Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-01-08
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All army men will remember Capt.
Paddy Clark and the curious Irish
ways he brought with him from civil
lfe into the circles OF the service. He
was a Of the volunteer officers who
managed to rctaia o commission, and
rendered good service both during
and after the war. There never 10 .
very strong bond of union between
the graduate Of West Point and the
Ofllcef who comes in without that
special training, and yet Capt. Clark
managed to make and keep q host Of
friends. He a y particular favorite
OF Lieut.. Ned Casey, who was after
ward killed by the Brule Sioux at Pine
Ridge.
One night the two, who had been
in Chicago for a week on some duty
at q court martial, were coming down.
stairs from a club at which they had
been entertained, and both felt, for
the time at least, better for the en-
t~ertainment. Paddy, indeed, was a.
mellow aud rich as he ever expected
to be. The night was beautiful, and
he fell into q contemplative strain.
Ordinarily he was suspiciOus-thOugh
In . perfectly good natured way-of
the West Point men, because, presum.
ing on his lack Of education, they
we're inclined to make game Of him.
But tonight he was with the friend
of his bosom, and, besides, the night
was 50 flne he could not think sus-
piciOus thoughts. He was attuned to
the mnsic..Of the stars.
Saint they beautiful, Ned?" he ex-
claimed as they wandered down the
lake front and got a good view Of all
the myriad lights Of the upper sea.
"Very flne," replied the younger
man.
"An' they do be tellin' me-they
do be tellin' me-" this seemed a
pretty hard tax--''they do be tellin'
pe that some men can tell the names
Of livery wan of thim."
'NOf the stars? Oh, yes; some men
can point out hundreds of them.
Nearly any one can recognize some of
the stars"
Honest, Ned?" He was never
quite of his guard, no matter where
he had spent the evening.
Certainly. Some of them are as
well known as the landmarks along a
trail"
Med, would you mind pointin' out
to me for me own qualification such
OF the more important plants as you
are most familiar wid?"
swell, there is what they call Ursa
Maior-the big bear, You know.
There Is Mars away down over there,
and here is Taurus, the bull"
"Oh, be me soul, this is foine," ex-
claimed Patrick in an ecstasy. ITO
be interjuced to the very stars in
Heaven!"
"And there is the group of the
seven sleepers, and here is-why, l
think that is Saturn. And this beauti-
fully bright one is Venus"
''Stop, Ned-stop right there"
commanded Clark in a grieved tone,
mingled with a hint Of rising anger.
Don't try to play any Of your West
Point gags on me. / won't have non e
of it. I'm your suparior officer, and
by the Lord, I'll send ye to your
quarters IL you make game Of me-"
"Why, Captain" said Casey, first
amused and then surprised, s'what is
the matter?"
"Matter enough, sir" with astound-
ing though unsteady dignity. II
know q great deal more than you
think l do. Vanus, Mr.. Casey, was
q woman. Say no more, sir. I am
quite unable to express my surprise.
To be takin' this liberty wild your
supariOr officer at the dead OF night,
and a woman that's dead. sir-dead,
no doubt, as airly as the days of King
Jamie!"-Chicago Herald.