The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-05-02
PRIVATE BROWN.
BY CAPTAIN JACK CRAWFORD.
Copyrighted 1905. by CAPTAIN JACK CRAWFORD.
All Rights Reserved,
tTEE POET SCOUT. ,

Copyrighted Teqs, hv CAPTAIN JACK CRAWFORD
All Rights Reserved
''Iou excite rny curiosity, Mr.. Brown,
and a wopan'a curiosity, when not
gratifed, is like a ranking thorn in
her side, you know. VIII you not trust
me with your story? Perhaps | may
be able TO assist You. My father is the
commanding officer, you know, and
will grant any reasonable request |
may ask of him. ! might be able to Sc
cure your discharge from the service
and enable you to return to life for
which you are better fitted than you
are to perform the duties of a private
soldier"
"In seeking to learn my history am
sure you are actuated only by pure
womanly sympathy. thank you for
this, thank you most sincerely, but
cannot consent to you making an eff
fort to secure my discharge. thave ac-
cepted the condition in which | am
placed as deserved punishment for
wrong doing and as severe school to
teach me the right, and under no cir
cumstances would | have my term of
enlistment shortened one single day"
Alice looked into his eyes for a mo-
ment and then began new scrutiny
of the sketch. Her thoughts were not
upon the picture, however. She was
debating in her own mind the pro-
priety of pushing her inquiries further.
She was burning with curiosity not I'M
mixed with sympathy to learn why a
man of his requirements and unmistak-
able refinement should be found in such
a humble position. After few mo-
ments' reflection, during which he
watched her face with growing inter
est, she sprang from her saddle to the
ground, and requested him to tighten
the girth. While he was doing SO she
said:
at may be presumptuous for me to do
so. Mr.. Brown, but | must ask you a
question even at the risk of being
thought impertinent. When tell you
am greatly astonished to find one of
your qualifications among men SO far
beneath you in intellect and refined
tastes, feel that you will see In my
interest some palliation for my action.
May venture to ask if there is secret
connected with the cause of your thus
banishing yourself from the ranks Of
life in which you are fitted to mover"
II fully appreciate the spirit of curl
osity which prompts the question, Miss
Sanford, and really regret that my
reply may deface any romantic mental
picture you may have drawn Of me. l
have nothing to conceal from the
world"
"Then will you not tell me some
thing of yourself, if your story be one
you can properly intrust with a
stranger? ask for no confidence, Mr..
Brown, and assure you that curiosity
alone feeds my nature-with, perhaps,
a feeling of friendly sympathy for a
fellow artist"
He reflected q moment with down
cast eyes, then looking in her face re-
piled:
81 will tell you my story, though it
may lessen me in your esteem, and un-
dermine any good opinion you may
have formed of me. 1t can be told in a
very few words. In the first place, my
name is not Brown"
81 was very sure Of that" she said
with a sunny smile. Brown is toe
common a name for such an uncommon
man."
"And yet illustrious men have borne
it. | recall one long since dead whose
tireless soul with knapsack strapped
upon its back is yet reported to be on
an extended march. My true name is
Edward Thornton. assumed the
name now bear when enlisted.
"My mother died when was but q
year old and a few months later my
father followed her, leaving me in the
care of a very wealthy aunt in the city
of Brooklyn, N. Y. She was my
fathers only sister, and took me to he,
own luxurious home and reared me as
her own child, lavishing upon me hel
deepest love. Twas all she had to love
and from childhood the dear, gooc
woman fairly idolized me and gratified
my every wish. When l reached t
proper age competent teachers were
secured for me, and, developing love
for study, progressed so rapidly thai
at the early age of seventeen was the