Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-02-06

sIhey are Just now discusslnx. sir
whethef thev should not mako the Colonies
into Generals, and create you ! Duke.
The devil they are! said the Goneral.
Then this IL no place Tor me.
''N0r for us, said the Colonies.
And the three put on their coats and
walked out into the night.
"A rare set OF young devils you have
got. said the General IS he said good
night.
And the Colonel Of the Never Say Dies
took It Is It was meant-as . compliment.
So when . hand OF subalterRs, headed by
Bellassis, the smallest aud wickedest OF
them, poured into the anteroOm to carry Oh
the General and Colonies they found that
they had drawn blank, n retreated In
disappointment back to the billiard room.
THE supper Is on the table, gentlemen,
the mess sergeant. aud they crowded
round the upper end OF the mess table,
whore were many dishes of griIled bones
and deviled ham, and poachod eggs on
anchOvy toast. and somebody sang . song,
and two hanjos appeared from somewhere.
After q time wen the singing of choruses
became . burden, and something more ex-
citing was required.
"A march past? And the suggestion
hailed with cheers.
Somebody who said he couldn't march
was put on q chair Oh the table. which was
to Ono side, to mark the marching
Cavalry FIRST! said Tasker, and the
Never Say Dies scrambled w. pick-a-back
on to the cavalry mems backs, aud with
steeds curveting and pracing, went past the
salutlng post, the baDjos making a feeble
attempt to play the cavalry regimental
march.
Infantry! shouted Tasker and with
cues rs rifles, the entire force came
on whistling the infantry's post march.
"Artilliary! and the infantry boys took
of their mess jackets. and were dragged
along the floor by their legs past the ga
point.
A suggestion to repeat the march was
by the infantry men, who did
not like having to play the part of guns,
and the question was, .''What next?
where's that young bounder, Lindsay?
asked Co0ky.
HE wasn't In the billiard room, said
Pat.
Lets draw him, said Belassis.
Don't. 1t would only lead to . row.
said Tasker. who knew the trouble that
such things make.
''Oh, bother the row! said Pat. "We1l
try him bv subalterns' court martial. Come
on bows. What will the charges be3
"AbsentiDg himself from his post and
and causing dependency among Her Ma
jesty's forces by not LOSING his rupees at
black pool, suggested Alphabet Montague,
whose knowledge Of the manual of mill
tary law had got mixed In the course Ut
the night.
Come OH boys, then, shouted Pat, .'pa-
per ink and pens and lanterns to frighten
the sDakes, and . bottle of brandy to en-
courage the prisoner before he Is executed;
and let the band 60 first.
The band was represented by q tin bath,
beaten with violence by Belassis, and by
the two banjos. There were half a dozen
taken from the sleepy servants in
the veranda, and with much noise the pro-
cessiOn moved OF through the compound
In the direction Of Lindsay's bungalow.
300 yards distant.
windows.
With the big drum going its hardest the
procession marched up to the door. Pat
put his shoulder to IL and as 1t gave the
first half dozen of the subalterns tumbled
into the sitting room. 1t was q very bare
little room, q few prints ON the walls, q
couple OF Windsor chairs, a wood and cane
easy chair, . table In the center Of the
room.
Seated at the table his head buried In his
burned to the end were fiaring; there vas
q lamp on the table.
He took no notice of the inburst OF men.
Pat went up to him and put his hand on
his shoulder.
II arrest you In the name-he began,
and the boy looked up and there were tears
streaming down his cheeks.
The boy held out q telegram that lay
before him on the table 10 Pat and he
glanced at 1t.
whist, boys! he cried to the crowd
tumbilng into the room. "Be silent. The
boys mother Is dead.
The fact took q second or two to reach
the outside fringe of shouters, but when 1t
did there was . dead hush, and the crowd
melted away, leaving the boy In silence
with his grief.
There was a sound Of whispering outside
and then Pat Brady and Alphabet Monty
came into the con again.
"We are awfully sorry, said Pat, and
there was q tenderness In hia voice that
written words cannot carry-'we are aw-
fully sorry and is there anything we can
do for you.
The boy his face in his arms again,
shook his head.
"Belassis will do your orderly oflcer
duty tomorrow, and I:ll tell Tasker you
are not coming to parade. Anything we
can do for you we will be only to glad to
dO-and-we are all more sorry than we
can tell you. 4
The three men stood and looked at the
boy, whose back was heaving in sobs.
II would 60 to bed now. suggested
Belassis, and he blew out the flaming can
dies.
The men stood and looked for Q few moo
ments at the boy, struggling with his sohs,
and then at a sign.from Pat Brady, went
very silently out of the room, Pat, the last
of the three, laying his hand on the boys
shoulder for . second time before he left.
The silver of the coming day was In the
sky, and the light struck white on the
faces Of the group standing quiet outside.
''Better go home, said Pat lacOnically,
and without a word more spoken, in tw0s
and threes, the men and their guests went
homeward. Vanity.