Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-21

Master Willie. Little CT uttle the army
punctil!o had prevailed, and most Of the
men had learned 10 refer 10 him respect
fully as 1.-THE lieutenant" and to brace
up and salute him with all tie gravity
and precision lavished on Fenton Or
Leale Even the Irish trumpeter, with
whom ne had ridden races and played
hockey and gotten into all manner of
| mischief about the POST in bygone days
-McOuirl1-at first could not suppress
the affable grin that overspread his
freckied mug" at sight of his whilom
playmate as full fiedged officer, bear.
ing the presidents commission. But
Mac was savagely roasted by Sergeant
Stein ard other elders, and did his best
to amend. 1t was Terry Rorke that was
incorrigible Time and again he broke
the rules he laid down for himself, and,
as Terry had been the household
striker in the days when it was Cap
tain Farrar, and they first lived at
Frayne, he fonnd especial favor in the
gentle eyes of the widowed mother, ana
| was encouraged to come and see her, for
in all that crowded garrison he alone
could recall her firstborn-her hand
some, daring. dashing Royle, when he
was boy OF II.
To all the world he was an outcast,
but the mothers heart had never vet
been able to oueEch the flame of love
that, burning like a beacon in her pure
and prayerful heat, seemed ever beck
, oNing to him to return. Yes, Terry
Rcrke had never forgotten "Mastl er
Royle," and he alone could come and
| talk with her Of the son when all the
| rest Of the world would only too gladly
believe him dead and forgotten.
Thrice had VIII, bustling into the
hallway, IS was his custom, without
knock or ring, come suddenly upon his
mother il conference with his old
friend and hers, and RorlIe had sprung
to attention and stood like statue and
had striven to say 'the lieutenant, -
ard Tot ''Masthcr Will" III his refer
| ence to his officer, bat Will plainly
| showed lie thought this frequent COM
| ing an imposition. Mother, dear, -
said lie one day, '.if old Rorke is an
nCying you by coming so often, 1 can
| give him q gentle hint. y
Annoying? Why, Willy, dear, !
love 10 talk with him. He was the most
| faithful, devoted creature we ever
knew. All through your boyhood he
watched over you, and he was almost
| the only friend your poor brother seemed
to have"
Il appreciate all that. mother" said
Will, tagging uneasily a: his budding
mustachc. lat least l try TO, but all the
same, you know, it isn't the thing OF
course Eorke never presumes exactly,
understand that. and he only comes be.
cause you bid him. and then it is crly
to the back door and all that, but still
it's the effect of the thing OH the Other
men, and IFS time he was learning &c
understand I'm decidedly no longer
Master Will"
All, there was the rub! Two days be.
fore i'll the presence of Wills fair littlc
ladyloye had one of Rorke's lapses oc.
CURED, AMI the lieutenant had beer
Masther Wllled and had REDEEMED to the
roots of his hair, seeing which Kitty
Orinsby, as determined as ever lived,
had taken to calling him "Masthel
VIII Oh her own account, and thun.
dcrstorms were imminent. There were
other fellows, presentable fellows, il
the garrison who were quick to feel the
fascination Of this charming little niece
OF Fenton's. and just the moment VIII
showed disposition to sulk she show
cred smiles and sunshine on tie frs
subaitcrn to appear, and thereby drove
Will nearly rabid. Had his comrade:
ventured TO dub him "Masther Will
there would have been a row. Had any
of the other bellies of the garrison 81
transsressed he would have turned hi:
back upon her then and there, and SC
elegant dancer and reputably wealthy
young officer was not to be offended
even before Kitty came. But Kit coult
and did torment him without mere,
ana without fear Of consequences, anl
Celore She had been at lraync weel
was making life u burden for the fellow
who mad prayed for her coming as it.
sweetest blessing.
And SO, like the big outside world
She little community Of Fort Fraynt
was living its life Of hopes and fears
smiles and tears, love and jealousy ant
hate, While Kitty had speedily made
herself completely at home and wa.
tyranniZlng over everybody Mt the colo
nei's as well as over VIII, and torment
ing Aunt Lucretia By making eyes a,
idaJor Wayne, who never saw them,
while Wayne had got to drifting ovel
to his new colonel's almost every even
ing. just as 20 years before he infested
the quarters Of his old friend at Leaven
worth, rousing once more all the fiut
tsrlng OF that maidenly heart, and
while Mrs. FarTar, rejoicing in the evi
dences of love ard reverence in which
her husbands nar!e was held Oh every
side and i'll the honors Will was win
ming in his chosen profession. and ever
while she found comfort in the fact thai
enc faithful old friend could recall he,
hayward boy as he was before ,iishonol
and disgrace had swamped him, she
would have been less than q woman hat
she been insensible TO Fenton's repressec
bat unvarying devotion.
Never lntruding, rarely calling. h,
was sentleness, tenderness. Dcrsonifiet
III every look and word. 1t was eyiden,
that ali these years had never served t.
| Danish her irparn f-o.,, L.. -.