San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-23
An ;RMY PORTIA.
By CHARLES KING, o. s. A.,
Atsthor of "T7se Coloncl's Daughter" "Ihe
Deserter," From the Ranks" Dun
rapen Ranch" ''TIco Soldiers"

ment with them.l
Any one could place" even had he
| maintained silence, while, on the other
hand, his coarse tones would in the
blacklist darkness have proclaimed his
class. Both times they passed they
| stared boldly at the occupants of the
carriage and critically inspected the
team and appointments-the second time
driving close alongside and perceptibly
slackening up to have a better look.
Mrs. Lane flushed under such bold scru-
| tiny, and the other ladies looked embar-
raised and annoyed.
ugh! those horrid men" spoke Mrs.
Morris, the colonel's wife, who drove up
| just in time to catch a Whit of malodor-
Gus smoke. Who are they? and what
are they doing here?"
Zone is Mr.. Schonberg," answered
Mrs. Brodie, of the infantry He used
| to be u clerk here at the post traders
several years ago, am told: but he has
his own store in town now, and they say
| he's an awful cheat; no one will deal
with him-from the post at least. l
| don't know the other man at all He is
| a stranger"
They are particularly rude in man.
ner, it seems to me-" said Mrs. Morris.
Il wish the colonel would keep such
people away from tie reservation"
THAT man likes to be impudent, Capt.
Brodie says. He was put off the reserva-
| ton some years ago and ordered never
to come on again. He was caught snug
| fn hn hn1
for months lending them money at scan
dalous interest, and every one knew, and
knows now, that he has the worst kind
| of influence on them. Indeed, Mrs. Nor
ris, wish the colonel would keep him
| out, although suppose some of the men
the most vicious among them-would
| go TO his place in town whenever they
wanted money or liquor. He probably
| ventures out here because the Eleventh
has just come to the garrison, and he
| supposes Col Morris to be in ignorance
| OF his character and of the orders that
| had been gwen by his predecessor. Maj.
| Kenyon knows him well enough, and
| the colonel of the til cavalry gave
| strict orders that he should not be al
lowed even to cross the bridge. But
| then none of your regiment knows him.
| suppose"
Mr.. Hearn knows him, Mrs. Brodie,"
promptly spoke young lady who wore
not inconspicuously the gold crossed
rifles of the infantry.
why, how can that be when he has
been here no longer than the other Off
GERS of the Eleventh. was the immediate
reply.
"He was stationed here the winter fol-
| lowing his graduation. He was still an
| additional second lieutenant then. You
remember he did not get his promotion
to the Eleventh until nearly year after
he left the Point. At least that is what
Mr.. McDonough says" And Mr.. Nc
Donough, being the owner of the crossed
rifles, the damsel bushes becomingly.
"Oh, remember" answered Mrs
Morris. Mr.. Hearn told us he had
been stationed here for one winter; but
| he didn't seem to like it much then"
Wasn't Mr.. Hearn little wild in
those daysS" inquired Mrs. Brodie. at
seems to me have heard as much from
some of the townspeople. You've no
idea what gossips they are. Why, I've
learned ever SO much about your prede-
cessors, the til, that l never dreamed
of before they left. A good deal about
Mr.. Hearn, too" And the lady looked
tentatively at Mrs. Lane, as though in
viting further question. But glancing
an instant from that young matron's
flushing face she finds Miss MarshalPs
big dark eyes fixed upon her with a
scrutinizing, penetrating expression that
in some way disheartens her. Il beg
pardon though" she hastens to say; Il
think have heard Mr.. Hearn and Capt.
Lane were particular friends. Of course
all this happened long ago, and he has
probably outlived his youthful propensi-
ties
u never heard of Mr. Hearn as any
thing but most dutifuI and excellent
officer" said Mrs. Lane quietly. Capt.
Lane is very fond of him."
Certainly, if he had been a dissipated
man, or gambler, or-anything else"
says Mrs. Morris, with proper spirit,
my husband would have been apt to
know it; but
"Oh, it wasn't that" interposed Mrs
Brodie. And just at this instant three or
four officers came cantering up the slope,
taking advantage of brief rest to pay
their devoirs to the fair spectators.
Miss Marshall noted that, as this
group approached, the buggy with its
Objectionable occupants drove slowly
away in the direction Of the fort. Half
an hour later, as they were bowling rap