Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-03-26
LOVE MY DOG.
BY GwENDOLEN OvERTON.

BY GwENDOLEN OvERTON.
Duffy was the property Of Caldwell.
Of the Tenth, and was looked upon In
the light Of an inheritance, having come
down to him from Wentworth--of the
same-when the latter had been ordered
away.
Caldwell went into Wentw0rth's quar-
tiers at once, and found Duffy rubbing
up pair of his ex-master's discarded
boots, with view to using them him
self. He liked the mans looks and he
liked the condition of the vacated quar-
tiers, with their slate-gray painted
woodwork, 80 he took the quarters and
agreed to take Duffy at strikers usual
rate of remuneration.
Duffy entered promptly upon his
duties, and was entirely satisfactory.
lie had no membranes in the way Of
family or swecthcarts. and he was faith
full to degree that was occasionally ex-
asperating. For six months he served
Caldwell in singleness of purpose, hay
ing in that time been incapaciated only
for six days; that is, for As hours after
each of the paymasters visits; and
Caldwell, knowing the ways Of strikers,
made no objection. Duffy slept uproar-
iously In his room, and Caldwell made
his own fires, and brushed his own
clothes, and went with unbacked boots.
In the interim, no hour was too early
for rising, none too late to sit up and
keep logs on the andirons that the
rooms might be warm and cheerful for
the "leftinant," no duty imposed too
arduous, provided it served Caldwell's
ends.
Blackstone, seeing the excellence OF
Duffy, departed from the strict code Of
honesty in the matter OF servants which
governs the army, and made overtures
" Vic iuouci bllIhVIs ibINNn'VuC Huu
no business to do it, and Duffy knew 1t,
and Il fine and inscrutable grin came
upon his llbernan mouth.
Blackstone had said, with an assump-
ton of off-handedness: "Duiiy, what
do you get?
Having due regard for his employers
credit in the world, he answered, calm
ly: "Twinty dollars, sor."
"Get outl" said Blackstone.
"Yes, sor," replied Duffy.
II want to know the truth, not lies
like that"
"Ye'd best ask the leftinant, scr.
disremember."
"lle works you deuced hard"
Does he, them"
my man is no good. Suppose you
come to me. You won't have TO sit up
to all hours for me-"
Duffy only smiled, but the smile was
not pleasing.
"What do you think of it, Duffy"
II niver think, sor. The leftinant
says I'm to do us I'm told and not
think"
Upon this Blackstone went away, and
Duffy saluted him respectfully. In
Justice to the officers common sense,
II must be said that it was only partial
which could have led him
to place himself in such position to-
ward a soldier.
Duffy did not repeat the conversation
TO Caldwell, because he knew II would
make trouble between the two men, and
CaldwelI-whose disposition was not OF
the mildest-had several quarrels on
his hands as 1t was.
The lieutenant fell into the habit Of
keeping the striker up very late, night
lfter night. so Duffy inspected his pock-
It's several times in succession while
Caldwell was sleeping as soundly as II
Justice had been the soporihc, and not,
IS was the case, suffers whisky; and
re Judged, from the fact that sometimes
here was much loose change and again
Ilmost nothing, that his master was
playing too much at cards. There was
nothing to be done. Duffy did not con-
ider his duties as striker included the
moral guidance Of his superior. He re.
lected that it would be good thing {
I Caldwell should get married; only
hen he, Duffy, would very likely lose
lis place. So he sat up night after ],
light, and il grew monotonous.
Just at this period there came into
)uffy's life yellow and white dog. q,
Exactly why it should have wandered -,
o the door upon one wet and freezing
light when Duffy was in particularly
,eary frame OF mind, and where II
aine from, he never knew. II was well
fter midnight, and Duffy was sprawled
4 leather chair Of the troop sadder's
doing with both ears i
pen, when there came a scratching =
the door. Duffy thought II was the a
entenant trying TO find the knob. It |,
ad never been so bad as that yet, I
evertheless the striker went and 7
pened the door, to be rewarded by the /
ght OF an extremely small and miser-
BILE dog, with piteous eyes.
Now Duffy was only soldier, and y
soldier loves nothing on earth or in .
eaven as he does cur; so Duffy called .
lie dog In, and warmed IT and fed II, '
I'd watched II with satisfaction beam. .
n all over bis face. II was spotted =