Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-10

could utter her tremulous plea for recon
ciliation, 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 as 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 a
bottle of whisky in his pocket, and
was cutting adrift from many IN
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 a waste of money The caboose
was full of country-folk 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 in command of the
military depot at Camp Chase, near
Columbu 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 a military
career, nor did frequent confinement in
the guard-house and extra fatigue duty
lend 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-
bic 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. He
had come from different home than
any of his companions; for the Widow
Besant was wel-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
boy upin an atmosphere of refinement
his present comrades had never enjoyed
This to a degree separated him for a
time from ccngenial cOmpsnionship,
and even lead to decided unpopularity;
so that when the company elected Of
ficers his name was never even offered
for consideration
Never mind, old chap; they don't
know how 10 appreciate merit, but well
show them when we get to the front,
who's who" Lawson said, Familiarity
slapping him on the shoulder, piece
Of sympathy which TIE poor lad did not
very heartily enjoy,
Than be got into trouble With the