Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-08-19
A CRISIS.

~ udu all CoIIlo dUOut some years
before at West Point Lake had been
cadet at the Military Academy while
Colonel Brown was the commander of
cadets and the elder man had. to use
little West Point slang, got the
equation" OF the younger man down
fine" In other words he had sized
HIM up" and concluded rather rashly
it must be admitted. that Lake was
utterly worthless except for the pur-
pose OF raising the deuce whenever he
30 desired. This it must beadmitted.
he can do to perfection. 1t was not
Lakes fault however that they
could not get along together. Oh.
no! Lake could get along with any
one, and he could not see for the life
of him why the colonel did not enjoy
his pranks just as much as he and
apparently everyone else did. But
the colonel did not aud the result
was that Lake was undergoing punish
ment most of the time he was cadet
Mt the academy.
1t was said that Lake was really in
love with the coloners daughter 1t
was not improbable. Most OF the
cadets were. Indeed. few who had
ever met Miss Hyacinth Brown were
not in love with her. But she was a
queer girl after all. poor girl! she
had been a half orphan from her
early girlhood-and perhaps she in
herited some OF the obstinacy of her
father.) Strange as IT may seem. she
loved the same scapegrace Lake. 1t
is more than probable that the dis.
covery OF this fact coupled with
what he knew of the youngsters
character (or thought he knew was
but added fuel to the fire.
1t was just Lakes luck to be assign
ed to company that was stationed at
post commanded by the father of
his sweetheart Good luck. he
thought it because it kept him near.
or her; bad luck. all his friends
thought it because it kept him in the
power OF his unreasoning enemy.
Forbidden her fathers hOusc-con-
stantly under her fathers eyes-what
could he see OF her. anyway Did he
ever see her. anyway? Well-he
was Lake. you know
huu Ho DIS pun III arrest lOr WnaL!
For very grave offense. Hyacinth' s
father was a man who would not have
gone out OF his way to do Lake an in
jury. On the contrary If Lake had
not always offered the occasion the
colonel would have left him alone.
Even the colonel recognized the
youngsters good qualities.
w
his usual impudence. he had entered
the presence Of the colonel one morn
ing as he marched OFF duty rs officer.
of-the-day and reported that he had
not inspected the guard the prece l.
ing night between midnight and
broad daylight" BE it known that
every officer of-the day is required To
perform this duty during these hours
and if he does not he is. us they say
in the army. ION honor to report
himself for his failure to do so. Sc
he did nothing more than was requir-
ed of him. But he offered absolutely
no explanation 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 punishment OF severe discrip
ton. And so everyone on the post but
the colonel himself was sorely grieved
and who knows but that the colone
himself was a tritle sorry'
Hyacinth's love for Lake was the
only thing that had ever threatened
the perfect love of father and daugh.
ter in the coloners small household
He had never spoken TO her about it.
He had merely guessed it. She hat
never told him. When he had for
hidden ] axes calling on her no hat
informed his daughter OF the TACT
that was all
On the morning OF the arrest Miss
Hyacinth had u visitor Of class sh
did not often meet He came to tn,
back door and asked permission t,
see her in the kitchen. 1t was Ser
geant Common of Lakes troop H.
was one OF the bravest and best non
commissioned officers in the regiment
and was one of Lakes special favor
ties. He was a young lrishm man and
like almost all Irishmen. splendi
soldier in the field an hard one t
handle in garrison. Lake had pulle
him out of the fire many and man
a time. He had been sergeant of tn
guard the previous day and had jus
had time to march off," as they sa
when the old guard is relieved by tn
new guard get over to his barracks
change his clothes and fl himself II
a bit He waited at the door of tn
kitchen for Miss Hyacinth to appear
She knew at once that something wa
wrong when notified OF her unusut
visitor That it was something abou
axe she did not doubt She tried I
be calm. however. 1t does not do
let the men know too much about tn
private lairs OF the families OF th
oiicers They usually know it al
however so it might save a good DEF
OF trouble to notify them at once.
You wish to see me?" said Hys
cintha, trying to look unconcerned.
. Yes miss" answered the youn
sergeant looking painfully emba
raised.
What is it--you are Sergeant Coz
nor | think"
Yes. miss-and it's about Lieu
tenant Lake"
Well she continued. what
the mattero IL seems little strang
to me that you should come to see m
| about an affair OF Lieutenant Lake 8.
Il came because thought yo
loved him." said the hot-bloode
: young Irishman unable to appreciai