Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-04-04
CHAPTER xv1.-CoNrINuEp.
Copyright. 1893. by ]. B. LippincOr Co.

CHAPTER XVI-CoNTJNUED.
The snow blockade was such that
many children at the fort lost their
faith in Santa Claus. He who rode the
esnow-drifts and the storm was barred
at Ransom, yet seemed to swoOp IN
force on Morgan's 6reside. Brand new
s1eds were there for Lot and Billy, and
another doll, and such stacks of furni-
ture and boxes of 1eaden soldiers, be-
sides valuables of more practical sort.
ALI these, together with fruits and can
dies to be stuffed in their worn stock
ings, had been struggled in through
the kitchen and the connivance of
Bertha, and with them were some cost
.1y books, Schramm's gifts to his hon
-ored captain and brown-eyed Connie.
He dared not offer half what his heart
1onged to lay before them. They had
"A Christmas dinner, too, that Bertha
:swore was her own production and in
SEPARATION. They had remembrances
from the fort that Schramm packed"
in on horseback. Perry Thornton and
Others had by no means forgotten
them, and Schramm had blushingly
called upon such kind friends to say he
should be only too glad to carry in any
thing they might wish to send. There
was no lack of Christmas cheer, even
where one heart was so heavy as poor
Morgan'S, and no one was allowed to
dream how very much of all thiSholi-
day feasting was due to Schramm. And
so all through the long hard winter,
patient and reserved, assiduous in
every duty at the fort, yet finding fire.
-quent opportunity of visiting his
friends in Butte, Schramm held his
way. Old Hinke1 was made an ord
nance sergeant along in March, and
with his wife and olive-branches took
departure for a far southern post,
;Schramm seeing them to the train and
receiving fearful warmth of blessing
from the honest frau by way of good
by, and in April the doctors made more
frequent trips to town, for Morgan raj
lied but little with the lengthening
days. It was evident that no bill of
relief could bring lasting benefit here.
But, despite pain and hopelessness,
Morgan chung to life with great deter
animation. Live he must for the babies
ssalzes, he said, and once more now his
days were frightened by visits from
old friends, once more in the sunny
afternoon Perry Thornton dropped in
for checkers and campaigns or to show
"a new picture of his lady love, Connie
sometimes sitting contentedly by, but
generally busying herself with Bertha
about the house. And then, just as was
sure to happen, came the order for sum
mer's work. Away to the Big Hornr
said the colonel, as he refined up one
day at Morgan's open door, catching
<Schramm in the act of blocking out q
hower-garden for Lot and Billy. And
that evening before parade the regi
mental adjutant, seated at his desk
was surprised by a visit from Sergt
:Schramm, who begged of that inf1uen
-tial officer few moments interview.
young man." said Tintop to hi:
staff officer, as he espied the latter trip
ping around from the clubroom just
before the first call, ''that's the thirc
time I've seen you coming out OF Cur
rams since four o'clock" To which
Gray promptly replied:
Eyes, sir. You see, last week yor
remarked upon my going in there So
the process" And this afforded the
colonel the opportunity of giving
Gray the good ralSing down he de
served, and, just as Gray had hoped
and planned, brought out the reaction
that always followed an outburst
That evening Tintop came over to the
office to make it up" and then, whe1
the skies were cleared, Gray broachet
the subject of Schramm's interview
Tt seems he wanted a fortnight's fur
Tough to go to New York and othe
points on urgent personal business, ant
had reason to know that Bragg wou1t
forward the application disapproved
and Bragg did. Bragg's endorsement
read: This young soldier has been thu
recipient of so many indulgences alread.
as to seriously impair his usefulness a
n sergeant. He succeeded in evadins
field duty with the troop last fall, AM
seeks TO shirlx it again. For a man no
yet two years in service, he has been pro
moted over older and more deservin:
men so rapidly as to turn his head.
And Tintop considered the whole thing
a reflection on him as regimental com
mander, and so sent for Bragg and s.
told him, and said, furthermore, that
Bragg didn't like Schramm and cou1
find one man in the whole regimen
who was willing to tranfer to d, nov
that Bragg was its captain. he wou1
be glad to order an exchanges: and thi
gave Bragg the opening he hoped TO
and chance to reply that, so far froI
wanting to get Schramm out, his re
marks were conclusive proof that h
was only striving to keep him in.
@was hot shot give and take. for te