West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-02-03
CHATTER VII

rises Ills nose was bleeding profusely
from the blow, and I'm obedience TO his
command guard was summoned and
I'sown wns marched awny 10 the guard
house.
,kcnted onu bunk In n gloomy cell HE
anger cooled Ind he awolSc 10 real
king sense of what he had done. In
civil life he would have been npplaudcsl
for so promptly rcscnting mn linton.
tional insult. but I'm the army "a was
different. Violence offered by a pri-
vnte soldier TO On officer II n most
serious ofrense, and one which under
army rules demands severe punish
mcnt. While IL 10 true that the officers
conduct toward him WINS highly repro
hensible and such as would lay him
liable TO official investigation. that
fact did not In tho lenst mitigate his
offense Had he quietly submitted 10
Vandever's abuse he would have been
justified In seeking redress In the
proper official quarter and justice
would have been done him, but he had
allowed his anger TO override his better
Judgment, and now he was In for IL
and must suffer the consequences.
What would Alice think of hinp
Would she pass hasty Judgment on his
act before seeking the details? Would
shc not now regard him as "A quarrel
some bully, and deem him unworthy
OF her friendshipa The thougit
troubled him, and rs he paced back
and forth In the forbidding gloom of
the cell he was very miserable. His
gratitude toward the girl for taking 10
kindly an interest in him had ripened
Into q love which seemed TO oonsume q
him Although no word indicative OF
his new feeling toward her had ever
been breathed In her presence, he fcit
that she must instinctively know that
he loved her, and her eyes had on more
than one occasion told him thet her
friendship toward him was ginning an
intensity which might some day devel-
op into far moro tender passion. In
his dreamy moments he had even dared
TO picture future wherein their mu-
tual love would light the path down
which they wandered hand In hand,
and now by one rash act he may have
blighted the bud of affection which
was swelling toward bursting In her
young hcart--have bllghted II 90 com
pletely that even the sun of future vim
iication might fail to warm 1t into life
again.
In the midst Of his gloomy reflections
the hoavy cell door swunR open, aud
Capt. Colby entered.
Brown" he said, what was the
trouble between yourself and Lieut..
vandever?-
Captain, have boon guilty of a
most serious offense, and in the light of
calm reflection do most deeply regret
It. was grossly insulted, sir, and In
my rage lost sight of the officer and
saw only tho man who was beaplnR In
dignities upon me. My position as a
soldier was forgotten, and resented
the Insult rs l would have done In civil
life-as any gentleman would have
done, SIR"
"Will you tell me without any rcser-
vation or palliating ooloring Just what
occurred between your"
Brown related all the details In q
truthful manner. While. no felt that
In tho eyes Of anyone possessing 9
sense OF justice his blow would seem
tustifiable, he admitted that he had
been guilty Of a serious infraction OF
army law, and averred that no would
humbly submit TO any punishment q
court-martial might inlet upon him
IT am sorry this occurred, Brown,
very sorry. Your conduct ever since
you joined my troop has been most ex.
emplary, and have hoped TO soon be
able to offer you promotion fear
that this matter will go hard with you.
Col Sanford Ia q most severe disoi-
plinarian, and an assault by private
soldier upon q commissioned officer
win assume most grievous proportions
In his eyes. He will insist upon your
trial by court-martial, and his Views
on this question are 90 well known 20
the officers Of the post that those who
try you viii, should you be convicted,
feel that severe punishment must fol.
Tow. ean only hope the palliating
circumstances may bear due weight
with both the oornmandsF and the
members Of the court"
he passed out, leaving Tirown again
alone With hls bitter thoughta
Lieut. Nn1dever loet no tlne tn en-
6eavof n poison tho minds Of HIS
brother of ers against his nssailant.
lie pictured him "a brawny bully Of
I q puQnncious nature, and loudly
AFNftNA NAt9t = ARAH bohh u yCAEa IN q
military prison was the punishmcnt ho
richly deserved. His words bore little
weight, however, for the young lieu
tenant had become most thoroughly
disliked by overy officer In tho garri-
son. While there was no outward DOM
onstration 20 establish the fact, there
was not one Of them but secretly re-
joioed that he had been 80 promptly
chastiscd for his unofloerliko conduct.
And what Of Alioe7 That young Indy
acted In q most remarkable manner
when the details OF the affair reached
her ears through Mrs. Colby. She did
not turn pale and weep and wiring her
hands In inoonsoiable anguish In the
conventional way. Not she A great
smile Of satisfaction spread over her
pretty face, glad look increased the
usual brightness OF her eyes, and she
poured ont the pcnt-up fsrvor Of her
soul Ia giving emphasis 70 the ono
word:
"Goodl"
She thought not then Of rank or sta