Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-10-13

| nWcrNcu Jot. hucr Ill Nisit t-riVute
Richard Brown will never again be per-
mitted TO enter this house, and shall
forbid my daughter to ever again men.
ton his name In my presence. This may
seem damnably cruel to you, sir. after
what you have done for us, but there
IRE rules Of propriety in army life that
cannot be disrcgarded. My daughter
cannot maintain friendly relations with
a private In the ranks"
lie paused and regarded the young
man closely. Brown sat as dumb us q
marble statue and almost rs pale, for
his heart was completely crushed at
the cruel decree.
Butt the colonel resumed, with q
strange twinkle In his eyes, Lieut..
Edward Thornton will always be a
welcome guest Mt my home. There Is
your commission, sir, you trembling
rascal, fresh from the hands of the Sec
rotary ofwar. Lieutenant Thornton, let
me be the first to congratulate you upon
promotion. and to assure you thuti II
you prove as faithful In the discharge
y
Brown always proved us soldier in
the ranks. the stars of II general may
soile day rest urnn your shoulders"
AS he spoke he handed the young
man his commission, and warmly
grasped his hand, while grim smile
played over his face.
Thornton took the paper mechanic
ally. In his wild establishment he could
not utter n word. lie stood there trem-
bling and turning white and red by
turns until the old officer broke into
loud laugh over his embarrassment.
"Paralyzcs you, my boy? Just pet
rifles you with amazement. by God
frey. | have had that document hid
away for two weeks just to have this
fun with you. Never mind, lieutenant
(slapping him Familiarity ON the shout
der) you'll get over 1t and regain full
use Of your paralyzed tongue after
while will find something that will
restore your speech. Alice! Aliccr'
Coming. papa. In moment" came
Il silvery voice from another part Of the
house.
Like ray Of lovclicst sunshine she
entered. and an exclamation Of pleas
urc fell from her lips ut sight of her
lover.
Lieut.. Thornton. allow me to pre-
sent my daughter. Miss Sanford. Alice.
dear. thisis First Lieut. Edward Thorn.
ton. a new officer just assigned to duty
with Is Troop. Sixth cavalry.
The old mln darted out of the door
to hide the tears that h. could no long.
CT force back, and the lovers were
clasped in each others arms
Ned. dear. what Is the matter with
papa? What did he mean by such an
Introductory
As an answer he placed the commits
sion in her hands, and n hasty glance
ut the document told her all. With n
glad cry she again clasped her arms
around the young officers neck and to-
gether they wept tears Of joy.
"Your father says you must never
mention the name of Private Brown
again. darling" he said. with smiling
face.
II just don't care what papa says,
will always love him. He was my first
love, and the name Private Brown will
always be cherished one in my heart"
How handsome he looked in his new
uniform. with the straps of first lieu
tenant resting on his shoulders. And
how proud the day when Col. Sanford
introduced him to the officers Of the
garrison rs brother officer and rs his
prospective son-in-law. From every
officer of the post he received most
hearty welcome into the official ranks,
and not one of them but felt honored
with the friendship of one whose hero
ism had been put to such an extreme
test and had not been found wanting.
A couple of years after their marriage
Lieut.. and Mrs. Thornton were sitting
on the porch of their quarters enjoying
the refreshing GOODNESS of New Next
co summer evening. The lieutenant was
enjoying cigar and watching the ever
changing hues of the western clouds us
the sun slowly sank down behind the
San Mateo mountains while his lovely
wife sat scanning the columns Of the
last issue of the Army and Navy Jour
nal.
20, Ncd!% Here is an item about Mr..
vandevcr," she exclaimed.
"What is 1t. dcar?"
Dismissed from the service for cow
ardice in the face of the enemy In an
Indian campaign in Wyoming"
1T does not astonish me-" he replied.
"Such unworthy men but rarely get
into the service to cast reproach upon
the most honorcd profession on earth,
and they invariably meet with their
just deserts. An ulcer has been re-
moved from an otherwise healthy
body"
Promotion came In successive steps
to our hero us the years rolled on.
Mai. Thornton now commands one of
the most important posts in the far
west. lie is yet in the very prime of
manhood, and is the idol of his beloved
Alice. whose marital life has been one
of unclouded happiness. The majors
aunt, whom he and Alice several times
visited in her brooklyn home, died sew
eral years ago leaving HIM large for
tune, yet he remains in the service
where he found such great happiness,
and expects to serve his country until
retired by reason of age.
Often they sit together in the beau
tiful western twilight, the dignifed,
handsome officer and his lovely wife,
and tallsa of the strange events which
clustered around their courtship, and
the sweet woman is never SO happy us
when he gently chidcs her for her lack
of taste in falling in love with On hum
BILE Private in the ranks.