Mower County transcript., 1900-05-02

Al IS. 81 yooF1eif. Billy,' was Go1don'.'
comprehensive if not cpnsolatory SUM
mary Of the matter, and as Cankerhas
been raped for one thing Or another
BY camp division and brigade com
manders,one after another, he feeis.fhat
he's got to prove that he isn't the only
fool in the business. You'd better,em.-
ploy good counsel and prepare forsA#
fight 2 So.
CAM afford il, = said Billy, briefly,
[..and I'm b1owed If IN ask my dear old
dad to come to the rescue He's had
to cough up tshame on your slang,
Billy far too much already. tellyou,
Gordon, I'm so fixed that I can't ex-.
plain these things unless I'm actually
brought to trial. It's-it' t's-well, you
have no secret societies at the Point as
we do at college, SO you can't fathom
it. i I'm no more afraid of standing
trial than am Of Squeers- and be
ID to himi''
..Good Lawd. youngsteryou, you
aren't quite such an ass as to suppose
a court is going toregard any schoolboy
obligation as paramount to that which
your oath OF. Office demands. Look
hyuh, Billy, your heads just added!
I cant work on ycu, but somebody
must!"
And Gordon went away very low in
his mind. He liked that boy. He loved
keen, alert, snappy soldier on drill,
and Billy had no superior in the bat
talon when it came to handling squad
or company. The adjutant plainly.saw
the peril Of his position, and further
consultation with his brother officers
confirmed him in his fears. Schuyler,
the brigade commissary, being much
with the,-teenth-messing with them,
in fact, when he was not dancing At
tendance on Miss Prime-heard all this
camp talk and told her. Thus it hap
ipened that the very next day when
he drove with the cousins (Mr. Prime
being the while in conference with the.
detectives still securing the city for the
young deserter, who the father now felt
confident was his. missing boy) Miss.
Lawrence looked the captain full in.
the face with her clear, searching eyes
and pumped at him the point-blank
question: - @zs: 81 =s
capt. Schuyler, do Mr.. Gray's BROTH
er officers really consider him in dam
ger Of Dismissal" ~ "a
miss Lawrence, I grieve to say that
not one has any other opinion now - {.
There could be no doubt of it. Amy
Lawrence turned very pale and her
beautiful eyes filled.
1T is shame!" she said, after
moments struggle to conquer the
trembling of her lips. 'Has-is: there
no one-influential enough-or with
brains enough (this with returning
color) to take up his case and clear
him? ~
They were whirling through the
beautiful drive of the Golden Gate
park, passing company after company
at drill. Even as Amy spoke Schuyler
lifted his cap and Miss Prime bowed
and smiled. A group Of regimental Of
fcers, four in number, stood, apparent
" supervising the work, and as Miss
Lawrence quickly turned to see who
they might be, her eyes met those Of
Col. Armstrong. Five minutes later the
carriage returning drew up,s as though
by some order from it's occupants, at
that very spot. Armstrong and his ad-
jutant were still there and promptly
joined them. q
Long weeks afterward that morning
lived in Stanley Armstrong; memory.
| It was one Of those rare August days
when the wind blew from the south
east, beat back the drenching Pacific
fogs and let the warm sun pour upon
the brilliant verdure Of that wonderful
park. Earth and air, distant sea and
dazzling sky. all seemed glorifyiDg their
Creator. Bright-hued birds flashed
through the foliage and thrilled the
ear with their caroling. The plash OF
fountain fell softly on the breeze, min.
gled with the rustling of the luxuriant
growth Of leaf and flower close at hand
It was not chance that brought. the
stalvart soldier instantly to Amy'a
side. Her gaze was upon him before
the carriage stopped, and irresistibly
drew him. The man Of mature years
the hero of sharp combats and stirring
campaigns with fierce and savage foe
the commander Of hundreds ofseagel
and gallant men. obeyed without
thought of demur the unspokel fsum'
mons Of girl yet in her teens. There
was new light in her clear and bean
tiful eyes, flush upon her soft and
rounded cheek. a little futter, possibly
in her kind and loyal heart. Heaven
knows his heart beat high with m emo
ton he could not subdue, though hi'
bearing was grave and courteous al
ever, but about that sweet and flushing
face there ,shone the halo Of q woman'l
brave determination, and no sooner hat
he reached the carriage side than, bend
ing toward him. she spoke. Mildred
Prime could not repress a little gasp O
amaze. b.
"Col. Armstrong. will you kindl..
open the carriage door? want to tall
with you moment" s.