The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-25
THE VETERANS RECONCILED.

= mixed garrison" and tho morning dri,
and reading Of the mail having been ssfel
gone through with, everybody was waitin
for something to break the everlastin
monotony. Lieut.. Toney Rucker came GU
Of tho rookery known as the bachelors
quarters, and started iauntily down tn
officers line. bearing in his hand u kite con
struoted on the most approved plan as re
membersd by him, and in building whicl
he had awakened n fond memories o
.skits time,'' to which, as q boy, he hat
looked forward with happy anticipation
each year.
He was immediately surrounded by tn,
abundant supply of small boys from thu
officers quarters, all of whom were Rnxiou'
for the kite. He picked ont young Arthur
because the boy was 80 fond of sport anG
never cried when thrown from his pony
but voung Smart, of the cavalry, ~loungine
on the bachelors piazza, stirred up "Mr.'
Dowdle, Of the infantry, BY remarkinR
"You will get left, Plebs, for there goei
Toney boot-llckinR that boy again, and h
is sure Of an invitation to tea, and yor
know what that means
.sThat boy was the captains son and
the captnin's wife had . young lady 'sistel
visiting her, WHOM Toney had already es
cortsd for a ride on . troop house, much tc
the disgust Of Mr.. Dawdle, who received s
sweet good-by from the young lady, but
was furious at the parting shot Of $50 long,
Doughboy," from Toney.
But this il all by-play to the kite story.
Toney took ont Of his pocket = ball Of cord,
borrowed from the commissary sergeant
for the occasion, and Strengthened out the
kite. tail, made of old yellow stripes cut
from scouting trousers. Everything being
ready, he called out: Held her, my son,
and + will run her up for yen. n then she
is yours"
Ioney started in quarter-race time, en-
coaraged by the frantic wells from the boys;
but. alas, lust as Arthur's young aunt was
merrliy a%pplaudin from the piazza tho
kite commenced TO duck in the most cow
ardly way. and the faster Toney ran the
more it duoked. "sumpen's the MATTER
said Arthur.
ssTaint got the right sort O. tall" said
another; ste q rock TO her." and many
similar pieces of advice came from all the
boys al once.
BY this time the plazzas were filled with
spectators and the man waiting for mess
call sailed out on the barrack porches to
see the fun, vixen old Mai. Stufy started
toward the bows with that important air
WHICH ue tNOURu0 USCONd1uk W Clo Ol UAS
old, be CAD, dragons, before the war, sir!'
II say, Toney, You want to shorten up
the center bride and make her stand on the
wind like this,' said the old major. taking
hold of the kits.
Toney, who was puzzling his mind as to
where he could get more kite tail without
tearing up his only extra pair of sheets,
looked up and remarked: "Well, old man,
what do you know about kites, anyway"
Now, Major Stufy had always been very
partial to Toney and showed it by con-
stantly joking with him. while swelling
with ill-ftting dignity in his intercourse
with all the subs.lterns. The old gentle
mans nerves had been a little shaken for a
few days because the infantry colonel and
the brevet major-general commanding the
post-"one of those demned volunteers, you
know"-had added insult to injury by send
ing him ar order not to drive any more
government horses in his private convey
ance. Tonsy's light and airy remark upset
the major completely. IA he was on the
point of venting his rage on him when who,
of all others, should come strolling out but
the commanding officer himself. He who
had won his stars for bravery and c%onBpic-
ous services from Perry vile to Resaca GER
tainiy ought to know all about kites. The
excitement on parade was too much for the
old gentleman, and Diminishing his orderly,
he raised his ~sun-umbrella, and remarked
to his spouse: II will go and show them
how to put az q kite" The very idea
seemed to make him young again. and he
threw out his chest and squared his shout
ders ss If he were going to take q new lease
of life, He joined the group around the
kite, and Major Stufy braced himself pom
pously and saluted with an air which
plainly said: "pll stand me ground, be
CAD. STRIP
"How do You do, MI. Rucker?' said tho
general. blandly. ST see that your kite
don't work riphf an1-S
ut will be all right in a moment, sir; I
have sent to tbs troop tailorfor more tail"
But, Mr.. Rucker, when l was a boy''
The retires for old age next year I'VE nsver
made long tails; you just split the places
You have and tie some knots in them,
Then shorten up the bride and make her
stand So"
Just what L told him, general" gaid the
major, eagerly, and he insulted me, sir!
yes, sir, this young fellow that l. as not
been in the service ten years, sir! asked me-
what did | know about kites, STRIP
Now Major Stuffy had been avoiding the
general ever since he had received the
com m unication about the horses and had
even declined lnvltatlons to several garri-
son affairs for fear of meeting him, but he
was greatly goothed when the general
turned ana said:
Why, major, I am astonished, sir! Mr..
Rucker, what do You moan. sir, by speaking
to Mai. Stuffy in this way. sir! An old man
and value officer of you own regiment,
500, sir! Twill not allow such things in my
garrison, STRIP
But. general, I did not intend to hurt
the majors feelings. guess ! don't know
much about kites anyway, boys, SO you take
1t out behind the barracks and fiv ii to suit
yourselves" said Ioney, in q hopeless kin
of way.
1T will not go up unless you change the
bride, as suggested by tbs major" said the
general.
"And split the tail and knot it, as the
general explained, boys" said the major.
Honey left the two old veterans, and as
he entered the bachelors quarters he was
snutterlng malsdictiong on the ''old daft
fers," who had spoiled all his plans,
The sudden disappearance of 1oney and
the boys left the two old gentlemen alone
on the parade, and the whole garrison was
enjoying their dilemma. The genera
hemmea and hawed Il moment, and said:
'l5y the way. major, about that horse
order; you know these young lieutenanti
have an idea that they can use ambulancss
and government animals whenever the,
choose, and ! am determined to teach then
Il lesson; of oourse l did not intend tn,
order to hold in your case; some consldera
ton must be shown to long and valuab!
service, sir. and 1 want you to unde. stan,
tina matter"
Maj. btutfy extended his hand warmly /,
the general and said:
Il am glad you mentioned it. genera
but, of course, / understand the matter pei
fectly. These young ships are too pre-
sumutuous anyway, ANA think they ara On
titled TO all the eonaidesations due oil
oficers.'