St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-08-13

by the colonel.
Arrest meant with the colonel, charges
and court martial. They meant more
than that They meant sure punishment
of severe description. And so every
one on the post but the colonel himself
was sorely grieved-and who knows but
that the colonel himself was trlt1e
sorrys
Hvacinth's love for Lake was the only
thing that had ever threatened the per
feet love of father and daughter i'll 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 believe
she would ever see him again, but he did
not warn her not to. How serious 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 girl to pro,
test The matter had simply been dropped
by them during the remaining years at
the academyand the few years at Apache,
and whether even Lake himself still held
on to the old attachment the colonel did
not know. He supposed not.
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 to see her in
the kitchen 1t was Sergeant Conner of
Lakes troop. He was one of the bravest
n
the regiment, and was one of Lakes
especial favorites. He was young Irish
man, and, like almost all 1rishmen, 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 a time. He had been Sergeant-of
the guard the previous day and had just
had time to "march off," as they say
when the old guard is relieved by the
new guard, get over to his barracks
change his clothes, and fix himself up
bit. He waited at the door of the kitch-
en- for Miss Hyacinth to appear. She
| knew at once that something was wrong
when notified of her unusul 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 private affairs of the
families of the officers. They usually
know it all, however, so it might save
good deal of trouble to notify them at
| once.
"You wish to see me?" said Hyacinth,
trying to look unconcerned.
Eyes, miss answered the young ser
geant, looking painfully embarrassed.
'What is it-you are Sergeant Connor,
I Think"
eyes, miss -, and it's about Lieu
tenant Lake"
She blushed-she couldn't help it. She
wanted to reproach the man for his in
trusion, but she could not. It was an af
fair of Lakes He was probably in trou-
BILE again, and she must know what the
trouble was.
''Wen," she continued, "what is the
NATTER 1t seems little strange to me
that you should come to me about an af-
| fair of Lieutenant Lake's.'
II came because thought you loved
him." said the hot-blooded young Irish
man, unable to appreciate the girls at
tempt at uncOncern.
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 for?
And who put him in arrest?'
Inc ouiOhel miss, nut him in arrest
this morning. He didn't inspect tho
guard last light, and it was all my fault,
miss, and | want to help him out and
the only way l could do it was to come
and give you this and ask you to read it
and get the Colonel to read it. l 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 few words in pencil. She recog
nized 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 was gone.
| The colonel knew that the Lake affair
had reached his daughters ears the mo-
ment he entered the house that afternoon.
| He knew her temperament very well, and
he did not expect that she would say any
thing about it. She was very brave
little girl, and she had never protested
OF complained against anything he had
ever done. However, he knew that she
had been crying-and her very silence on
the subject, accustomed as he was to her
nature and her ways, made him all the
more uneasy. He had really come to the
conclusion that Hyacinth had given
Lake up forever. He knew now that he
was wrong.
Dinner passed in silence. The colonel
grew more uncomfortable every moment.
He had done nothing but his duty in 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 husband. And
vet he was forced to admit that there was
something about Lake that he himself
was compelled to admire 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 a 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 the young man, if,
indeed, he needed it. His daughter was
in the room He turned to her almost
petuIantly and asked her why she was
SO silent. She rose from her seat and
went to him. There is but one thing a
daughter does to father when she wants