The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1897-09-24

-.r2at things from this VIXEN Alexander
| should go TO school. But when he went
to school, Osborne saw the truth.
ALEX, the account of you is very bad.
You've barely scratched through on two
things, and you've failed on mathe-
MATES altogether. I've told you that
mathematics is the test at the Point
Osborne admonished.
"Ohl come, say; let up, Herbert.
I'm trying to learn this piece" He
picked on with beautiful absorption at
Put up that thing and listen to me-"
Alexander. obeyed, as all men did
when Osborne willed.
Il am going to get you into West
Point at 20. When L say am going tic
do it, you know it is going to be done,
Don't you? None of it depends on you
except the study. 1 can't make yot
drink, hut I'll take you to water ant
keep you there until you find it will be
easier to drink. You can so back TO the
ranch if you like, but I'm not afraid
you'll like. l don't want 10 treat you
as small boy unless you act the part
of one. You can learn, and you must
learn, or the theaters viii stop, and
the hops will stop, and the guitar viii.
stop-also the tennis. You have beer
cutting time, but henceforth you viii
study four hours a day and l will sit
with you to help you and see that it is
done"
So four hours out of every "a Os-
borne put to the use of teaching one
who did not wish to learn. Density can
be bored through with patience. 1t
is the india rubber of indifferent clev-
erness that resists. After some of the
struggles, Osborne would lie awake
for the rest of the night from sheer
nervousness. The boy slept with I'M
ruflled brain. The lieutenant almost
came to forget the girl. But never
quite. \ letter would come when Alex
ander was most inert, and Osborne
would stare straight in front Of him
and grit his teeth, and wonder that a
man could live with both sides of his
nature thwarted and cut back.
But he had his reward. alexander
went into the academy at 20. lie was
the handsomest and most popular cadet
in his class-and he failed in the first
year
just how such things are done no
one is ever quite sure; but in Osborne's
case it must have been sheer force of
determination. Alexander was reap
pointed. and he himself was made in
structor at the Point.
He stood over the cadet with the
lash of his ambition; and AL |
eXander was graduated Is. Osborne
took some credit TO himself |
Nonsense" said Alexander, I'D have |
done it alone. The first miss was only |
bad luck; don't think it's your circus"
ut doesn't make any great difference
10 me whose circus it is, SO that YOU |
come out all right. I'm only glad you're |
getting some ambition"
ambition be hanged! It's the one
word in your lexicon. I'm sick of the
sound of it. 1t is the sin by which the /
lngcis fell. Look out you don't fall,
nigel brother"
I'm not likely to fall, but shouldn't
mind it, if it put you on mountain
height"
no heights for me. I can't breathe |
are air" answered the younger.
Now, in the course of army events it
'amc to pass that strange fate made
alexander Osborne second lieutenant
II the troop of which his brother was
Irst lieutenant. And the first lieu
enant continued his ambitious Soad-
ne. Alexander was independent at
resent, and resisted to some purpose.
ic vould not spend his nights in study |
Ed his days in wire pulling. The war
apartment did not reward that sort
+ thing, he said; it was action it APP
roved. Wait until his time for action
ame-then he would satisfy his
rothcr.
And the time for action did come.
tut the actionwas disappointing. They
larcheG 200 miles, and ther marched
ack again. Alexander complained
,udly that he had had no occasion to
isplay his prowess in battle.
lie should have been quite safe in
lis for that evening they would be
nee more in Grant. But the Indian
ost is not to be reckoned with AT sun I
,t-witkin ten miles of the post-the (
paches caught the battalion liz ra-
ne, anG' kept it there until wei! into
he night.
The Isocn came up and showed 10 :he ,
lcks hiding behind the cedaIs and i
on the rise, the soldiers
,nned IN The gully below them. Itwas ,
erely, for the latter, question Of
olding out and having u few r,cn
lied. 1hc danger was not great I'M ,
IS the peaches should be reinforced
: tie couriers should not reacEl the
TT. SO the men took shelter btkind
shes AID rocks, and fired at the flashes
Eight in the darkness above them. :
C Officers walked about in the deep -
ldows. firing, too, and giving orders.
/, l.. ! '