The Helena independent., 1894-11-29
THE COLONEL's DAUGHTER.

- - ftEF III AHF Blftftttufs
THE COLONEL'S D1 UG HTER.
He had read dime novels. had Saun-
ders, lie had read them as a boy In
New York. In the afternoon, as he came
home from school, he had bought them
from some street-corner vender OF pen
ny dreadfuls," and had gloated over
them as only "A small boy. born and bred
In a great city. can gloat over tales of
the west. lie had not been discrlmi-
mating. OF course, and had natural
leaning toward the most blood-curdllng
recitals; but ne had chosen always
something IN some way connected with
army life.
The army 10 him was a beautiful
dream, highly vanished picture and
10 be part OF it--a major part of course
something like general, or at the very
least colonel-had been from the first
MS one ambition. But destiny in the
shape OF parents OF stern and old FASH
Toned mold, the kind that thought and
accepted II as u convenient creed that.
having infiictel life upon their offspring.
they We're entirely at liberty 10 ruin
that life-this destiny ordained that he
should have profession other than that
OF arms; In short, that he should be a
lawyer.
NOW Saunders was OF an age 10 Judge
Tor himself. and he knew that he was
not the stun OF which lawyers 40 made.
Not the slightest vestige of eloquence
had he; he WAS blunt and truthful 10
degree. He dlsllked lie for It's own
sake All this and more he told his
parents, but he was answered by the
logic which has retarded the worlds
progress through so many generations.
That he was their son, and they knew
better what was good for him than ne
could possibly; that they were older.
and therefore wiser Saunders, more
from sense of duty than fear of
being disinherited of his fathers goodly
estates. accepted their decision and be-
gan the reading of law.
About this time he chose for "A ohum
a youth whose only possible recon-
mendation must have been that he could
boast OF army relatives. He had visited
IN his sallow gosling days at a garrison
and was full OF highly spiced tales of
the Wild daring and fascinations of a
soldiers life. Saunders would drink I'm
all these stories, and despite his valiant
efforts TO forget them and put tempta-
elton away, they would come back to
him as he sat over the inexpressibly
stupid folios relating to the law.
one summer this chum of his invited
Saunders TO visit him at his country
house on the Hudson. Saunders went
and spent the happiest two weeks of
his life. For IL was there that he mv--
Madge Kean. the bewitcl,--g little
daughter of Colonel Kean, of the Tenth.
Saunders caught his first glimpse of her
as he walked with young Milton up the
driveway Madge was armed with n
flobert rifle and was teaching the
young son OF the house how TO aim and
pull the trigger. There was something
In her very pose. In the fact of her know
ing how TO shoot that appealed 10 Saun-
ders at once. He could not see her face.
but nevertheless he said To Milton that
she was mighty pretty girl" Milton
replied with pardonable pride that the
young lady was his cousin. who had just
come from the far west, was of the
army and a "darned pretty little fiirt."
Therefore. before Saunders had even
been introduced to the fair Madge, he
was perilously near 10 being In love.
When he stood beside her and Milton
was saying: This is my chum, Saun-
ders. Madge: Miss Kean. Saunders"
when her bright eyes flashed from under
her long lashes-iust like an untamed
mustangs, as Saunders mentally COM
mented-when she smiled and put out
hand all smutty with powder. Saun-
ders thought her the most bewitching
woman he had ever seen. And Madge.
In her turn, made note OF the fact that
Saunders was tall, blonde and extreme
ly handsome, with that unmistakeahlc
air and refinement of a New York gem
tlemAn. She determined he would be
much better material 10 expend her
fascinations on than that milksop of a
cousin OF hers. She was glad he had
come. and said 80. Saunders answered.
In a tone that carried conviction that
he also was glad he had come, and
Madge bushed through one OF those
clear tanned skins which change color
with every emotion. Not that she was
shy and schoolgirlish I'm her bushes;
they were not result Of timldity.
Cupid did not hit Saunders heart with
the traditional golden arrow this time
II Wns the tiny bullets OF lead which
went from the mu2zle of the Flohcrt
straight To the hulla-cyc Of the target
that made the wounds which are IN
dIcted sooner or later on every man.
nv the time the wee cartridge box was
empty Saunders was hopclessly smittcn.
In the course OF the next fortnight he
cnme 10 that point where he would
have even studied law with pleasure
had she expressed an admiration for law
students. But she did not lie had con-
tldod to her all hs haillrd ambitions,
had told her how his soul Nearnod for
shoulder straps: and she, la turn. told
him that the life uf the soldier was the
only one worth living
lie WAS too old for West Point, why
didn't he try for a civil appointments
This had never occurred to MIN. he
would think II over lie asked her some
questions and confidca some VI his Ideas
of garrison life To- her. She laughed nc
them and told him he was u dear old
tcnderfoot." " u had not been Tor me
tone uf voice In which she said it 10,
the rougish, half-fOud glah-- s,om her
mustang eyes. Saunders would nave
been terribly cut up over that scorniul
word
"Tcnderfoot tcnderfout he after all
he had read on the subject could u be
that his source ~ information was badf
lie did not ask Mndgc this. however, he
never put forth any of his Ideas ON the
subject again to her. asked for mo- fur
thcr Information: ne knew he was miss
ing golden opportunities for cnllghtcn-
meut. but he did not care tu be laughed
at. lie was aware Tint nothing would
80 much mlurc him In her oyea ~ To-
make himself ridiculous, And Madge
In that fortnight cXcrted, FIRST. every |