Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-07-19
AN INCIDENT.

The colonel was visiting us. This
was in itself an event in our family.
Since he had taken command Of the
important station on the Pacific coast
his visits were rare. For three years
his shadow had not fallen athwart our
threshold, his legs had not been under
our oak( we did not possess mahog,
any, nor had his voice sounded through
our dwelling But one November
morning the head OF the household an
nounced, on opening the morning mail,
1.-THE dear old colonel Is east on
two months leave and will spend Sun
day with u.s."
To be sure it was only one day. but
we made the most of that. Our mill
tary friend had not altered one whit
In appearance since our last meeting.
except that he was, if anything hand
somer than ever before. When we
speak Of him as our dear old friend"
it is as term Of endearment, not
meant to convey the impression that
he is beyond the prime of life. The
years that had paid us undue attention
seemed to have forgotten him. The sol
dierly carriage the quick, piercing
glance. the deferential and inimitable
manner were the same as ever, as was
also the flow of humor and pathos that
made conversation with lin pleas
ure never to be forgotten.
1t stormed all day Sunday and we
had our friend to ourselves, but after
1ofo 1--WE 70 IF thn SnprAQS.
ing TEMPEST Of wind and rain, several
callers who had heard of Colonel
Lawrence's presence in our midst
dropped in" We all drew our chairs
about the great tireplace in the hall
and enjoyed the coziness all the more
because of rafting panes and dashing
rain. The colonel sat at one side of the
circle his eyes resting dreamily upon
the leaping flames. He was an appre-
ciative listener as well as au excellent
talker Tonight he was in his hap
piest vein. Among our callers We're
the doctor. unenthusiastic and scientl-
fic; the lawyer. keen and a tri1e opln-
donated; the merchant. practical and
observant. and the man-wbo-was-noth-
ing-in- particular. believe that he is
generally present in even the most Sc
lect circles.
After an hours chat upon various
topics the head OF the house arose and
deposited upon the ruddy embers sever
al huge sticks of wood which caused
the flames to go leaping and roaring
up the chimney
"Pile on the logs, the night grows
chill" quoted the colonel ITO my
mind, there is nothing in all this world
more deliciously comfortable and more
suggestive Of home warmth than
wood fire on the hearth especially on
a stormy evening"
Colonel" asked the lawyer, cynical
~, docs not such night as this, In
coy home like this, in the midst OF
things as we are, make you long TOT
the life Of a civilian?'
The colonel answered with one of his
thoughtful smiles. You forget that,
lovely as this life is, the army is my
home. Not" he added, ''as safe
home as this, but none the less home"
"And why not as safe?' queried the
doctor "There is much talk about the
dangerous life of an army officer. OF
course once in generation there &C.
ours an army tragedy, like the Gus
ter massacre, but it never struck me
that it takes great amount of cour-
age to go into the United States army
In these times of peace"
"But if war comes we are there"
was the quiet response.
"For my part" observed the mer-
chant, Il have always thought OF the
life Of the West Point graduate as one
of many privations, small remunera-
ton and scant appreciation"
+ ere that 1,o tho 1n1n-wnO.w99
nothing-in-partic,l.ar, "there are proba-
bly, lots Of heroic deeds perpetrated by
these army men which would make
awfuily interesting stories. Colonel,
don't you know tale of the sad death
of some plucky fellow Of your acquaint-
ance? l dote on frontier army sketch
es and I know l voice the sentiments
sof the rest of this group when beg
for a story-a true story, don't you
know!''
The colonel drew several long puffs
on his fragrant weed.
II am not much of a story-teller
where my heart is concerned" he said
slowly, $50 l shall not attempt to spin
yarn to prove that there are brave
men in the army, in spite OF the fact
that they may seem to the civilian
to be the petted darlings of the gov
eminent and of the gentler sex. OF
their courage on the field, of their en-
forced separation from all they hold
most dear in this life, say nothing.
Let their lives and records speak for
themselves. To my thinking, the fact
that man is gentleman and soldier
in all that these terms imply is sufi-
Gent guarantee that he did not enter
the army and swear allegiance to the
dearest old flag on Gods earth just for
the sake of an easy berth.
Il believe the bravest man I ever
knew was Ned Rathbun, of the til
artillery. We were classmates and dear
friends. He was not handsome. Even
I, who loved him, will acknowledge
that. But he was as straight as a
dart, with the brightest eyes and the
sunniest smile that ever lighted plain
face. AS cadet he was a favorite
among the men, who would often come
to him for advice, and take it from
him, too, with good grace. well re-
member a reproof he administered to
one of the boys who laughingly related
how he had, the evening before, on
the dark end of the hotel piazza, put
his arm about the waist of the daisiest