Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-13

and how doubly delicious If II prove
true that Private Brown is really Mr..
Edward Thornton and q gentleman
in every way our equal in life. But
word of motherly caution, child. You
must not permit your girlish enthust-
asm TO arouse in your young heart
feeling of aught but simple friendship
and sympathy for Private Brown
a slight blush mantled the cheeks OF
the young girl at these parting words.
After she had gone Mrs. Colby sank
into a chair and carefully weighed
every feature of the strange story, and
was yet deeply engrossed in thought
when the captain entered.
George" she said to him, do you
know anything of Private Brown of
your troop?"
Brown? Yes. He has several
times attracted my attention. He Is
splendid young soldier, | believe, al
ways unusually neat In personal ap-
pearance, and at times when he has
been on duty as orderly at my quar-
ters l have noted his intelligent lam
guage and gentlemanly bearing He
distinguished himself in a noticeable
manner in several of our brushes with
the Apaches last winter, and / have
him listed for promotion when there is
a vacancy. Why do you ask, my dear?"
81 have a very remarkable story to
tell you, George, if you viii promise
me that you viii never divulge it with
out my permission, not even to Brown
himself.
"Well, 1t must be a startlingly Inn
portant secret. VIII such pledge in
any manner conflict with my duty as
an officer?"
mot in the least, my dear, or would
not exact it of you"
"Then promise. lam all attention" :"
She told the story as Alice had re-
lated 1t to her, and the captains eyes
opened wide with astonishment.
''By Jove, wife, am inclined to be-
lieve the man has told the truth.
have never had occasion to give him
extra notice further than mentioned,
yet in the light of this revelation I can
recall many Of his actions which go TO
corroborate what you have told me. /
must keep my eyes on him in future"
Alice went at once to her father and
related to him the story Brown had
told her. The old man at first evinced
considerable interest in the recital, but
at its conclusion said:
"All nonsense, Sunshine, all bosh. You
must not place any credence in the wild
cock and bull stories the soldiers tell.
Look after the sick men in the hospital,
child, and let the well ones take care OF
themselves"
''Did do wrong, papa, In listening
to him and showing my interest in his
work?r
''My little Sunshine could not do
wrong. If this man has interested you
with his skill with the pencil l am
glad OF it. Your life IS cast amid very
sober surroundings, little one, and any
thing that affords you pleasure and
helps you to while away the dull hours
has my full approval. IL a big, honest
eyed Newfoundland dog should come
to you for recognition it would be no
wrong for you TO pat him on the shag-
gy head and call him pet names. If a
private soldier interests you and pos
sesses intelligence enough to treat you
as becomes your station In the world
above him, amuse yourself with him all
you desire Even listen to their fairy
stories il you wish. Soldiers love to
boast Of what they might have been
had they not been crowded into the
army by some remarkable circum-
stances. Their romances are all bosh,
Sunshine, all frothy bosh."