Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-18

anu tHc Ouiy way COulu 40 III was 70
come and give you this and ask you to
read it apd get the colonel TO read it. ]
know it was all my fault, miss, and l
supposed you would do everything you
could for Lieutenant Lake. Most of us
would"
He handed her paper on which were
written a few words in pencil. She
recognized the sergeant's handwriting
and she read it Immediately. There
was little tear in her eye when she
looked up to thank the sergeant, but
he had gone. Nosone has finer appre-
citation of delicacy than an Irish SER
geant.
The colonel knew that the Lake affair
had reached his daughters ears the mo-
ment he entered the house that after
noon. He knew her temperament very
well, and he did not expect that she
would say anything about it. She was
a very brave little girl. and she had
never protested or complained against
anything he had ever done. However,
he knew that she had been crying-and
her very silence on the subject, accus-
toned as he was to her nature and her
ways, made him all the more uneasy.
He had already come to the conclusion
that Hyacinth had given Lake up for
ever. He knew now that he was wrong.
Dinner passed in silence. The colonel
grew more uncomfortable every mo-
ment. He had done nothing but his
duty i'll it all. He had done nothing but
his duty when he told Lake to cease
calling at his house. Lake was young
scapegrace and would sooner or later
get into serious trouble. He was no man
to make his daughter happy as her hus-
band. And yet he was forced to admit
that there was something about Lake
that he himself was compelled to ad-
mire. And he knew that while Lake
sometimes failed in his duty as a soldier
he had never been known to fail in his
duty as man.
After supper the colonel tried to read
his latest Kansas City paper. He found
that it was utterly uninteresting. He
/ tried to enjoy his evening cigar. The
brand had suddenly become worthless
one. He wished that some of the officers
would call on him. 1t seemed strange
that none of them did. He wondered if
they were all around at Lieutenant
Lakes quarters trying to cheer up that
young man, if indeed he needed it. His
daughter was in the room. He turned
to her almost petulantly and asked her
why she was SO silent. She rose from
her seat and went to him. There is but
one thing daughter does to father
when she wants to get him to do some
thing for her. She puts her arms around
his neck and kisses him. This was what
she dids
II was just going to say something,
papa. want you to read this" She
held before him paper-the same that
had been given her by Sergeant Connor.
The colonel wiped his eyeglasses and
read the following:
1t is all my fault that Lieutenant Lake didn't
inspect the guard last night. l am sure 1t was.
He has helped me out before, and / am sure it
was to shield me again that he staid away
from the guard. l had been drinking, and he
knew that was under the influence of liquor
when marched on in charge was drinking
all day too. He knew that If he inspected the
guard he would have to put me in arrest and
court martial me. That would mean dismissal
ana prison Ior me, Wnl6 II ne ulun inspect
the guard the punishment would be q good
deal lighter for him. I feel sure that this was
the reason he didn't inspect the guard. for my
sentinel on No. told me that he was awake
and watching the guard from his window all
night. want tostand the punishment my
self, and want to put Lieutenant Lake right
with the colonel JAMES CoNNoR,
Sergeant Troop E. -th United States Cav
airy.
And Sergeant Connor carried his
point, although he was not punished
himself Gt was said about the post that
Sergeant Connor promised all sorts Of
reforms), and singularly enough great
change took place in the colonel at the
same time and even greater one In
Lieutenant Lake himself, for it was not
an hour after his release from arrest
that Lieutenant Lake was making a
long call on the colonel The wife Of the
post adjutant happened to be passing
the colonePs quarters as the two men
were conversing on the piazza at the
end of the call, and she was positive,
she afterward said, that she heard the
following fragment of conversation be-
| tween them:
The Colonel-Well, my boy, you have
waited a long time, and suppose that
your wishes and Hyacinth's should be
respected in the matter. We will set
the wedding for month after next.
The Lieutenant-Thank you, colonel.
The Colonel-And now that I have
learned to like you, my boy, you in your
turn must learn to like me.
The Lieutenant have always liked
you, sir. You are the father Of the girl
love, and the characteristics love IN
her must also exist in Winthrop
Hall in Frank Leslie's.