Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-09-22


ire mcceings wnicn nave Gnordcu me
so much pleasure are to be discon-
tinucd?"
Not altogether. trust we may
meet ut times and that We will remain
good friends. The day will come, Mr..
Thornton, perhaps sooner than we ex-
pcct. when you will cast aside your
soldier character and reenter your
proper sphere in life. and when II does
come hope to yet be numbered among
your friends will ut times bc pleased
to see your sketches. and. believe me,
though propriety demands u less dis
play Of friendship. vet hold you In
the highest esteem and will do all
consistently can to tighten the load
you bear. But we IRE nearing papa.
VIII you sketch tomorrow? think
will take ride down the Mesa trail"
81 will. Miss Sanford. ut my old rock
seat. Before we part must express
my thanks and gratitude to you for
this conversation. My heart will be
lighter. for, though | may but seldom
see you, ] will feel that you are my
friend. God bless you"
''Thank you. Mr.. Thornton. Why,
/ how pleasantly papa Is smiling. That
means good-naturcd scolding for me"
"Aha! You little truant," the colonel
cried "Your tastes are very eccentric,
must say. Miss Sunshine. You run
away from yonr old ogre of u father TO
accept the attentions of n young officer,
then discard him for private soldier
of better looks and, dammc, ] must say,
more soldicrly bearing. thought you
would never get to me. you rode SO
slowly with your new escort"
20, papa, my poor pony was so tired
could not push him. This is Private
Brown, the young artist Of whom ] told
you"
Private Brown, eh? Ohio! see IL
now. This is the young man who was
recently brought TO my attention
through the proceedings of court
martial, and ! can understand why
Vandcvcr cut and run when he saw
him approaching. lie feared the mans
temper might again lose step, and the
dose be repeated. Eth, Sunshine?"
20, no, papa. Mr.. Vandcver did not
know the young man was approaching
US. He chose to return TO the fort by
another route. that is all"
That's all. oh? Well, you don't
know whether he saw him or not.
! am inclined to think he did. But
now for home. This Unsuitable, unrea-
sonablc, tyrannical appetite of mine
demands immediate attention. thank
you, Brown, for the trouble put you
to in chasing this runaway. Yos can
go your own way now. Come. daugh-
ter"
Instead of being trouble. sir, as
sure you il was pleasure TO be able to
serve you In even SO slight u manner"
Brown salutcd the officer, raised his
cap to Alice and gallopcd away toward
the fort.
"Why, how Internally courteous the
fellow is" said the colonel. gazing
after the rctreating figure with admir-
ing eyes. And how soldicrly his bear
ing. Hes handsome dog. too. See
how he sits on that horse, daughter
how like knight of old he poses in
the saddle. believe Colby told me he
had him booked for promotion, and by
Jupiter Ill see that he doesn't forget II.
a pleasure TO I've able TO serve me, ell?
I like that. No wonder he knocked
that popi: iay OH H. dainty feet"
And Capt. Colby says he distin-
grisllcl himsclf Ia several actions with
the Indians, papa"
"i)iriirruisicl him elf! OF course
h. Ill Ny cXpcri need old eyes can
not .llll. sun hinc, unl they see
r5i..IU.' in THAT m.n-a soldier who will
do duty when he secs II. There. his
cap has fallen OF. Now watch him.
See that r1oant? Precise! Precise. Sol
dicrly in every move. just az mounted
in my younger days Now, damInc, ]
need n s;cp-ladder anl u horse that
will Stand n solid rs the Rock Of Ages
until get firm seat in the saddle"
Alicc's face glowcd with much pleas
IRE TO hear her father bcstow such
praises upon har hero. Thinking the
opportunity favorable one TO yet fur
ther advance him In the estimation of
the colonel she said:
"And don't you remember, papa, he
Is the man told you of who was an
honored, respectable gentleman in civil
life. and who was induced to enlist
while in an irresponsible condition"
~ recall some such story, but the
arny's full Of martyrs, who all have
fairy stories to tell You mustn't listen
to them. Sunshine"
"iIut II his story should prove to be
true. papa, could not his discharge be
secured?"
Discharge such n man rs that? Not
by jug full. We need more such men
when soldier material Is so scarce. We
can't spare good soldier in these days,
my dear. Did the fellow ask you TO
plead for his dischargc?"
"No, papa. On the contrary he said
he regarded his present condition as q
deserved punishment for wrong doing
In allowing himself 10 drink until ire
sponsible for his acts, and that he
would manfuhy serve his time and do
his duty Us n soldier to the very best Of
his ability"
Tut, tut. All moonshine. II he docs
not desire discharge why do you ask
II one could be securely"
"Because l feel that It Is unjust to
compel such q man to live a life Of
servitude In the ranks when he would
be such useful member Of society, and
I thought II there were possibility Of
securing his release ] would breach
the subject 10 him and might gain his
consent to be restored to his friends
I'm sure he has been punished enough,
papa"
''You allow your sympathies 10 kick
your Judgment Into smithereens, grille.
The fellow has been amusing himself
telling you cock and ball story. and