Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-20
CHAPTER X.

Brown walked to his quarters with
light heart. With the one exception
of Alice Sanford this had been his first
conversation with a woman since his
enlistment, and to him it seemed as
a glimpse of the social life which Would
again be his when his term of service
should have expired. The flood of sun
shine his acquaintance with Alice had
cast into his distasteful soldier life was
multiplied and intensified by the atten-
tions shown him by Mrs. Colby, and it
all came to him as the first rift in the
cloud of servitude which must one day
melt into the horizon and disappear
from the sky of his life. The lady's
kind parting words: II hope to meet
you often, Mr.. Brown" were yet ring
ing in his ears when the first sergeant
of his troop grasped his hand and
warmly welcomed him back to duty.
But an hour after Brown left the
Colby quarters Alice Sanford entered,
and was met by Mrs. Colby with
radiant face.
"I have met your hero my dear
GIRL" she said. 81 not only met him,
but had a long conversation with him
in this very room"
80, did you, Mrs. Colby? And may l
ask what you think of him?"
'He is a very fine appearing young
man, and looks to be model soldier"
she quietly answered.
30, bother the soldier! Leaving Pri-
vate Brown clear out of the question,
how did Mr.. Edward Thornton impress
you? Isn't he nice?"
81 will tell you, my dear, frankly
what think of him. He came here to
report to Capt. Colby for duty, and l
asked him in to give me an artists
view Of my Bierdstadt picture which
you SO much admire. From the dis
cussion of art led him into other fields,
and was really astonished at the wide
range of his information. Putting Pri-
vate Brown out of the question, as you
suggested, dear, found Mr.. Thornton
q perfect gentleman, courteous and
polished in demeanor, highly educated,
fascinating onversationalist,
brainy man Of refined tastes-in short,
were he to be to-day raised to his
proper sphere in life know of nothing
that should prevent me from welcom-
ing him to my home and presenting
him to my friends as gentleman well
worthy their acquaintance and esteem.
80, thank you, Mrs. Colby. | am so
glad you met and like him, for your
friendship viii greatly tighten the load
the poor boy has TO bear. And you
think he is entirely worthy of my
friendshipY
''Mr Thornton would be, yes. But,
Alice, dear, indeed you must not allow
your sympathies for him TO blind your
eyes to his rank in our military world.
You should look upon Private Brown as
Private Brown, and not what Private
Brown should be or might be-"
''Oh, I hate that barrier of rankl"
cried Alice, impulsively. Mrs. Colby,
we are as God made us, and rank or
dress cannot change our natures. Is
not Mr. Thornton as much an honor
able man in the garb of private sol
dier as he would be in the elegant dress
of society gentleman? Is not his soul
as pure while serving as soldier as 1t
would be had he never strayed from
the path of life IN which he belongs?
Have his refined instincts and noble
traits of character been stunted or de-
stroyed by his enlistnent?"
my dear child, there are rules of
military etiquette and discipline which
we, as members Of the military world,
should sacredly regard. In military
society, as in military discipline, the
lines must be sharply drawn. The men
OF the ranks must be taught TO feel
that the plane they occupy is beneath
the level of those in official life, else
there would be no respect for authori-
ty and military rules would be but
dead letters While Edward Thornton
chooses TO fill the shoes of Private
Richard Brown he must have no as
pirations above the sphere of the pri-
vate soldier and must not endeavor to
step over the line of social distinction.
When his term Of service shall have
expired and he again takes his place in
the ranks of civil iife-well, that may
be different matter, my dear"
"Thcn, as you reason, Mrs. Colby,
when Jewel falls from its setting into