The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-11-07
CHAPTER XIV.

ss1al visits round the r.ginienta' instltn-
tiot- on the following morning when
looking in ut the library, he saw u man
tvri.hcd on one of the benches last
aslcrp.
Steuping forward. he saw. rs hc SHOOK
him somewhat roughly by the arm. the
!rirlc cheyrOn upon his sleeve: and as
IT,, mai thus suddenly reused stumbled
siwnsily on to his feet. the Colonel idcnti'
6ed him as Sergeant Lynn. His whole
appearance showed without doubt that he
vas recovering from a fit OF drunkenness,
perhaps Of some duration
The Colonel gazed at him s%ternly. as,
having recognized his commanding 9th
,er. he saluted, and stood shamefacedly
before him.
Sergeant Lynn, it seems that the re-
oorts Of your incompetence which reached
me were not unfounded. Had you ocv"
~anted for duty last night you would
have becn found incapable"
The Sergcant's head dropped still lower.
"YeS sir, l did take more than | ought.
can't help it. Things have been against
nc lately. and I am driven to drink at
times"
what do you mean! Up to now l
aave promoted you rs far as was in my
power."
"rromotion!' repeated Lynn. with IN
tmbecilc laugh. "NNhat good is promotion
t. me unless you could give me a com
missionf And even then ! dare say she
would not have me-"
81 should say not. il she saw you in
ronr present condition. You don't mean
% say that Il woman is the cause Of your
irinking?" asked the Colonel, cOntemp-
tuonSly.
cause enough" nc answered, logged
~. only three days ago she repeated
her promise to marry me; and last night
al the sergcants' mess it was common
talk that the Adju,anI was always ut her
house, and WAS said Ia he engaged to
her"
"You talk like II fool, Sergeant Lynn.
] would advise you 10 follow a steadicr,
more manly course. and not offer such
childish reasons as Il cause for running
your whole career. and for the present.
Sergeant Lynn. ! withhold my permission
for you TO marry" ne added, sharply.
"Ah, sir. | thought il would come to
that when you knew whom l was asking
for!" said the Sergeant. with a relellious
took.
II don't know whom you want To marry,
nor do / care
And the Colonel. now seriously dis
pleased. turned to leave the library.
Il beg your pardon, sir. 1t is the Quar-
t~erinaster's daughter"
What Quartcrtuastcr's daughter!"
rried the Colonel. in Il voice of thunder.
Jane Knox. sir"
At this familiar mention of the name
borne by the girl he loved. Stephen Prin-
sep only refraincd b. n Effort from re-
venging the insult win a blow. The
recollection that he was Colonel and this
o%raggart n sergean in his regiment kept
the impulse in subsection.
lie was close Ia his own gates now:
and before he turned into the carriage.
drive he heard Il noise behind him, and
mechanically. he saw il was the
Qnartermnstcr riding after him.
Il wanted In speak To You. sir" he
announced a little brcathlessly. az he
up.
The Colonel started. Could il be that
b. was H. hear the solution of this mys-
fery now Not urgcnt-nOt on a mill
larry matter, or what should prevent its
discussed in the orderly-room
Only one 60 cluSion remained it must be
N some private affair, and just then al
affairs seemed to the Colonel Ia
point to Jane.
Come i'll and have "A peg" he said,
somewhat shortly. and cantrred on 10
ward the bungalow.
After a hasty draught of iced water,
Prips,p had thrown himself bach
q on ..nA., alstir n,.l .nt ,,,,,... 60 IL.
luartcrmaSt"r 10 speak again. He want
d to hear what h" had Ia say. yet. afraid
4 appearing Inconsistent. h~esitatel 10
SIX outright.
"What j. thi, affair If which you wish
d t. speak T" me. Knox the Colonel
sked abruptly.
ut is nothing of actual Importance,
ir, yet think you onght to hear it first
rom Us. Jenny thought So
"NIiss Knox thought | ought to know Z"
Eyes: she said you would have reason
0 BE- offended if Sergeant Lynn spoke
D you on the subject first"
"Out with il. man. What is this mighty
,atter?' cried the Colonel. sharply. as he
.aned forward in his chair as though
, forestall the answer. This suspense
,as horrible. Yet the dcnouement might
e worse.
"You see she is engaged To him."
"Tllen it is true?
Eyes. II Is trne.
"Good heavens, it is sacrilcge." ejac-
lated Colonel Prinsep. tercely
The Quartermaster passed his hhgerS
,rough his hair in some bcwiIdcrmcnt.
His eyes followed the Colonel as he
,patiently pacrd III" room. and he was
u, ~unuderinc i t.pi1 WHEN his CON-
amino sGi,,-f