Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-07

could utter her tremulous plea for recon
Citation, for the poor child's patriotism
had been put to 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 all the while
she 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 neighbor-
hood, was hieing away as fast us a
local freight train would carry him to
Columbus.
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 jim his pocket, and
was cutting adril4 from many I'M
pleasant "reminiscences. As for paying
his debts-such piece of extravagant
| folly had never entered into his head,
and he grinned to think of Miss Ruth's
innocence in supposing him capable of
such n waste of money. The caboose
was full of countrywide going to
market, and, If you had asked the
rosy checked 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 in command of the
military depot at Camp Chase, near
Columbus, 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 sympathizers, 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 severe strain upon him, but his
keen sense of duty and innate courage
carried him through the worst of it. He
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,
a physician in large practice, and, being
a woman of broad accomplishments and
A. II. III 1,.a1,
boy upin an atmosphere of refinement
his present comrades had never enjoyed.
This to a degree separated him for a
time from congenial companionship,
and even lead to decided unpopularity;
SO that when the company elected Of
fcers his name was never even offered
for consideration.
'Never mind, old chap; they don't
know how to appreciate merit, but We'll
show them when we get to the front.
who's who" Lawson said, Familiarity
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" loved, now that he
was clothed with little authority, tc
tyrannize over one better bred than
himself, especially when the object OF
his animadversion obstinately refused
to observe the details of military
etiquette in remembering that they
kept very fair whisky at the canteen and
that sergeant's throat was naturally
dry.
Thus it fell out one day when Ser
n gcant Briggs was more than ordinarily
abusive, that Franks patience nearly
gave way.
"Knees and heels together and head
up, you long-legged counter-skipperr
the sergeant yelled. giving the young