The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-29
AN OLD STORY.


| passed muster in the states. His courage
and sagaeity had been proved hundred
times. He was big and strong and gentle
The red men called him The Great Chief
and were mortally afraid of him His own
men only called him 1.-The Chief =" and
they adored him. But he couldn't play
cards, which was pity, as there is moth
ing else to do when the Indians are quiet
All the other officers could very well, most
of them, and as It was their only amuse-
ment, they naturally preferred that he
should not spoil the game. Particularly
the captain objected, for he played exceed
ingly well and with an enthusiasm that
was almost too pronounced, unless one
took into consideration the total absence
Of other forms of entertainment. A man
who couldn't play cards was a very poor
sort of man in his eyes, and a man who
was superbly fearless and yet entirely
modest was one to be jealousy admired
and secretly, but none the less intensely,
hated.
There was also nice young lieutenant
Of two and twenty who played poker very
Well-nOt so well as the captain perhaps,
but he had a gay, boyish and rather pro-
voking way Of being willfully lucky that
made him very fair adversary.
He and the captain were deep in it one
night, and things were growing interest
ing. The lieutenant was laughing now
and again eZcitedly. The captains face
was white and drawn, and his hands shook
a little Winter quarters are made as COM
Portable as possible in q rough and ready
fashion, and when there is a woman in
the case they are generally attractive
enough, for a soldiers wife learns many
makeshift and marvellous effects can be
got with boxes and barrels. some straw
and few yards of muslin and cOlored
stuffs. But the captain S rooms were bare
enough, and when the colonel knocked
and was abruptly told to come the
dreariness of it all hit him hard, and he
built up the neglected fire without cere-
Inony before he strolled over to the table
and drew up a chair.
At the frs pause in the game he invited
himself to join in. The captain rather
gruff1y invited him not to- for, as said
before, cards were not his strong point, but
when the young lieutenant incautiously
suggested that the stakes were rather high
he laughed his mellow laugh and said he
had few dollars to lose. So since even
when of duty and playing poker a soldier
cannot Shake off a certain obedience to his
superior officer, he got his way. But the
captains brow grew black, and his hand
stopped shaking.
The game went on for half an hour or so
with no unusual incident. The colonel
bungled his cards and lost his money, but
he was accustomed to that. He never could
be made to understand that poker was any
thing more than a pastine, and so he
laughed his low laugh and played On
After awhile the captain threw the cards
under the table and took a new pack ''for
luck" Half a dozen officers had dropped
in and were looking on, but nobody object
edit was the custom. 1t came the colo
nel's turn to deal With his usual gentle,
smiling awkWardRess he fumbled the cards,
dealt them, and when it came to his own
hand dropped one of them on the floor.
Without looking he stopped and gathered
a card from under the table. His face
Frightened The captain sent quick look
at him, and his face was whittier than ever
The hand was played out, and the colonel
won. With an almost childlike laugh of
pleasure, he put out his hand to draw in his
winnings, when the captain sprang to his
feet and brought his own hand down on
the cards. Gentlemen, ] denOunce this
man as a cheatr' He lifted his hand, and
there was one blue back among the red
ones scattered over the table.
In the turmoil that followed the colonel
was almost dragged out of the room by his
friends and got away. OF course there was
nothing for it but to fight. His friends,
and they were many, waited for his or
ders. But after the first burst of rage he
seemed stupefsd. He sat perfectly silent,
staring straight in front Of him. Finally
his fellow officers spoke. He must do
something. A challenge was written sent
and declined There was an uproar of in
dignation. Not only the cOlOnel's honor,
but the honor OF the army was at stake.
He must horsewhip the man, since he
would not fight. There was nothing else
for it. So they talked and argued excited |
", Sternly, and the colonel listened DULY |
and said yes, he must horsewhip him. lie
staid in doors that night, and the post
talked of the morning.
At 10 o'clock the next day the troops
were drawn up in line ready for parade.
The captain stood in front of his company.
Every man and woman at the post was
there to see 'FThe Chief horsewhip the |
scoundrel who had dared to insult him.
The excitement was intense. There was a |
deathlike stiffness, and every eye was |
strained as the colonel walked slowly |
across the parade ground His face was !
white and stern and his step firm and de- !
Iiberate. In his hand was a twisted leather |
whip such as teamsters use driving mules |
The captain saw him coming and stood |
like a rock with his arms folded and a |
cold smile of unutterable contempt and |
malignant hatred on his face. When his |
adversary stopped in front of him, he |
raised his head and without changing his |
position looked him straight in the eyes, |
his black and evil face set in an expression |
of devilish scorn- With a gesture of noble |
Indignation the colonel raised his whip in /
the air, held it poised a moment and then |
the brave soldier, the superb gentleman, |
shrank back weakly, dropped his whip to
the ground and buried his face in his |
hands Then he turned, went back to his /
quarters and shut the door behind him.
A few hours later, in sheer spite, some |
of his friends went to him, but the door /
was locked. The next day he left the post |
and a few days later resigned from the |
army.-Jean Wright in Lippincotts Mag |
azine.
Noble TndiscreEiOn.
The Empress Eugene was often willfu1
and capricious because the romantic i'm |
pulses of the woman made it hard for her /
L. IL -