Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-06

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S.AY 1IS.....!,
"a.
N ~ ~~ta-
SAT DOWN on DIssIASTLED CANNON.
vations fit myself to cope with the
rougher aspects of life should fortune
ever desert me. Then and there
firmly resolved to serve faithfully for
the term of my enlistment.
II did more, Miss Sanford. | swore
in the presence Of Almighty God and of
the spirit Of my angel mother in
Heaven that as long as | should live
not another drop of intoxicating liquor
should ever pass my lips
The impulsive girl reached forward
and grasped his hand, the tears stream
ing down her cheeks. She essayed to
speak but could not, and dashing the
tears from his own eyes he continued:
with these resolutions firmly i'm
planted in my mind | returned to the
barracks with lighter heart, and
wrote a long letter to my aunt in
which l called into requisition all my
powers of eloquence to convince her
that it was all for the best, and that
my moral salvation was the stake for
which was playing. | consoled the
dear old woman as best | could, and
promised her that il God spared our
lives | would return to her at the ex-
piration of my term of enlistment as a
man of whom she could be proud. |
did not tell her of my assumed name
nor of my destination, for well knew
she would spend her entire fortune, if
necessary, to secure my release.
Il was sent to the west with other
recruits. and the experiences of my two
wears service haze been but the same
as those of other cavalry soldiers at a
frontier post have tried to faithful
ly perform every duty assigned me. and
from the fact that | have never re-
ceived reprimand from those in
authority am led to believe | have
been good soldier.
That is my story, Miss Sanford
You may now understand my motive
when | repeat to you that under no
circumstances would have you make
an effort to secure my discharge"
Alice had listened to his recital with
the deepest interest, and at its conclu-
sion she again extended her hand and
said:
''Mr. Thornton, respect and honor
you. Your determination to do your
duty faithfully and to bury your in
clination to lead dissolute life in the
hardships and rigors of service in the
| army is a noble one. pray God that
your future may shine out all the more
resplendent from such a dark back
ground. There is, hope, no shadow
of deceit in my nature, and | frankly
tell you that believe you to be true,
honest and upright man whose heart
| is swayed by the most noble impulses,
even though you may wear the garb of
n private soldier. lam glad met you,
and shall highly prize your friend
ship and will do all can to Tighten the
dark hours of your service. You must
call upon me at my home and"
Pardon the interruption, Miss San
ford, but you have forgotten my station
III liz III y Oul llhbhy IN VIZ uAAANA
tunate man. In your kindness of heart
you lose sight Of the fact that Col. San
ford would never permit private sol
dier to enter his house, unless in the
line of military duty"
A shadow fitted over her bright
young face, and in tender tone of
voice she replied:
"Yes, had forgotten. In contemplate
ing the man my eyes were closed to his
| station in life. What you say is but toe
true Papa is unfinchingly firm in his
ideas of the impregnability of the so
cial barrier which separates the men in
the ranks from those in official life.
Yet hope to see you frequently when
you are out sketching. | feel u very
deep interest in you, Mr.. Thornton,
and | do trust unclouded happiness
may dawn upon you and ever remain
with you at the close of your army life. y
God bless you for your cheering
words" he warmly responded. They
| touch my heart with thrilling tender
ness, and the knowledge that possess
one friend above the ranks OF the
rough soldiers will be a cheering re-
Election as | plod on in submission to
my self-imposed penance. shall look
up to your sympathy as a bright star
illumining the dreary days of my term
of service, and the knowledge that you
are watching me with friendly interest
will Tighten every uncongenial duty inn
posed upon me"
Your term of service viii soon pass,
and il must be a cheering reflection to
YOU that YOU viii then return to the
enioyments of civil life and to the so
ciety for which you are SO well fitted.
feel that Il bright future lies before
you, Mr.. Thornton, and you will apprc-
ciate the blessings tf life all the more
with this experience TO look back upon.
But must go now. Papa will become
uneasy at my long absence. VIII you
kindly assist me to mount my pony?'
With his aid she sprang lightly into
the saddle, and once more extending
her hand said:
"Good-by. | thank you for the pleas
ure your sketch afforded me. You
must let me see 1t when it is com
pleted."
81 would be only too happy if you
would accept 1t as gift. Good-by,
and may the Master above bless you
for the light you have brought into my
distasteful life"
With smile and farewell wave of
the hand she was off at brisk gaflop,
but soon drew in her pony and permit
ted him TO walk leisurely toward the
fort.
Private Brown had strangely i'm
pressed her, and as she rode along
she endeavored to analyze her feelings
toward him and determine what It
was that caused her to feel such
a deep interest in the handsome
young soldier. In her garrison life
she had met but few young men, and
these were mostly officers of the army.
True. they were polished gentlemen
and studiously polite in their demean-
or toward her, yet in the actions OF
each she could observe an air of disci-
plined dignity that seemed TO cast a
chill over his social qualities, and
even impart an icy ring to his laugh
ter when called upon TO do honor to n
refined joke or sally of wit. In Pri-
vate Brown she read noble nature,
unselfish and devoid of aught but man
lv pride. nature luminous with the
Qold of self-sacrifcing heroism in his
battle with life. She saw in him a
gentleman of culturc-a man as great
" out Of place in his present position
as diamond in the filth of the gutter
She recognized in his every action u