West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-02-03
Brown will be released and viii report
to the commander of hts troop for duty
CHAPTER YIN.

TO the commander of hts troop for duty
| CHAPTER vrIi
When Brown was released from COM
sdncfnetit he went at once to his quar-
ters, and was accorded warm welcome
by his comrades. Hc toc.S h bath and
changed his clothing, for the guard
houses of frontier military posts are
not noted for cleanliness, and then
wont 10 report for duty to his troop
commander. Capt and Mira Colby
werc n'ting on the porch OF their
quarters when he camo up. and re-
spcctfully saluting the captain and re-
moving his cap no said:
Il am instructed, sir. TO report 10 you
for duty"
~ am glad of Il, Brown" the captain
replied. II am gratifcd TINT tho re-
sult OF your rash not has not proved 80
/ serious as Ind feared. I know that
| you viii kindly receive some advice
from me. for assure you fool n moro
than ordinary interest In your well
fare
Shall rctiro, captain7- asked Mrs.
Colby.
mo, my dear, I wish You to remain.
am not going 10 rcprove Private
Brown very severely, nor In tho icnst
humiliate him Just wish TO say this,
Brown. You are not nm ordinary sol
dior. Your dcmeanor, your language,
your every act indicates that through
some chain of circumstances which I
shall not inquire into, you are placed
In position far beneath the station In
life In which you nrc fitted by educn-
tion and training TO hold un honorcd
| place. You no doubt at times deeply
feel the chains of servitude which
bind you. and unpleasant experiences
which an ordinary soldier would ao-
cept as n matter of course, awake In
your sensitive nature spirit Of resent.
ment. think understand and I be-
lieve con fully appreciate your feel
ings in tho recent trouble you had
with q superior officer. Your sense Of
manhood rcvoltcd at the unwarranted
abuse henpcd upon you, aud I'm your
rage you lost sight Of your army rnnk
and assaulted him. That was very un.
wise. The. Mon at the stables wcro
witnesses TO your alteration with
Lieut. Vandevcr, and would have testi-
fed to that officers action toward you
In an official inquiry, and had you qui-
reported the matter 70 myrclf as your
troop commander, thorough investi-
CATION would hAro followed, and full
justice would have been done you.
have but this advice 10 offer you,
Brown. While you remain In the rnnlss
you mnst never lose sight of your POI
sition. and must submit to runoynnees
which you would resent Ia civil life.
Always keep In mind the fnct that the
hninblcst private In the ranks Inns
rights which his officers arc bound TO
respect. and that redress for hIs wrongs
Is provided for by tho rules md rcgn-
lations governing military discipline.
This cloud upon tho face OF your most
excellent record rs soldier Is not In
effaceable. and you can soon DO In as
good standing as you were before the
unfortunate occurrence"
Brown listened attentivcly 20 tho
kind words OF the captain, and quietly
replied:
thank you, SIR, for the words you
have spoken and ! docpiy appreciate
tho spirit In which the ndvicc Is given.
] assured sou when you 30 kindly via
tied me In the guard house that deep
ly regretted my assnult upon Lieut..
Vandcver, and now repeat IL, air, that
I am sincerely sorry did not bride my
temper and seek FOR redress through
the proper channels"
The captain regarded the young sol
der attcntivcly for q moment, and saids
"If asked TO do no. Brown. would you
go 70 Lieut.. Vandevcr and offer him an
spology for striking him?''
browns faoo flushed and look Of
manly Independence shot from his eyes;
but, bcforC be could reply, Mira. Colby,
with marked emphasis, exclaimed:
Indeed, he would not. Capt Colby.
This man IL a--".
There. there. my doar. wns just
tosting tho young mans mettlo, and hia
eyes have answered me-" the officer In
tcrruptcd with = knowing smile. ''I
had no thought of nslting him 10 humii-
late himself 10 q man who certainly
wronged him. The testimony given
at tho courtmaFtial showed conclusive
ly that Lieut.. vnndevcr's action toward
him WINS unwnrrantcd, every officer in
the garrison knows II was unwaF-
ranted. and the action Of tho command
ing officer when reviewing the findings
and sentence was rebule 20 the lieu.
tenant which I sincerely hope he may
profit by. You will report for duty TO
| your frst sergeant, Brown. and trust
that no similar trouble may ever again
como into your army life"
Tho young soldier saluted and wns
about TO retire whom Mrs Colby said:
81 hnvo been informed that you are
an ortIst. Brown"
"Ycs, madam, but very ordinary
one. a much poorer one than I hope
to he son1c day when again given fncii-
I tiles 20 follow an art whioh I de7riy
love"
II have painting In my parlor
which would bko 70 show you. II
was n gift from my mother on my wed
ding day. aud ! prize II very highly.
N w