be doing something desperate.
You remember how enthusiastic he was
three days ago-loved his profession,
would rather be a soldier than railway
magnate, wouldn't swap his commission
for million in the four per cents. Fetch (
him along"
And between them, half laughing,
half sympathetic, the two officers con-
voyed their junior toward the shaded
verahda where were seated Mrs. Lane,
Miss Marshall and other ladies busy with
their needlework and probable gossip. /
Miss Wharton was of the party, and
there were two or three callers. They
had noted the colonels soldierly figure
as he tramped across the parade, and
were quick to see the two officers coming
along the gravel walk. Mrs. Lane half
rose, and smiling brightly bade them
enter Forage caps were raised in ac-
knowledgment and salutations exchang-
ed, but the trio hung outside. The lna-
jor by this time was talking vehemently.
Lane was looking grave and anxious.
The same perplexed expression was on
his face that had been noted at the break
fast table when reading that letter just
before Miss Marshall's entrance the day