Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-08-18
A CRISIS.

q 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
so desired. This it must be admitted.
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 aid. But
the colonel did not and the result
was that Lake was undergoing punish
ment most of the time he was cadet
at the academy.
1t was said that Lake was really in
love with the coloneps daughter 1t
was not improbable. Most Of the
cadets we're. 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 half orphan from her
early girlhood and perhaps she in
hcrited some Of the Obstlnacy OF her
father.) Strange as 1T ma 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 .ust Lakes luck to be assign
ed 10 Il company that was stationed at
Il 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 unrcasOning enemy.
Forbidden her fathers housc-Con.
stdntly under her fathers cyeS-what
could he see Of her anyway? Did he
ever sec her anyway Well-he
was Lake, you know
And he was put in arrest for what?
For very crave otfcnse. Hyacinth
father was 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
lie was put in arrest because with
his usual impudeuce, he had entered
the presence OF the colonel one morn
ing as he marched oil duty rs officer
of-thc-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-thc day is required to
perform ibis duty du'ing these hours
and if he does not he is, lis they say
in the army ON honor to report
himself for his failure to do so. SO
he did nothing more than was re lur-
ed Of him. But he offered absolutely
90 explanation Of his conduct even
after he was questioned by the
/ colonel.
Arrest meant with the colonel
charges and II court martial They
meant more than that They meant
sure punishment OF "A severe dlscrip.
| ton. And 50 everyone on the post but
the colonel himself was sorcly grieved
and who knows but that the colonel
himself was II trihe sorry2
Hyacinth'5 love for Lake was the
only thing that had ever threatened
the perfect love OF father and daugh.
ter in the colonies small household
He had never spoken to her about it.
He had merely guessed it. She had
never told him When he hal for
hidden axes calling on her he had
informed his daughter of the fact.
that was all
On the morning OF the arrest Miss
| Hyacinth had visitor of class she
did not often meet He came to the
back door and asked permission tt
see her in the kitchen. 1t was Ser
geant ConnOr of Lakes troop. He
was one OF the bravest and best non
commissioned Off .ers in the regiment
and was one OF Lakes special favor
ties He was a young Irishman and
like almost all Irishmen. splendid
soldier in the field an a hard one t,
handle in garrison. Lake had pulled
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 fix himself u
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 unusua
visitor That it was something abou
Lake she did not doubt. She tried t
be calm however. 1t does not do t
let the men know too much about tn
private lairs of the families OF tn
officers. They usually know it all
however. so it might save good dei
OF trouble to notify them at once.
You wish to see me?' SAID Hya
cintha trying to look unconcerned
Yes. miss answered the yOun
sergeant looking painfully emba
raised.
What is it-.you are Sergeant Cor
nor think"
Yes. miss-and it's about Lieu
tenant Lake.
Well she continued. what
the matter? 1t seems little strane
to me that you should come to see II
about an affair of Lieutenant Lake 8.
Il came because | thought yc
loved him. said the hot-bloode
young Irishman. unable TO apprecia
the girls attempted unconcern.
She did not answer and he Va
about to move away. angry in earnes
when she said. almost under h
- breath:
What is it sergeant"
He in arrest miss
In arrest?" she repeated. ''Wh
for? And who put him in arrest?"
The colonel. miss put him in a
l rest this morning. He didn't inspe
4 the guard last night and it was &
!. my fault miss and want to he
: him out and the only way could
1T was to come and give you this al
ask you to read it and get the col
mel TO read it. know it was all n