Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-14
CHAPTER v.-CoSTINCED.

"Tell, my child, you must not for
get that you have but his own unsup-
ported evidence as to the truth of his
story. Were you my daughter l would
certainly advise you to not place too
implicit confidence in the truth of what
he told You He may be, as your IA
Their limited. a fugitive from justice.
The criminal element, you know, dear,
is not drawn entirely from the lower
stratas of society. 1t is not wrong,
think, for you to manifest an interest
in his artistic work, loving art as you
do, but you must not forget, my child.
that you do not know him, and that he
is but soldier in the ranks and far
beneath you in social standing. You
had best tell your father all you know
of your new acquaintance. and l can
assure you that should Browns story
prove to be true no one would move
more promptly than Col. Sanford in en-
deavoring 70 sever the bond of enlist
ment that he might be restored to his
proper sphere of life"
But you forget, Mrs. Colby, that he
said he would not under any considera-
ton have his term of enlistment short
ened one single day"
1T could be done without consulting
his wishes in the matter. If it should
be brought to the notice of your father
that the young man is not only infiict-
ing upon himself really unmerited pun
ishment for mistake of his youth, but
is by his action depriying the business
world of talent which would contrib
ute 20 its progress, he would scott at
the mans exaggerated ideas of penance
and lose no time in restoring him to his
proper station. May I be frank with
you, my child. and tell you that in my
opinion Mr.. Brown, or Mr.. Thornton,
is a very, very foolish young man. But,
my dear girl, you don't know how your
story has interested me. / wonder if it
can be true? And to think he is in
Capt. Colby's troop, too. May tell the
captain?"
DO you think it would be right, Mrs.
Colby? Mr.. Thornton did not enjoin
secrecy-i1 fact, he said he had moth
ing to conceal from the world, yet We're
his story known it might enforce upon
him notoriety which would be dis
tasteful to him"
That is true, my dear, but really l
feel that his captain should know it.
by and will tell papa all l know of
Mr.. Brown.
What a delicious secret we four will
have to discuss between ourselves,
and how doubly delicious if it prove
true that Private Brown is really Mr..
Edward Thornton and a gentleman
in every way our equal in life. But
word of motherly caution. child. You
must not permit your girlish enthusi-
asm to arouse in your young heart
feeling of aught but simple friendship
and sympathy for Private Brown"
A slight blush mantled the checks OF
the young girl at these parting words.
After she had gone Mrs. Colby sank
into a chair and carefully weighed
every feature of the strange story. and
was yet deeply engrossed in thought
when the captain entered.
George she said to him, do you
know anything of Private Brown of
your troop"
Brown? Yes. He has several
times attracted my attention. He is a
splendid young soldier. 1 believe, al
ways unusually neat in personal ap-
pearance, and at times when he has
been on duty as orderly at my quar-
tiers / have noted his intelligent Ian
guage and gentlemanly bearing. He
distinguished himself in a noticeable
manner in several of our brushes with
the Apaches last winter, and I have
him listed for promotion when there is
a vacancy. Why do you ask, my dear?"
II have very remarkable story to
tell you, George, if you will promise
At,,& h
out my permission, not even to Brown
himself"
We'll, it must be startlingly i'm
portant secret. Will such pledge in
any manner conflict with my duty as
an officer?"
Not in the least, my dear, or would
not exact it Of YOU
Then promise. lam all attention"
She told the story as Alice had re-
lated it to her. and the captains eyes
opened wide with establishment.
by Jove. wife, 1 am inclined to be-
lieve the man has told the truth. l
have never had occasion to give him
extra notice further than l mentioned.
yet in the light of this revelation l car
recall many of his actions which go to.
corroborate what you have told me. /
must keep my eyes on him in future"
Alice went at once to her father and
related to him the story Brown had
told her. The old man at first evinced
considerable interest in the recital, but
at its conclusion said:
''All nonsense. Sunshine, all bosh. You
must not place any credence in the wild
cock and bull stories the soldiers tell
Look after the sick men in the hospital,
child, and let the well ones take care of
themselves"
Did l do wrong. papa. in listening
to him and showing my interest in his
work?"
My little Sunshine could not do
wrong. If this man has interested yoa
with his skill with the pencil ! am
glad of it. Your life is cast amid very
sober surroundings, little one. and any
thing that affords you pleasure and
helps you to while away the dull hours
has my full approval. If a big. honest
eyed Newfoundland dog should come
to you for recognition it would be no
wrong for you to pat him on the shay
gy head and call him pet names. If a
private soldier interests you and pos
scsses intelligence enough to treat you
as becomes your station in the world
above him. amuse yourself with him all
you desire. Even listen to their fairy
stories if You wish. Soldiers love to
boast OF what they might have been
had they not been crowded into the
army by some remarkable circuIn-
stances. Their romances are all bosh,
al