Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-27

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, viii feel that you are my
friend. God bless you"
Thank you, Mr.. Thornton. Why,
how pleasantly papa is smiling. That
means good-natured scolding for me. -
AHA. you little truant," the colonel
cried. Your tastes are very eccentric,
! must say, Miss Sunshine. You run
away from your old ogre of a father to
accept the attentions of young officer,
then discard him for private soldier
of better looks and, damme, must say,
more soldierly 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? OhoI | see IL
now. This is the young man who was
recently brought to my attention
through the proceedings of a court
martial, and | can understand why
Vandever cut and run when he saw
him approaching. He feared the mans
temper might again lose step, and the
dose be repeated. Eh, Sunshine?"
80, no, papa. Mr.. Vandever did not
know the young man was approaching
u.s. He chose to return to the fort by
another route, that is ALL
That's all, sh? Well, you don't
know whether he saw him or not
/ am inclined to think he did. But
now for home. This Unsuitable, unrea-
sonable, tyrannical appetite of mine
demands immediate attention. thank
you, Brown, for the trouble put you
to in chasing this runaway. You can
go your own way now. Come, daugh-
ter"
Instead of being a trouble, sir, as
sure you it was pleasure to be able to
serve you in even SO slight a manner" :"
Brown saluted the officer, raised his
cap to Alice and galloped away toward
the fort
"Why, how internally courteous the
fellow is!" said the colonel, gazing
after the retreating figure with admir-
ing eyes. "And how soldierly his bear
ing. He's 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 I'll see that he doesn't forget it.
A pleasure to be able to serve me, eh?
/ like that. No wonder he knocked
that popinjay off his dainty feet"
"And Capt. Colby says he distin-
guished himself in several actions with
the Indians, papa"
Distinguished himself? OF course
he did. My experienced old eyes can
not be fooled, Sunshine, and they see q
soldier in that mana soldier who will
do duty when he sees 1t. There, his
cap has fallen off. Now watch him.
See that mount? Precise! Precise. Sol
dierly in every move, just as 1 mounted
in my younger days. Now, damme, l
need step-ladder and horse that
will stand as solid as the Rock Of Ages
until get firm seat in the saddle"
Alice's face glowed with much pleas
ure to hear her father bestow such
praises upon her 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"
81 recall some such story, but the
army's full of martyrs, who all have
fairy stories to tell. You mustn't listen
to them, Sunshine"
But if his story should prove to be
true, papa, could not his discharge be
secured?"
Discharge such a man as that? Not
by jug full. We need more such men
when soldier material is so scarce. We
can't spare a good soldier in these days,
my dear. Did the fellow ask you to
plead for his discharge?"
mo, papa. On the contrary he said
he regarded his present condition as q
deserved punishment for wrong doing
in allowing himself to drink until ire
sponsible for his acts, and that he
would manfully serve his time and do
his duty as a soldier to the very best of
his ability
Tut, tut. All moonshine. If he does
not desire discharge why do you ask
if one could be secured?"
Because ! feel that it is unjust to
compel such a man to live a life of
servitude in the ranks when he would
be such useful member of society, and
/ thought If there were a possibility of
securing his release ! would broach
the subject to 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 to kick
your Judgment into smHhereens, grille.
The fellow has been amusing himself
telling you cock and bull story, and
were you to go to him and hand him
discharge he would laugh at you and
refuse to accept it. Pay no attention
to such chaff, daughter. Damme, | like
the fellows appearance, though, and
I'll see Colby and give him hint that
there is good non-commissioned timber
there.
The father directed the conversation
into other channels, but Alice felt very
happy over the assurance that he had
feeling of real admiration for the
young soldier and might in future de-
velop warm interest in him.
CHAPTER XII