Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-13

friendship and esteem. As Private
Brown he was but an ordinary cog in
the great machinery of war and mil
itary duty. She seldom saw him on
duty-in fact, she had but once noticed
him in the ranks, and then at review
of the troops at the post, and his sol
dierly attitude in the saddle as his
troop moved along the parade ground
called from her brain a thought which
her lips half whispered:
"He was born to command"
Had Alice's mother been living she
would have been led by u sense of hlial
duty TO go 20 her and tell her the his
tory Of her new friend, and the social
equality on which she met him. Her
maidenly instinct hintcd to her that 1t
might be wrong for her to conceal her
relations with the young soldier from
her father, yet in the knowledge Of his
severe ideas Of propriety she feared II
she were TO make known to him the
truth her intercourse with her friend
would meet with an abrupt ending.
The more she considered this phase OF
the matter the greater it troubled her,
and in girlish confidence she one day
went to Mrs. Colby. the matronly wife
Of the senior captain of the Sixth Cav
airy, and related to her the story Of
the unfortunate private soldier.
"Why, Alice, child, what remark
able storyw the good lady exclaimed.
What a refreshing chord you have
strucl, md started to vibrating TO
arouse the drcary stiffness Of garrison
life. A gentleman, an artist, a scholar,
philosopher, and goodness knows
what else masqucrading right under
our ewes as n private soldier And the
heir 20 fortune too! Really, you
quite take my breath away. Have you
told the colonel of him."
81 have not spoken to papa OF him
since I learned his history. told him
OF our first meeting and of my aston
ishment at finding a man of such re-
fined bearing and artistic skill In the
ranks, but he took little interest in the
matter. Merely limited that crime
might lie behind his enlistment"
"Wcll, my child, you must not for
get that you have but his own unsup-
ported evidence as TO the truth Of his
story. We're you my daughter | would
certainly advise you to not place too
implicit confidence In the truth of what
he told you. He may be, as your ia
ther hinted, fugitive from justice.
The criminal element, you know, dear,
Is not drawn entirely from the lower
stratas Of society. II Is not wrong, /
think, for you TO manifest an interest
In his artistic work, loving art as you
do, but you must not forget, my child,
that you do not know him, and that he
Is but "a soldier In the ranks and far
beneath you In social standing. You
had best tell your father all you know
OF your new acquaintance, and can
assure you that should Browns story
prove to be true no one would move
more promptly than Col. Sanford in en-
deavoring TO sever the bond OF enlist
ment that he might be restored to his
proper sphere OF life"
But you forget, Mrs. Colby, that he
said he would not under any considera-
ton have his term Of enlistment short
ened one single day"
'It could be done without consulting
his wishes In the matter. II II should
be brought to the notice OF your father
that the young man Is not only infiict-
ing upon himself really unmerited pun
ishment for mistake Of his youth, but
is by his action depriving the business
world Of q talent which would contrib
uto 10 its progress, he would scofR at
the mans exaggerated ideas Of penaDce
and lose no time ia restoring him to his
proper station. May ! be frank with
you, my child. and tell you that In my
opinion MIR Brown, or Mr. Thornton,
Ia very, very foolish young man. But,
my dear girl. you don't know how your
story has Interested me. wonder IL Ii
can be true? And TO think he is In
Capt Colby's troop, too. May tell the
captaiu?'
"Do you think It would be right, Mrs.
Colby? Mr.. Thornton did not enjoin
secrecy--in fact, he sGid he had moth
ing 10 conceal from the world, yet were
his story knowa it might enforce upon
him II notoriety which would be dis
tasteful to him"
THAT Is true, my dear, but really |
feel that has captain should know IT,
The commanding officer Of q company
cau do many things to tighten the du-
ties Of one Of his men. you know. |
think win tell him under pledge Of
secrecy. Even Brown must not know
that his captain has heard of him"
VERY well You can tell Capt. Col
by and will tell papa all ! know of
Mr.. Brown"
What delicious secret we four will
have 70 discuss betwSep ourselves,