Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-01-10
va 8

penal servitude.
"-6enstly bore" lisped Charley M
gent, the st-joined sub, as he pulled
viciousiy at an imaginary mustache,
''isn't it?" and he looked appealingly
round on his brother officers, who
were lounging about the ante-room at
Island Bridge Barracks.
"Look here, youngster, "growled the
Major from his lair on the sofa, ''you
don't know what's good for you. It
will be the saving of you boys to get
away from the late hours and confec-
tionery that you are indulging in
here. The Wild West is not half
bad"
Tell us all about it, Major" came
in chorus from "the boys"
''lhe Major" was M authority on
all subjects in the Green Lancers. u
If it was love affair, some detail OF
regimental duty, q financial difficulty,
or one of the many complications pc
culiar to "young bloods," ''the
Major" was always the trusted guide,
philosopher and friend.
A perfect man of the world, thor
ough soldier and good sportsman,
with kind heart, despite a rather
sarcastic turn, he was adored by all
the youngsters of the regiment, to
whom he wns regular oracle.
"Ies, said the Major, ''the West is
u jolly place for any fellow with health
and heart to enjoy the fun one gets
there. The Chief and were down on
detachment in the County Mayo in
81, henboycotting came into fashion.
We had lots of work, to be sure but
we had splendid good time of it all
the same. The best of shooting, fish
ing and mailing sport with the South
Mayo hounds. AS for hospitality
there was no end of it, and as for
girls Heigh-ho! it was lucky thinr
for the Coloneland that our old che t
then was death on matrimony IN the
regment, or we should not be shaking
loose legs now. 1 tell you, boys, il
you don't losey your lives over the walls,
or your hearts over the girls, you are
d tougher lot than you look"
"Any betting fellows down in the
wilds there, Maior?" drawled Fred,
Hall, the captain of G Troop, as he
languidly crossed the room and Joined
the group.
"By Jove! Dolly, but you will be in
your element. The men there are
ready for any sort of extraordinary
wager, and think will even make Won
oFen your eye. Nothing is too hot OIL
heavy for them"
81 suppose they WILL" lisped the
Captain, in such au innocent, artlest
way thataroar Of laughter went around
the coom.
"Dolly" Hall was q man of about
seyen-and'twenty, with fair, curly
hair, light mustache, and face thai
would have looked more in place ovel
u silk dress than surmountins tn,
green-faced .tunic of the - Lancers
Everything was "bore" to Dolly,
and no duty Tor pleasure for the mat
ter OF that was gone into without al
amount OF lamentation over the hard
ness of his luck in having to exer
himself. but the fellows in the regi
ment knew that Dolly could rous,
himself when occasion required, as h,
had been twice mentioned in dis
patches for gallantry in the Soudal
campaign.
1t quite annoyed Dolly to be re
minded OF these lapses from his nor
NAL state of ennui.
"What the duce could I do?" h
would say in a piteously apologeti,
tone when asked about an Egyptian
exploit.
With plenty of money and an ar
dent love of sport lin his own peculial
fashion), Hall was never happy unless
he had bet on something, 1t did no
matter what, from Derby favorite tc
cheese maggot race ACROSS plate
Some wonderful betting transaction