The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-05
STONE.

" AN"y 'NN' '>As
from one of the recruiting stations in
the north, and further than that nc one
knew. That he vas a gentleman by
birth and breeding was evident. He was
rather tall, and bad a fine head set we'll
upon a pair Of square, manly shoulders.
From under an overhanging brow his
eyes, big black ones, shone, sometimes
with o baleful light that betrayed an
devil incarnate in his soul. Again they
were dreamy, and had a faraway look
in them, but always an expression of
mute suffering. His mouth was finely
chiseled, and his teeth were small and
even. But his chin denoted weakness.
He might have been anywhere between
25 and 80 years of age.
He took HIS place in the ranks, and
by strict attention to duty was promoted
to corporal. The one time the troop was
in the field since he was with them he
fought with such q savage delight that
his comrades wondered if he had a pri-
vate grudge against the Apaches. Two
Of the redskins were in the act of scalp
ing Private Finnerty when a we'll di-
rected bullet from Stones carbine sent
one of them to the happy hunting
grounds. and Il chance shot from his re-
volver disabled the other. For this he
was made sergeant. In response to Fin
nerty's profuse expressions of gratitude
he merely growled:
Il wish that it had been me instead
Of you, and no had interfered."
Seldom did he enter into conversation
with the other soldiers. He was quiet
and very morose. He had been moping
all summer. He performed his duties in
a mechanical sort Of way, and when
they We're finished he sought solitude
again. The advances of his comrades
were met with a chilly demeanor that
very effectually checked them, and Ser
geant Stone became very unpopular and
was left severely alone.
"Ill tell you what I think" said
Private Wilkins, who was from down
east" somewhere. Il think he is one Of
these -- fine southern gentlemen who
has joined the army and got sick of it.
I'm sorry we amt good enough for his
nibs to associate with"
"You kape thot hole in yer face shut,
will you?" remarked Finnerty in a
threatening tone. "Oi won't how any
body run i'm down behoind is back.
TIL bye amt stuck up. He's in trouble,
an OH lick tn mon thot says he is
stuck up"
And Private Finnerty stalked off with
great dignity to the post canteen. But
Wilkins had unconsciously spoken the
truth partly.
And SO matters went on from day to
day. The dreary monOtony Of scenery,
the unchanging sameness Of each day to
the other and the routine of garrison life
seemed to bear hardly upon Sergeant
Stone. He became more restless, more
sullen and morOse. No letters came to
him, and he wrote none. He was a COM
plete mystery.
Three years before he had left his
home in q southern state with the in
tention Of makingsomething Of himself.
And this was the OutcOme-a sergeant
under an assumed name in the regular
srmy with So a month pay!
And Adele! What if she knew? The
last time they met it was a moonlight
night. They sat on the vide gallery sur
rounding her home. The harvest moon
poured a food Of silver light about them
as they talked long and earnestly OF
the future. They had been sweethearts
ever since they we're children. The two
places were adjoining, and they used t
60 to school together. He would carry
her books for her and protect her from
other boys when they attempted to tease
her. And they had always said tina
when they grew up they would be mar
ried. But he fell into bad ways. Idle
ness, money to spend and bad associate
had nearly ruined him, and now he wa
% years Of age and had never worked
day in his life.
She promised to marry him if h.
would go away and make something O
himself. She despised an idle man, sh
said, and she gave him two years to d
it in. And he was not to write to he
unless he achieved success. \
"Will you be true. dearest?" h
asked.
LAS true as steel. 1t Is my love fc
you that makes me impose these cond.
lions on you. l want the man l MARI
to be something more han a mere dron,
I want you, my love, to be looked up I
and respected. l want you to go out il
the world and wrest from it the livin
1t owes you, and to make your W VIZ
alone and unaided. for the man VII
cannot take care Of himself is NJ
worthy to have q wife to care for"
well, SO be it," answered he. .
leave tomorrow, and I won't come BAG
until I have achieved something-unt
I have the respect Of my fellow men ar
your confidence. I will succeed or d
trying. And you will wait for me""
II have promised, " she answered.
won't you sing just N more Sol
for mt before I go;" he asked
Eyes, ! will. Listen" she said, al
ahs picked up a guitar, and touching t
strings softly, caressingly, sang in
sweet, clear voice:
Say Eau r~evoir," but not "goodby"-
Love liveth still: Love cannot die.
As she finished, d mocking bird, Wa