Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-01-09
SERGEANT STONE.

SERGEANT STONE.
Sergeant Stone was mystery to the
rest Of the garrison. He had been at the
fort for nearly year, having been sent
from one Of the recruiting stations in
the north, and further than that no one
knew. That he was gentleman by
birth and breeding was evident. He was
rather tall, and had fine head set we'll
upon pair Of square, manly shoulders.
From under an overhanging brow his
eyes, big black ones, shone, sometimes
with baleful light that betrayed an
devil incarnate in his soul. Again they
were dreamy, and had faraway look
in them, but always an expression Of
mute suffering. His mouth was finely
chiseled, and his teeth were small aud
even. But his chin denoted weakness.
He might have been anywhere between
10 and 30 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 savage delight that
his comrades wondered if he had pri-
vate grudge against the Apaches. Two
Of the redskins were in the act Of scalp
ing Private Finnerty when we'll d.
rected bullet from stones carbine sent
one Of them to the happy hunting
grounds. and a 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:
II wish that it had been me instead
of you, and no one 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 were finished he sought solitude
again. The advances Of his comrades
were met with chilly demeanor that
very effectually checked them, and Ser
geant Stone became very unpopular and
was left severely alone.
"I'll tell you what think, +" said
Private Wilkins, who was from "down
east somewhere. II 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 your" remarked Finnerty in a
threatening tone. "Oi won't hov any
body run i'm down behoind lis back.
Th' bye ain L stuck up. He's in trouble,
an DILL lick tn mon thot says he is
stuck up"
And Private Finnerty stalked off with
great dignity to the post canteen. But
Wilkins had unconsoiously 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 COM
plete mystery.
Three years before he had left his
home in southern state with the in
tention Of making something Of himself.
And this was the outcome-a sergeant
under an assumed name in the regular
army with SIS month pay!
And Adelel What if she knew? The
last time they met it was moonlight
night. They sat on the wide gallery sur
rounding her home The harvest moon
poured food Of silver light about them
as they talked long and earnestly Of
the future. They had been sweethearts
ever since they were children. The two
places were adjoining, and they used to
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 that
when they grew up they would be mar
ried. But he fell into bad ways Idle
ness, money to spend and bad associates
had nearly ruined him, and now he was
rs years Of age and had never worked q
day in his life.
She promised to marry him if he
would 60 away and make something Of
himself She despised an idle man, she
said, and she gave him two years to do
it in. And he was not to write to her
unless he achieved success.
"Will you be true, dearest?" he
asked
"As true as steel It is my love for
you that makes me impose these condi-
tions on you. want the man marry
to be something more than mere drone.
want you, my love. to be looked up to
and respected. ! want you to go out in
the world and wrest from 1t the living
II owes you, and to make your own way
alone and unaided, for the man who
cannot take care Of himself is not
worthy to have wife to care for"
well, 80 be it," answered he. II
leave tomorrow, and I won't come back
until ! have achieved something-until
! have the respect Of my fellow men and
your confidence ! will succeed or die
trying. And you will wait for me3"
II have promised, y she answered.
Won't you sing just one more song
for me before ! gof" he asked.
Eyes, will. Listen, " she said, and
she picked up guitar, and touching the
strings softly, caressingly, sang in a
sweet, clear voice.
eay "au, revoir, i" but mot 'goodby''--
fove Nveth stiil. Iove cannot d3e