The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-05-23

M
I Judgment, and now he was in for i.
and must suffer the consequences
What would Alice think Of him?
Would she pass hasty Judgment on his
act before seeking the details2 Would
She not now regard niIr as = quarrel
some bully. and deem him unworthy
Z OF her friendship? The thought
7 troubled him. and as he paced back
I and forth in the forbiddinC gloom Of
y the cell he was very miserable. His
I gratitude toward the girl for taking 50
I kindly an interest in him had ripened
I into love which seemed TO consume
I him Although no word Indicative Of
I his new feeling toward her had ever
been breathed in her presence, he felt
I that she must instinctively know that
he loved her. and her eyes had on more
than one occasion told him that her
friendship toward him was gaining an
intensity which might some day devel-
I op into a far more tender passion. In
his dreamy moments he had even dared
to picture future wherein their mu-
tual love would light the path down
which they wandered hand in hand.
and now by one rash act he may have
blighted the bud ot affection which
was swelling toward bursting in her
I young heart-have bliChted it so com
pletely that even the sun of future vim
dication might fail to warm it into life
again.
In the midst of his gloomy reflections
the heavy cell door swung open, and
/. Capt Colby entered
Brown he said. what was the
trouble between yourself and Lieut..
] NanGever?-
Captain. / have been guilty of a
most serious offense. and in the light Of
calm reflection do most deeply regret
it / was grossly insulted- sir, and in
my rage lost sight of the officer and
saw only the man who was heaping in
Z dignities upon ne. My position as a
soldier was forgotten. and resented
the insult as ! would have done in civil
hfs-as any gentleman would have
Z done. sir.
VIII you tell me without any reser-
walton or palliating coloring just what
occurred between your
Brown related all the details IN q
truthful manner. While he felt that
in the eyes of anyone possessing a
sense Of justice his blow would seem
justifable, he admitted that he had
been guilty Of serious inf-ae;ion of
army law, and averred that he would
humbly submit TO any punishment a
cOurt-martial might inflict upon him.
Il an sorry this occurred Brown
very sorry. Your conduct ever since
you joined my troop has been most ex-
emplary. and have hoped 10 soon be
able to offer you promotion. I fear
that this matter will go hard with you.
Col. Sanford is a most seve-e disci-
plinarian, and an assault by q private
soldier upon a commissioned officer
viii assume most grievous proportions
in his eyes He will insist upon your
trial by court-martial. and his views
on this question are so well known 70
the officers Of the post that those who
try you will, should you be convicted,
feel that severe punishment must fol-
low. can only hope the Palliating
circumstances may bear due weight
with both the commander and the
members of the court
He passed out, leaving Brown again
alcne with his bitter thoughts
Lieut.. Vandever lost no time in en-
deavoring 10 poison the minds of his
brother officers against his assailant.
He pictured him as brawny bully OF
a pugnacious nature, and loudly
averred that long term Of years in a
military prison was the punishment he
richly deserved. His words bore little
weight, however, for the young lieu.
tenant had become most thoroughly
disliked by every officer in the garri.
son. While there was no outward dem
onstration 10 establish the fact there
was not one of them but secretly re.
joiced that he had been so promptly
chastised for his unotficerlike conduct
And what of Alice? That young lady
: acted in o most remarkable manner
when the details Of the affair reached
her ears through Mrs. Colby. She did
not turn pale and weep and wiring her
. hands in inconsolable anguish in the
conventional way. Not she. great
smile Of satisfaction spread over hel
, pretty face, glad look increased tho
, usual brightness Of her eyes, ard she
, poured out the pent-up fervor of he,
soul in giving emphasis to the ont
word:
'GoOd.r
. She thought not then of rank or sta
tion nor OF any punishment that hel
, friend might be called upon 20 endure
but only saw 2 righteous blow strucl
At insolence and insult by the strong
arm OF manhood
II was not at all unusual for the com
manding officers daughter 10 send somt
: of the surplus from her own i,
to soldiers who might be confined il
! the guardhouse, and when the orderly
: from headquarters brought platter o
eatables TO the sergeant of the guar
: and said it was for Private Brown of
troop, it was passed in to the prisonel
, without questioning word. With III,
belief that some sympathizing com
5 rade had sent the viands from the trool
messroom he set it aside until he SHOULD
! feel hungry, and when he at last un
covered the contents of the dish anS
noted that il contained pieces Of pi,
/ and cake and other delicacics not TO b.
! found in the culinary department o
the soldier quarters, glad smile sprea'
! over his erstwhile troubled face, for h,
: knew il must have come from Alice
! Raising a slice Of cake from the bottom
of the dish he discovered that it ha,
D been concealing a folded piece of pa
: per. and eagerly seiZing il he ran Z
5 the dim light of the grated window
' and rad fhaSA words