Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-07-21
NUMBER 40

DTtluZ sllI, ana Idr DeILef dressed than
most of the townspeople, Sergeant Ellis
became an occasional visitor, but no one
ever heard of bis patrDnizing any other
establishments than the bank, the post
and express offices and the bookstores.
Captain Hazlett, calling AT the post
Office one day, was surprised 10 find
Ellis at lock box, the key Of which he
calmly placed in his waistcoat pocket
and then AZ calmly raised bis hat in sal
utation to his superior officer Both
were i'm civilian dress, both On tempor-
ary leave Of few hours only, both,
from the point Of view Of the correspon-
dent Of a very enterprising paper, occu-
pied AT the moment the same social
plane, aud his allusions to ''the slayish
Difference demanded BY the aristocratic
commissioned force of their enlisted but
far worthier men" gave rise to some dis
cussion at the fort. One or two officers
held that Ellis shonld have given the
military salute and no other, but the
mass Of opinion was in favor of Ellis's
action; being entirely In civilian dress
himself, the civilian custom should pre-
vail.
"Well, damn it, said Mr. Randolph.
''that consists out here i'll showing ones
hands deeper into pockets, fitting the
cigar higher in the mouth and giving
just half nod" 1T was finally con
ceded, however, that IN eourteously rails
ing his hat Sergeant Ellis had done about
the right thing, and that In as punctii-
ously raising his own IN recognition the
captain had fittingly and scrupulouslr
acknowledged tile courtesy, the sneers
and lashings Of the Spasm City Chimes
to the contrary notwithstanding.
Still no one supposed that Ellis was
going to re-enlist when his time expired.
They had already begun casting about
for somebody else to place iii charge Of
the frehouse. But Ellis signed the
papers with ready hand, asked for and
got q months furlough, with permission
to leave the department, and was back
in two weeks ready to resume duty, his
dark face triae paler, his heavy beard
becomingly trimmed, just three days
after Mia Guthrie's arrival, just three
days before she was to have gone home.
Rolfe turned from the sentry and
gazed away eastward. How many a
long mile down that beautiful valley
were the lights Of the rushing train BY
this time, and what meant this light so
close at hand, shining faintly but clear
~ through the slowly FLASHING rains
After one, and the sergeant still up and
readingf No, it burned too dimly for
student lamp; neither was 1T i'll the SER
geant's room. Following his thoughts,
Rolfe, wrapped in his mackint0sh,
moved slowly out To tile eastern edge of
the bold bluff. passing the tirehouse On
his way. A breast-high wall Of rough
was left of the old blockhouse, once
perched ON the brow Of the cliff, and,
a. the captain reached the point Of the
bluff. he became aware Of 4 dim figure
standing silent and motionless between
him and the southern face of the an
tiquated work. Another man whose
thoughts were following the eastward
windings Of that misty valley, was it
not: Another keeping sleeplcss vigils
Who's that" in low tone, he sudden
IN hailed. a start, quick turn, then
prompt advance and answer:
Sergeant Ellis, SIR
Y The deep collar Of his overcoat was
I turned up about his ears, " that the
face was wen nigh hidden, but the voice
was calm and firm.
You keep late hours, sergeant
Not without warrant, captain
"Your warrant might suffer, sir, if
tile colonel knew you had lights at two
o'clock"
1T Is by his authority, sir, that one
\ lantern burns ALI night; that j. the one
\ the captain sees.
Rolfe paused, baffied.
"Then believe I will light cigar at
I your lantern he finally said, and, turn
ing. he moved away toward the low
wooden building behind him. Ellis
promptly followed. then sDrang ahead
and opened the door for his superior 5
entrance.
Let me offer the captain match;
that is an oil lantern And striking a
lucifer On the strip Of sandpaper H.
held it forth. Rolfe missed the fame
with the end Of his weed. Light came
to him, but not to his cigar. Muflcd
though his face remained iii the depths
/ Of that cavalry collar. Sergeant Ellis
lips and chin We're visible through the
\ opening ia the front ana in the glare of
the little match.
When did You shave off your beard
Eergeantt should hardly have known
you"
The lips trembled, but the dark eyes.
\ the deep voice, were steady M ever:
Fl Last evening. sir
[To BE Continued