The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-16
WOMAN PROPOSES.


GOODNESS, and was lying out on the grass
In front OF the quarters smoking and lis
tening to the regilnental band playing in
the center of the parade gorund.
A hack drove up opposite the orderly
room door and drew up there, and a lady
got out of it. The sergeant heard her
voice as she inquired:
sis Sergeant Robert Brown in this
eroop?" And he jumped to his feet with an
oath and stood leaning against tree, bit
/ ing at the stem of his pipe savagely. Then
the voice again: Thanks. I will not
trouble you. Over theref' And she went
toward him.
The sergeant threw his pipe down and
Strengthened himself up when he saw the
woman coming. Her hands were out
stretched, but he put his behind his back.
"Madge Vanness,' he said bitterly,
"cannot a man rest quietly in his gravoP'
'fJack Trevor she began
And old Stokes, the trumpeter, from a
point of vantage ON the upper porch
growled: 'tTherel Amt I bin tellin We
all long? I knowed his name wasn't
Brown any more'n mine is. He's one o.
them bloated English a-ristocrats them
newspaper fellers is alters givin Mary
He'll to-
'Jack Trevor" went on the woman, ST
want proof that you are dead man.
The sergeant laughed.
ten in unpaid bills over the face of half q
dozen counties. Isn't that enough?''
"Don't be fool, - said the woman curt
~. Granted you are dead, and you are
not. Why don't you resurreot YOURSELF
Why don't you workf''
"Work? I am working. I'm drilling
recruits, and that's hard enough. It's no
good, Madge," obstina tely. "You had
better have staid away. I'm happy
enough"
The woman flushed dangerously.
'John Trevor, have come 5000 miles
all alone to find you, and you tell me you
are happy and that had better not have
come"
''Well,'' bitterly, "what would you have
me say? Ask you to marry mef"
eyes" frankly.
The sergeant laughed again.
Lord, can imagine it. The dishonor-
able sergeant and the Hon. Mrs. Brown
Bother the honorable!'' broke in the
woman.
-fcarried on the troop returns and
drawing their monthly rations, pound of
bread per day, pound of fresh meat, in
Guiding bone-don't forget the bone-an
ounce and fraction of coffee, etc., and
living in a tumble down wooden hoye1,
and you taking in the troop washing at
81. so month per man and baking pies,
which L should peddle to the men in quar-
tiers on credit until pay day. Oh, the pros
pect is f1nei' Then, with another laugh:
'tAnd twice week you would go for an
airing around the post sidewalks, pushing
the peram bulator, may be a double one.
One of the fellows in the troop has dou-
bic one. And once week you would wear
your Sunday clothes, nightmare of a
bonnet, and q tight, shiny black dress,
with tremendous sleeves, and go to
church. Don't you like the picture?"
sneeringly. "Of course you'd be very
happy, and I should be very contented. 1t
goes without saying. No. I don't think
you've thought much about the bargain
or you wouldn't make this offer.''
"John Trcsor,'' she said, "since left
New York / have not allowed myself to
sleep because of thinking of this thing.
Now you tell me 1 haven't thought of
it!''
The sergeant smiled grimly. He had
been in the habit of taking to his bunk
and resolutely closing his eyes to keep from
thinking.
Then the woman pleadingly: "Jaok,
you know this thing would not be as you
say. We should not have to stay here.
have something if you have mott
Eyes, that would be better still. I'm
the class of man that should marry an
heiress, without a penny, without even a
character
'When God placed you in the world,
dear" said the woman gently, she gave
you strong mans heritage, health and
strength and the whole world to live In
Won't you come? Let us go away together
somewhere and make a home"
The sergeant shook his head sorrowfully.
''No, Madge.'' he said, 81 won't do it,
for your sake nor for mine. If I worked
my fingers to the bone, could 1 ever pay
those men 1 ran away from when the
gray broke his neck and my fortune at
that water jump?''
The woman smiled to herself in the
darkness
"Jack, didn't you ever hear how much
your horses brought when they were sold2"
"No. I've heard nothing, seen no man,
seen nothing, not even a line as to the
old life. Let's see. There were ten of them
without the gray. Probably they made
So, o00"
The smile was still on the woman's lips.
Eyes" she said quietly, SIS, 900 each, and
they paid all your debts. You owe no man
anything"
Give thousand dollars eachP' the ser
geant gasped. ''What fool bought them?''
81 bought them. 1 sent Walters, the
horse dealer, up to the sale with orders to
start the bidding for each at So 900. 1t
nearly spoiled Walters reputation, but it
saved yours. So now, you see," unstead-
lily, "I'm not such an heiress after all.''
She had stepped back into the light of
the only lamp on the company parade and
taken her hat off.
Come, jack softly eyes, dear,
come"
She was holding out her hands again,
and the light showed the tears in her eyes.
The band was playing SIN Old Madrid
Longingly through the dusk came the
music to the lines:
Come, my Lowell The stars are shining,
Time Is flying, love is sighingi
Come! For thee a heart is piningI
Here alone I wait for theeI
The sergeant turned and shouted over to
the first sergeant, and his voice was joyous:
"Say, Sanders, can you put me on check