The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1895-01-11
CHAPTER ii.-ce.7isuED.
Copyright. 1893. by }. B. uppincott Co.

about in other ways. The engineer
colonel knew prominent business men
who were comrades of Morgan's In the
old Wolverine brigade, famous at
Gettysburg, Winchester, Five Forks
and Appomattox. Some had amassed
wealth, many were prominent, all
were sympathetic, and when they took
hold it was with a vim. Meantime,
however, valuable time was lost, and
poor Morgan was breaking down under
his load. Meantime, too, ministering
angels, army wives and mothers, none
SO wealthy that their charity entailed
no sacrifice, none SO poor that it could
not and did not help, moved by that
boundless pity and sympathy which
motherless little ones excite, were
lending helping hands about the cheer
less quarters and bringing grateful
tears and smiles to Comics anxious
face. Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Woods and
others had laid their matronly heads
together and organized committee of
ways and means. Of course nothing
could be done to excite Morgan's sus-
picions or wound his pride. Connie,
too, was old beyond her years and
shrank from what might look like de-
pendence, but she was too young to
manage household expenses. Old
nanny had none but extravagant
ideas, as befitted the retainer of good
old southern family, and the father
was practically helpless. It was at
this stage of the proceedings that
Pagan, the veteran striker who had
long been on domestic duty for the
Morgans, in accordance with the sys-
tenn then in vogue, was taken down
with acute rheumatism and went to
hospital, and that Private Schramm,
who for days had never missed an op-
portunity Of inquiring for the ieuten-
ant and occasionally lending helping
hand, came suddenly into prominence.
Somebody had to be detailed as Nor
gan's striker" There were always
quite number of the enlisted
men who were eager to be placed
on such duty, thereby earning
five dollars month, living on
better rations, escaping guard duty,
drills and roll-calls, having only to
bring in wood and water, black boots,
clean equipments, etc. Schramm was
reserved, temperate, studious, q model
young soldier, daily acquiring more
thorough knowledge of military duty
and of the English language as spoken
by the blue-coats on the border. Two
or three times the doctor, finding him
lowering about the quarters, had sent
him over to the hospital for medicine,
or the like, and Schranm, .saluting
with Teutonic precision, had obeyed
every order with soldierly alacrity.
More than once when Pagan, grooming
and coughing and wheeling in the
keen wintry air, seemed unable to bear
his burden of firewood into the house,
Schramm had laughingly lent his aid,
and one evening he came suddenly upon
the tall, slender, fragile form of Con-
ME staggering into the kitchen door,
heavily laden with logs. With one
spring the Prussian was at her side,
the blue eyes kindling, and he who
hitherto had never presumed to address
the "gnadige fraulein" except with
hand at temple and heels alick, brisllly
dispossessed her of her load, and bore
it into the sitting-room, where Lot and
Billy were squabbling over their blocks
in the wintry cleaning, and Connie
blushed to her temples as she thanked
the stalwart young soldier, once more
standing erect and brushing the bark
dust from his overcoat.
"Father sent Pagan to town." she
explained, land he should have been
home an hour ago. We are SO much
obliged to you, Schr-r-r-amm." And
Schr-r-r-amm seemed so hard 4 word to
say that she blushed still more, hesitat-
ed and stammered-she who, garrison
bred, had never heard the private SOL
dier addressed in any other way.
It was that evening, later, that old
Pagan declared himself all broke up,
which meant just the opposite, that he
had broken down and must quit work.
Mrs. Turner, light-hesrted and
thoughtless young matron, was sitting
with Connie at the moment.
HELL go to hospital, won't hep
she said. Then how much better it
will be! Capt. Manning will let you
have Schramm." But, to Mrs. Turner's
surprise, Connie promptly declared she
would not have Schramm.
"Why-y, thought he was SO devoted
to your father-so nice in every way"
Certainly" said Connie, with de-
cision; ''he is devoted to father, and he
is simply altogether too nice to be put
on any such duty"
Ibid you ever know so strange a
chlld?' said Mrs. Turner, telling of the
conversation a little later. ''She fairly
put me down as though were chit OF
fifteen-lilze herself
"Ye-es, instead of being old enough
to be her mother" suggested n fair
rival, mischievously, and Mrs. Turner
bridled, but said no more.
| But Manning, too, fell into error. In
formed by his first sergeant at tattoo
that Pagan was down sick and the
| lieutenant without a striker, in all
kindness and desire to help he asked
who would pe the best man to send,
and the sergeant promptly answered:
| ''Schranm. Schramm was all the time
over there, and doubtless he would be
| glad to take the detail" Manning hes
itated moment. He had other views
| for this young soldier, whose useful
ness in the troop could become very
great as soon as he mastered little
more English. But he called him forth
with. Schramm was among his com
rades, awaiting the assembly signal,
and, summoned abruptly, he stood at
tention in q foot of snow and answered
"Zu Befehl, Herr Rittmeister," before
/ ~z-Yl zo<ol, ~ owl l>J,,~k