West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-01-27

ehu tANoVe Drown were sitting To-
gether, bending over n sketch or quiet
" conversing, and IL shocltcd him To
see the daughter of the commander on
terms of such seeming familiarity with
n man In the ranks. In his estimation,
tho private soldiers were mere soulless
machines, which moved only at the of
hcial beck and call, but puppets In ex-
hltcd hands. and lump of indignant
resentment stuck In his throat at tho
thought that the maiden could grant tn
nvalgar private tho .sociab bility she de-
nicd him.
On ono Of his daily rides he overlook
her In the river bottom just "a sho had
reined in her pony TO mako the ascent
of the steep hill leading To the fort.
He politely saluted her by raising his
cap, and she Acknowledged the saluta-
ton with bow and pleasant smile.
1T has been beautiful afternoon
! for riding. Miss Sanford" he said.
1T has indeed. Mr.. Vandever. I
think the New Mexico climate cannot
be surpassed In loveliness I'm the whole
world"
The clinnte Is all right, but the
society Is open TO severe criticism" he
replied. The native people arc but
half civilized and the Americans are
rough Doors, and IL does strike me as
being somewhat severe that the ladies
and gentlemen of the army ara COM
pelled TO exist amid such unoonRenial
surroundings"
20, you are too hard ON the people OF
the territory" she replied. ''I have n
number of valued friends among tho
good people of San Marciai, tho town
Just above the fort, both native and
American, and / have always found
them to be congenial, whole-souled,
courteous neighbors- You will modify
your views of them when you como TO
know them. Even were we cast away
q thousand miles from civilization, I
sm sure we could be happy COM
munity. We are n little world In our
selves, Mr.. Vandever."
"a rather insignificant world" he re-
piled. You can almost cnumerate it's
population ON your fingers. A dozen
or 80 officers, and half "a many ladies"
And several hundred soldiers" she
added.
20, tho soldiers cut no figure In our
world, save rs slaves to do our bidding.
The riff-raff of tho land must not be
mentioned In the same breath with la-l
dies and gentlemen. / sometimes
think IL dcbascs n gentleman To be
obliged TO command such fellows
Her face flushed with anger, and
turning her clear blue eyes fun upon
his face she replied In biting wordsi
'f,icut Vnndever. clothes and rank
do not make the man. Indeed, In my
own experience, 7 hive known tho
gaudy Uniform of tho officer to cover Tar
less manly instincts and notions than
have noted beneath Tic plain sarb OF
the private sol,,Ier'
They had reached the summit of the
hill, and touching the rein she KaI-
loped uncercmoniously away. leaving
him biting his lips in confusion.
lie rode 10 the stable and. dismount-
Ing. threw The rein u an attendant
and started TO his quarters in 81
from pleasant frame OF mind. Az lac
hastily turned n corner of the stables
lie ran Into Private Brown, who was
hastoniug thither on some errand, The
shock threw the lieutenant TO the
! ground, md instantly recognizing In
the soldior the man in whose company
he had often seen Alice Sanford, his
rage wns great. Sprlnging TO his feet
he hoarsely shouted:
What do you mean, sir2 How dare
you run against me in that mnnner?"
Brown respectfully saluted him and
replied:
81 beg your pardon, sir. You turned
the corner in such haste that You run
into me before l could get out OF your
way"
You lie, sir, when you soy ran
into you- 1T was your damnable care
lcssness that caused tho collision. /
nm not sure that you did not purpose
| ly run against me-"
Browns blood Boiled at the epithet
applied 70 him, and the expression Of
nnger on his face increased the officers
rage.
Lieutenant, your words are harsh
ones even for superior to use toward
an inf srior In rank. ! am not liar,
sir, AMI my manhood revolts when
such n term is applied TO me when sm
/ powerless TO resent it."
Don't you dare talk back 70 me, you
scoundrel, How daro you hint at re-
sentiment 10 your superior officer, you
mental cur?"
Human endurance could stand no
more. Browns face paled with right
eous rage, and, losing all control of hia