The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-12-05

learns tOr bno urSb time TO DebJr1u6
bare backed horse. Saunders was an
old hand at steeplechase, and had lit
tie to learn, save few technicalities.
He did not even see Madge for three
days, but was induced TO overcome his
predetermination to call upon her. He
saw within an hour after he had
stepped upon the reservation that he
would hardly be welcome. 1t was bad
enough not to be able to see his di
vinity it was infinitely worse when,
at last, he met her. She gave a great
gasp and start, blushed, and returned
the bow, with just the slightest nod
misunderstanding smile. He saw With
dismay that he was to her simply
menial-that he could not dare tC
overstep the line which divided them
He got over his desire to shoot him.
self every time he was given an order
in her hearing after awhile. He
watched her hirtations with a gorge
GUS first lieutenant in bitterness oI
spirit, and the thought dawned on him
that she was not true; but he hoped
she would leave the first lieutenant
when he (Saunders) should have won
his spurs. But even the spurs seemed
far away; he had come to understand
that the jump from the uniform of an
enlisted man into that of an officer is
difficult feat, or was in those days,
and no chance for physical prowesi
pI Iesented itself. Morally he was as
brave as only man in love can be.
He would have killed himself had he
not been.
More courage than to carry stand.
ard to the cannon's mouth did it take
for him to obey the first order to ''po-
lice," with a fatigue party, the back
yards of the officers quarters To
''police" is army for cleaning up, and
it is left, as a general thing, to the
prisoners who happen to be in the
guard-house, But at this time there
were very few prisoners, not more
than one or two, for the men had been
upon their good behavior, it being al.
most two months since the paymas'
ter's last visit, and no cash left to be
expended upon whisky at the suffers.
SO Saunders sailed forth in fatigue
suit-overalls and coat of canvas
and he helped the others to sweep
with stable brooms and to shovel up
the back yards.
In the Colonel's yard he was merci-
fully spared meeting Madge-it would
have been, he thought, the last straw
and he did not know that from be-
hind her filmy curtain she was watch
ing him with amusement and pity, the
while she turned about on the third
finger of her left hand large solitaire
ring, and wondered what he would
say when he heard of her approaching
marriage to the dashing young lieu
tenant.
Then the police party went on it:
way and came at last to the yard ot
that very lieutenant. There was {
half sheet of note paper in one of the
piles of dust and rubbish which hat
been swept up. Saunders noticed thi
noticed, though it was crumpled
that the writing upon it was Madge
pointed scrawl. He picked it up anC
slipped it into his pocket. 1t was no
an honest thing to do, but he did no
stop to think--he only wondered what
note of hers was doing in this man.
back yard and what was in it.
When he got back to the barracks
he read the note. There was enough
therein to make him understand tha
Madge-his Madge-for whom he had
given up everything, for whom he hat
endured so much humiliation, was tC
be married in one week to that frs
lieutenant; that she was in love-des
perately in love-with him, and die
not hesitate to say SO. Was the MAJ
in love with her? If he was, why die
he crumple up and throw away a not,
for which Saunders would have givel
his very soul?
Then Saunders looked about hin
with eyes opened by despair. He say
at last the barrier of caste in all it
height and strength; he saw what he
had done, and he shuddered. There
were but two ways out of this unless
} he waited until his enlistment were NJ
-four and a half more years-an,
: that he could not do. He could xii
! himself, but he was young, remember
it was not to be lightly done. And
he could desert. To his mind de
serter was not what it is to Nman VIII,
has been long in the service-all tn
disgrace of it did not occur to him. /
it had been explained to him he coulC
not have grasped the full horror of it
So he waited his chance for fou
days, and then "bolted," as his com
rades termed it. He went away from
the railway, thinking that he woul,
put those who were sent after him OF
the scent, and after day or two circl
round to reach the iron road, whicl
would lead him far from all this.
On the third day, as he trudged on
ward to the railroad, lodging like
J hunted criminal behind every cluml
, of mesquite or greesewood, he wa
overtaken, his hands tied behind him
and marched back to the post unde
guard.
AT a turn of the road the part
, drew aside and waited for an ambu
: lance to pass. The soldiers salute,
the officer inside.
Saunders could not salute; hi
hands were tied. He knew the office
it was the first lieutenant; he wa
going to the station with his bride
Madge looked out and saw the de
serter-saw him and turned her head
San Francisco Argonaut.