The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-06-27

lived ms an upright, true, honorable
man, and died as n soldier"
"Your wishes shall be rcligiously
carried out, Brown" Then drawing
near the soldier, so that those who
were gathered about might not hear,
he said III know your history, Mr..
Thornton, and no one more than !
wishes for you safe return and the
consummation of your fondest hopes
for the future. ! have read your ambi-
tions In your eyes when the name of
your commanders daughter has been
spoken. The prize Is we'll worth any
risk, and feel that you will win it."
THANK you, captain, n thousand
| times ] trust the future will demon
strate to you that | am not unworthy
| of your confidence. Good-by."
| Springing into the saddle he put
| spurs to the noble animal he bcstrode
and went laundering away on the
trail, followed by the approving shouts
of his comrades.
After his departure from the fort the
troops were dismissed with orders to
hold themselves in readiness TO mount
ut moments notice. Every officer
and officers wife gathered at the
colonel's quarters TO cheer him in his
great grief, and bid him hope for the
best. Despite their assurances the old
warrior sat stricken with sorrow. A
namelcss fear had settled upon his
soul, almost prostrating him beneath
its crushing weight. In his easy chair
he sat surrounded by sympathising
friends, alternately bemoaning his loss
and cursing the Indians.
IL have every confidence in that man
Brown, colonel" said Capt. Colby.
"He has been in my troop for nearly
three years, and until recently has
been an enigma to me. No man was
ever more scrupulously faithful in the
discharge of his duties, and in the sew
cral affairs with the Apaches in which
the troop has taken part since he joined
us he has exhibited marked courage.
In conversation with him have found
him to be "a man of education and rare
intelligence, and one who Is fitted for n
far higher position in life than that of
a soldier in the ranks. In fact, colonel,
! implicitly believe the strange story
he has told of himself"
Strange story? Who the devil is the
fellow?"
81 have been led to believe that YOU
were long ago made acquainted with
his history. Did not your daughter tell
you Of the soldier artist who was drawn
into the service when in an irresponsi-
bic condition from drink?'
''Oh! is that the man? The same man,
too, who resented an insult at the
hands of Vandever."
The same man, colonel: and I be-
licvc him to be n man whose friendship
would be an honor to any Of us were
he in his proper station in life"
CHAPTER XVI
Col. Sanford's head dropped on his
breast and he sat for several minutes
in deep reflection. Occasionally deep,
painful sigh would escape from him,
n saddening evidence to those around
him of the terrible grief which had
| come upon him. AS he sat there buried
in his own distracting thoughts, Lieut..
Nandever entered and silently stood,
cap in hand, with the group. After a
said to Capt. Colby:
"Ics, heard the story, but did not
give it n second thought. The men
nearly all have moonshine stories to
tell of the causes that led them into
the ras,lSs. If he is such paragon OF
virtue and respectability, why does he
not notify his friends of his mistake
and secure his discharge? 1t would be
an easy matter"
Perhaps, colonel" said Vandever
"he does not desire to return tc
his friends An unromantic sheriff
might"
stop, sir Stop!" the old Office,
roared. "llow dare you east such @
reflection on the character of that man
and in my presence, too, when you
know that at this moment he is rislSinq
his life to save my child! He is brave
man, sir, and a gentleman, and perhap.
your equal If not superior in every
thing that goes to make the man. &c
from my house, sir, and never dare tC
enter il again until you learn to speal
of gentleman as a gentleman. Go
sir"
have heard this defense of your char
acter from the man who but few
hours before would have struck you tc
earth with his sword, the flicker
ing spark of hope which yet glowed fit
fully in your troubled breast woul6
have burst into flame, and your strong
arms would have been doubly nervet
for the perilous task before you.
Captain, do you know anything
more of this fellow?" the commander
asked, after Vandever had skunk away
in confusion.
Nothing, colonel. He Joined my
troops at Fort Laramie in Wyoming
territory few weeks before we wer,