The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-24

t fe4v who disapproved Of giving first
prize to two-year-old trooper, and yet
who would equally have criticised any
appointment Gray could have made,
but to the outspoken satisfaction Of
nine enths of the regiment, Sergt
Schramm was named sergeant major,
the senior non-commissioned officer of
| the Eleventh. Modestly he accepted,
for already his colonel and other Off
| GERS had hidden him look even higher
''You are on the road to a commission"
said Perry Thornton, when the young
German came to tell him of the offered
sergeant majorshlp and to beg the
Herr lieutenant's kind advice. Il only
wish the commission might come in
time for YOU to stand up with me. Con-
graduate me, Rhetz: the wedding is to
be in December.
One chilly October afternoon Connie
had driven Mrs. Woods ilto town after
brief visit to the tort. Daddy was
ailing again since the frost set in, and
beginning to house himself still more.
She had left her friend at Mrs. Whal-
ing's and, turning Rand" about, was
spinning up the main street towards
their home at the westward skirt Of
town, when, striding along in front Of
her, slender, erect, in the most iInInac
ulate Of yellow stripes and chevrons
and natty blue Uniform, she caught
sight Of Il well-known form, in an in
etsnt had refined up at the curb, and
her glad voice, eager and joyous, rang
with the old name.
''Schramm! Why, when-how did
YOU get here?" she cried, throwing
down the reins and holding forth her
slender hand. The street was full of
people, and who that saw could fail to
note the sudden flash Of delight in the
face of the soldier addressed? Instant
ly he whirled about, sprang to the
curb, and was on the point of clasping
the protfered hand, when as suddenly
he seemed TO ren1em Der, Strengthened
up instantly, raised the forage-cap
from his curly blond head, and an
swered, respect, homage, admiration in
his fine blue eyes:
Only this morning, gnadige Frau
! lein. The adjutant and were sent in
by way Of Green river. The regiment
is marching home
''Oh, father will be so glad! Have you
time-can you run up to see him now?'
'Assuredly, Miss Morgan. was On
my way there"
That's simply lovely. Come, let me
| drive you now. You can't imagine
what pleasure Rand has given us all. !"
| And. edging back to the right side of
| the phaeton, she eagerly made room
for llinn beside her Scl1ramm flushed
to his very eyes.
'Oh. gnadige Fraulein, | thank you,
| but could not. / will co1ne--f'ar
J don! must stop Oh the way. Please
drive ON, Miss Morgan. It cannot he
that should drive with an officers
daughter And, seeing rebellion in
her eyes, he abruptly turned and
strobe away. He reached the little
home only five minutes behind her, but
the next day and the next RANDI
stood unused in the stable. Its your
own doing, Schr;smln,' She said, with
| flashing eyes, when at last he meexly
came to ask why she would no longer
honor him by driving his horse
and pllaeton. IF there's any military
improperly in my driving you, there's
every improperly in my driving your
horse and phaeton.' And argument
was useless. She refused to enter it
again. This was the first break Then
came a. second. On three occasions
within the ten days after his return
! the sergeant major: calling to see how
Jared his captain and the family, found
(! Lieut. Renslstsw, 81 very presentable
young infantrynlan, seated in the
little parlor. Once it was Renshaw
who opened the door. At sight Of hin,
; the soldier had become rigid, like a
pointer. His Inquiries were made on
| this occasion with hand at salute. and
he faced about ard left at once, but
Constance pursued and caught him at
! the gate, and Renshaw, watching from
| the window, saw him at attention,
punctilious as ever. and saw that Con-
stance was pleading. She was flushed
and ready TO CRY when she came back.
! Schramm came seldom now. and Rem
shaw more frequently, and The third
winter opened in chill and gloom.
Thornton came to say good-by just
before Tha nksgiving, and went bliss
fully away to his wedding, leaving
Renshaw haunting the invalid's room
and swearing to himself at Comics
ceaseless household duties. He began
to realize that she was actually striv-
ing to avoid him, and so did Morgan.
One night Morgan called her to him
and gently, fondly began to plead with
her. He has asked my consent, Con-
stance. He is gentleman. He
loves" But She would hear no more,
and with a burst of tears fed to her
room Poor Renshaw was told that
Constance could not listen to any pro-
posal: she would not leave daddy.
''But daddy must soon leave her."
the father urged again, ''and then what
is to become of you and Lot and Billy?
Renshaw said he would only be too
glad But here the slender white
hand was placed on his mouth, and
further words were impossible.
He took it sorely to heart, did Rem