Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-03


perform duty no. matter how hard il
was, were all in his favor But wher
there was no serious duty to perform.
when it was mere matter of post duty
or company discipline, Lake and the
colonel could never agree. He was al.
ways breaking regulations and post
orders himself, and always trying tc
shield men in his company from just
punishment for doing the same thing.
To be sure, there wasn't man in his
company who could not have beer
trusted, when it was matter of neces,
sity, around the world if need be, but
discipline is discipline-art poor Lake
could not get it through his head.
Ho was put in ARREST because, with
his usual impudence, he had entered the
presence Of the colonel one morning as
he marched off duty as officer of the day
and reported that he had not inspected
the guard the preceding night between
midnight and broad daylight" Be il
known that every officer of the day is
required to perform this duty during
these hours, and if he does not he is, as
they say i'll the army, ION honor to re-
port himself for his failure to do so. Sc
he did nothing more than was required
of him; but he offered absolutely no ex.
PLANTATION of his conduct, even after he
was questioned by the colonel.
Arrest meant, with the colonel, charges
and court martial. They meant more
than that. They meant sure punish.
ment of a severe description. And sc
every one on the post but the colonel
himself was severely gricved-but who
knows but that the colonel himself was
trife sorry?
Hyacinth's love for Lake was the only
thing that had ever threatened the per
feet love of father and daughter in the
colonel's small household. He had never
spoken to her about it. He merely
guessed it. She had never told him
When he had forbidden Lakes calling
on her he had informed his daughter OF
the fact, that was all. He did not be.
lieve she would ever see him again, but
he did not warn her not to. How seri.
Gus it all was to her he did not know.
She was not the kind of girl to NOPE
and Cry. Indeed, she was too proud a
girl to protest. The matter had simply
been dropped by them during the re.
manning years at the academy and the
few years at Apache, and whether even
Lake himself still held on to the old at
tachment the colonel did not know. He
supposed not These things are easily
forgotten by most men.
The colonel merely considered it un-
fortunate that Lake had joined his regi-
ment and had been assigned to his post.
He never dreamed that Lake had had
anything to do with getting there and
that the cause was Hyacinth and Lakes
unforgotten love for her. The colonel
presumed that the young people had Of
ten met in the small society of the post.
Never had they met in his presence,
though. for Lake always carefully
avoided the colonel. 1t was a cut be-
tween them. OF course the youngster
was too high strung to be refused adj
mittance to Il mans house and still keep
up a speaking acquaintance with that
man, even though he We're his COM
iudIQllS5 OluCC1s 4dClC Nclc tlOSG Ill
the regiment who said that if Lake
would offer the opportunity the colonel
would be glad to renew the amicable re-
lations that had once existed between
them, always, however, with the under
standing that Lake was to consider his
suit for Hyacinth's hand thing of the
past. When the matter was broached
to Lake he gave a snort of disgust and
refused to reply.
On the morning of the arrest Miss Hy-
acinth had visitor of class she did
not often meet. He came to the back
door and asked permission to see her in
the kitchen. 1t was Sergeant Connor,
of Lakes troop. He was one of the
bravest and best noncommissioned off
GERS III the regiment and was one of
Lakes special favorites He was a
young Irishman, and like almost all
Irishmen a splendid soldier in the field
and hard one to handle in the garrison.
Lake had pulled him out of the fire
many and many time. He had been
sergeant of the guard the previous day
and had just had time to ''march of, -
rs they say when the old guard is re-
lieved by the new guard, get over to his
barracks, change his clothes and fix
himself up a bit. He waited at the door
of the kitchen for Miss Hyacinth to ap-
pear. She knew at once that something
was wrong when notified of her unusual
visitor That it was something about
Lake she did not doubt. She tried to
be calm however. 1t does not do to let
the men know too much about the pri-
vatc affairs of the families of the Off
GERS. They usually know it all, how
ever, SO it might save a good deal of
trouble to notify them at once.
You wish to see meY said Hyacinth,
trying to look unconcerned.
Eyes, miss" answered the young ser
geant, looking painfully embarrassed.
''What IL it-you are Sergeant Connor.
think"
''Yes, miss-and it's about Lieutenant
Lake"
She blushed--she couldn't help it.
She wanted to reproach the man for his
intrusion, but she could not. 1t was an
affair of Lakes" He was probably in
trouble again, and she must know what
tho trouble was.
"Well," she continued, "what is the
matter? 1t seems little strange to me
that you should come to see me about
an affair of Lieutenant Lakes"
Il came because thought you loved
him." said the hot blooded young Irish
man, unable to appreciate the girls at
tempt at umconcern.
She did not answer, and he was about
to move away, angry in earnest, when
she said almost under her breath:
"What Is it, sergeant?"
"He's in arrest, miss"
''In arrest?' she repeated. "What fori
And who put him in arrest?
''The colonel, miss, put him in arrest
this morning. He didn't inspect the
guard last night, and it was all my
fault, miss, and want to help him out,
and the only way could do it was to
come and give you this and ask you to
read it and get the colonel to read it. ]
know it was all my fault, miss, and !
supposed you would do everything you
could for Lieutenant Lake. Most of us
would"
He handed her paper on which were
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