Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-04-04

who would equally have criticised any
appointment Gray could have made.
but to the outspolzen satisfaction OF
nine-tenths of the regiment, Sergt-
Schramm was named sergeant major,
the senior. nOn-commissionedo officer OF
the Eleventh. Modestly he accepted,
for already his colonel and other Off
GERS had hidden him look even higher.
ssYou are on the road to commission"
said Perry Thornton, when the young
German came to tell him of the offered
sergeant majorship and to beg the
Herr heutenant's kind advice. 81 only
wish the commission might come in
time for you to stand up with me. Con-
graduate me, Rhetz; the wedding is to
be in December"
One chilly October afternoon Connie
had driven Mrs. Woods into town after
a brief visit to the fort. Daddy was
ailing again since the frost set in, and
beginning to house himself still more.
She had left her friend at Mrs. Whal-
| ing's. and, turning Rand" about, was
spinning up the main street towards
| their home at the westward skirt Of
town, when, striding along in front of
her, slender, erect, in the most irnmac-
ulate of yellow stripes and chevrons
sight of a well-known form, in an in
slant had refined up at the curb. and
her glad voice, eager and joyous, rang
with the old name.
"Schrammi Why, when-how did
you get here?" she cried, throwing
| down the reins and holding forth her
slender hand. The street was full of
people, and who that saw could fail to
note the sudden flash of delight in the
| face of the soldier addressed? Instant
| ly he whirled about, Sprang to the
| curb, and was on the point of claSping
the proffered hand, when as suddenly
he seemed to remember, Strengthened
up instantly, raised the forage-cap
from his curly blond head, and an
swered, respect, homage, admiration in
his fine blue eyes:
''Only this morning, gnadige Frau
1ein. The adjutant and 1 were sent in
by way of Green river. The regiment
is marching home"
''Oh, father will be so glad! Have you
time-can you run up to see him now?"
'tAssuredly, Miss Morgan. was on
my way there
''That's simply lovely. Come, let me
drive you now. You can't imagine
what pleasure Rand has given US all"
And, edging back to the right side Of
the phaeton, she eagerly made room
for him beside her. Schramm flushed
to his very eyes.
''Oh, gnadige Frau1ein, thank you,
but could not. I will come-Par-
don! l must stop on the way. Please
drive on, Miss Morgan. It cannot be
daughter" And, seeing rebellion in
| ho oh, In k.,,. nd
strobe away. He reached the little
home only five minutes behind her, but
the next day and the next Rand
stood unused in the stable. Its your
own doing, Schramm," she said, with
flashing eyes, when at last he meelzly
came to ask why she would no longer
honor him by driving his horse
and phaeton. ''If there's any military
improperly in my driving you, there's
every improperly in my driving your
: horse and phaeton." And argument
| was useless. She refused to enter il
; again. This was the first break. Their
came a second. On three occasions
: within the ten days after his return
) the sergeant major, calling to see how
t Jared his captain and the family, found
Lieut.. Renshaw, a very presentabl'
young infantryman, seated in the
little parlor. Once it was Renshav
who opened the door. At sight of hin
| the soldier had become rigid, like
pointer. His inquiries We're made OF
this occasion with hand at salute, anC
he faced about and left at once, blu
Constance pursued and caught him a
. the gate, and Renshaw, watching from
the window, saw him at attention
punctilious as ever, and saw that Con
stance was pleading. She was flushed
and ready to cry when she came back
Schramm came seldom now, and Rem
shaw more frequently, and the thir'
winter opened in chill and gloom.
Thornton came to say good-by jus
before Thanksgiving, and went bliss
y fully away to his wedding, leaving
Renshaw haunting the invalid's room
and swearing to himself at Connie
: cease1ess household duties. He bega1
4 to realize that she was actually striv
: ing to avoid him, and so did Morgan
One night Morgan called her to hin
e and gently, fondly began to plead wit
t her. 'He has asked my consent, Con
e stance. He is gentleman. 81
loves" But she would hear no more
n and with burst of tears fed to he
room. Poor Renshaw was told tina
!. Constance could not listen to any pre-
e posal; she would not leave daddy.
d ''But daddy must soon leave her,
Il | no 80 rraiy1 nd than uI1s,