Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-12-26

that a mighty stretch of superority
Law between him and acommonealist-
ed man. Grim had just been rans-
ferred to our troop. Lander had corne
from another regiment two nonths
before. The two men met that hot
afternoon-just beforeI g0oming
time.
Lander saluted. Grim 8topped
short. and began to relieve hinself,
of a lot of livid English. Lander Hood
sat attention. said something Ia a
low voice and walked away,
Lieut.. Grim was ungovernabe. He
sprang after Lander, kicked hin III the
back and said:
eI'n make life miserable fOr you,
Charlie Howard!" which I judge must
have been Lander's civilian naae.
Lander laughed low and malicious
ly. I was thinking how wicked Land
er looked when he laughed hat way.
Then the bugle sounded STABLES"
Every man in the troop detested the
lieutenant. and all admired lander
for keeping his nerve. One of the
most Improbable things a soldier can
do is to strike his superior officer.
The same kind of a finish awaits him
as if he had been found sleeping at his
post.
| watched Lander and Lander
watched Lieut.. Grim during the sew
eral following weeks. And they were
not pretty eyes, those strange eyes of
! Lander's as they tralled the move
ments Of his superior officer.
To all, he preserved bis self bound
intensity. Glad, indeed, would I have
been to come very close to heart of
this silent man, because EARNED to
to have deep feelings for him. He
possessed the cold nerveWhich makes
heroes, and the great warm heart
which makes friends vas sure of
this. But his nature was broad enough
to cover his troubles, so he did not
confde in men. Heroes can hate
well.
Why my eyes WANDERED to the OPP
posite side of of one OF Lander's let
ters while he was holding it, and there
fingered for a single dsgraceful Sc
cond, is more than ear explain. At
any rate l saw these words:
ooh, Charlie, do let me come to
your"
A lady-killer is my Silent friend,
thought I, out did not mean to read
part of his letter-reaDy i didn't.
After five weeks the troops were
ordered to the barracks. No one was
sorry, for life on target range in Ari-
IONA is tedious, putting IL with stud
led mildness. And then they have
mosquito netting in tbq barracks.
A tragedy was enacted on those
moonlit foothills at old Baldy's base
the last night on range. Z am not a
handy man at Tragedies. 1t was this
way:
"Say old man." said Lander in a
easy banner the morning before, ''do
a little favor for me, vii you? want
you to meet g lady fOr me. [ have an
engagement TO mighty
"a lady in this couafry!" gasped
excitedly. Nothing but greaser maid
ems and squaws hadLseen for months
it seemed.
Reluctantly he handed me a note,
part of which is belOW:
II could not help comipg. L was
frantic when I learned that he was
transferred to your Regiment. You
must meet me to night. No one
knows me here in the village. I will
be near the last abode, but on the
t n055ai Oh Why !. did d 50u go go-n aWhy. l
ELsIEn
Its a commonHarn,' said Ian
ders nervously. She knew me up
north as a civilian. Grim and I were
stationed there, but he did not know
was only a private. She was
lovely to US both. The queer thing
about it is that I Q out Then it DC
CURED to me that I was only q com
soldier, who had funked at every
thing else he had tried, and hardly fit
to marry, so I applied for a transfer
and chased out. She wouldn't have
Grim anyhow.
Now Grim turns up again in the
attitude Of my superior officer, which
is very dramatic, and the little wom-
is here, which Is also very dramat-
ic; and as I can't see them both, [
want you to 60 I'd her. Tel her Pm
a ~deserter or dead or any old thing"
For the second time [ heard Ian
der laugh low ard melodiously, can
hear it yet.
''There'u be A show tonight" be
said.
After retraa. De lieutenant called