Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-05

our game Just as we were baggiag it.
Leighton was company clerk, a
talented, handsope fellow; had served
ont in India. He had a cheering
freshness and facility of expression,
and spoke with the quick, falling in
Election end d~irectness of the English
in speech one SO quickly learns to love.
He was mechanically ruling double
red-lines in O book where q lfe's ac-
count of services had been credited
and closed, much as a handbook is
ruled when a statement is rendered
from a balance struck. The words
"Died" or Deserted" placed in red
ink in the space below showed the
cause Of closing for service abruptly
terminated. The usual remark was
Discharged by expiration term OF
service" in black ink.
Sergeant, and whose will be the
next bloody DIP" asked Leighton,
without a ring of feeling.
"There'n be plenty of 'em, if this
blooming heat continues and we re-
main in this camp" / replied.
We were working at this official
funeral in the sultry summer night by
the unsteady light of lantern-candles,
and we're not feeling impressed or
reverent. Leighton was / n his under
shirt, open at his handsome brown
throat. AS he leaned over the books
at work, q locket from his bosom fell
the slack of its gold chain and struck
the desk.
/ noticed it, and he took it off,
handing it so me with indifference. He
had opened the locket, revealing the
portrait, which was that of a fresh
young girl, one of those sweet Eng
lish faces, whose charm is complexion
and expression of confidence complete.
The eyes arrested you-pathetic, soft
brown eyes,s 50 tendert they seemed to re-
proach, and, as you changed your point
of view of the miniature, followed you
with their full, warm light. / have
seen such affectionate light only in the
brown eyes of faithful dogs watching
those they love.
Seeing my more than casual notice
Of the portrait, Leighton added: cts
IN old story; not worth the telling; l
don't know why l keep it."
He spoke with the same absent in
terest we were feeling over this work
for the dead. 1t struck me as peculiar
that in a romance accomplished there
should be no trace either of bitterness
or remorse, only weary Indifference.
1 was SO quickly fascinated by the face
that Leighton's manner annoyed me,
and I did not ask for the story. Pos
sibly overhead makes men irritable,
for somehow l resented this careless
| fellow wearing about him a face like
that, with less interest than he wore
his spurs. / did not then notice the
resemblance of the face to Leighton's.
stopped abruptly and thought of
desertion, changing the conversation
TO this, the subject of my days mus
ing.
Leighton, something's got to be
done to relieve the pressure. / knew
the lieutenant would like to do SO. He
feels the pulse of this camp and knows
the symptoms. But what can he do?-
his orders to remain here are impera-
tive, and he can't pass US across the
line"
Hunting leave, laughed Leighton.
Hunting leave, then, let it be-" I
replied, with no questions asked as
to our game or preserve, though / can
tell what yours will be, you young
impl Tomorrow make out a hunting
pass for six" Leighton was humming
a catchy service ballad that had ap-
peared in London music-halls the year
before, and did not reply.
Next morning, / presented with the
report four-days' hunting pass for six
men. The lieutenant dipped his pen
in the ink and held it in contemplation
for a moment above the place for sig
nature, looking thoughtfully across
the level plain. Then, with quick de-
cision: 81 wish, sergeant, you and
Leighton would take hunting pass,
and let no complications arise" He
signed the pass, adding our names to
the text.
The following evening found us all
in Correlitos. After dinner, while
smoking fragrant Vuella Abaio of the
"Zona Libra" / strQllled through the
narrow streets OF this old Spanish
town, watching the wealth of q west
ern sunset, where the after-glow was
fast fading. High above the noun
tain-tops lay great pillows of russell
flame, with crests like the name of a
wind-fanned prairie fire. Lower in
the madre spread the pure deep purple
of southern twilight, while from the
foothills came the soft evening breeze
born after the heat Of day. Even
sounds fell on the ear so gently you
thought that before reaching you they
must have loitered to battle in the
aceauia and caught some Of it's muir
muir.
On the plaza I passed two groups of
comrades, one seeking solace in bran
dy. the other, fortune in roulette
pleasant rastimes that might lead to
complications" while money lasted,
and would bear light watching.
/ walked on to the Jardin de Orc,
a small public park, where serenaders
are inspired and listeners stroll or seat
kLa~ool-o. - Io.aHz, 80 tL1