The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-11-24
CLARENCE
ny BRET HARrE,

- 4E-NEES~TE-I-- 10 CHAACllIly Ole
OF 9 large civil contractors OF sun
pass whom the government was
opi1ged to employ, who visited the
camp. half officially, and whom the
army alternately depended upon and
abused. Egant had dealt With his I'm.
aertings IN the comntssafiat, and even
now remembered that he had heard ne
vas coming, but had overlooked the
s~isnlncance OF his name. But how he
am 10 leave his theatrical brofeasion.
how he had attained a position whicB
lnlpiieu q eommana OF considerable
Pitai-Ff many of the contractors
iiaa a!feauy amassed large fortunes
aHI what had become Of Susy and her
ampltfons in this radical change Of
circumstances. We're the things to he
earned. In his own changed condi-
Mons he had seldom thought of her: 1t
q with n strange feeling OF irrita-
tlon n half responsibility that he
now recalled his, last Interview WITH
ner the emotion TO which he had
succumbed. M
he had not long TO Wait. He had
scarcely fesatned the quarters at his
avn private office before he heard the
step &c the orderly upon the veranda
ana the trailing clank OF Hooker's
saner. He did not know, however, that
f1ooker, without recognizing his name,
mad received the message as a personal
tribute, and had left his sarcastic com
pan1ons triumphantly, with the air OF
gong to a confidential Interview to
which his wellskhoWn military con-
hection had entitled him. It was
wilma bearing of gloomy Importance,
ana his characteristic sullen sidelonE
glance that he entered the apartment,
ana did not look up Until Brant had
signaied the orderly to withdraw and
closed the door behind him, And then
he recognized his old boyish companion
the protested favorite of fortune!
For a moment he gasped with aston
lshment. For a moment gloomy in
creduitty, suspicion, delight, pride, ad-
miration, even affection, struggled for
mastery in his sullen staring eyes, and
open, %twitching mouth. Tor here
was Clarence Brant, handsomer than
ever, more superior than ever in the
majesty OF uniform and authority
Which fitted him, the younger man,
through his four years of active serv-
Ice with h careless ease and bearing
OF the veteran! Here was the hero
whose lam was already so famous
that the mere coincidence of it with
that of the modest civilian he had
known would have struck him as pre-
posterous. Yet here he w~as-supreme
and dazzing-surrounded by pomp and
circumstance tof war-into whose re-
I presence he, Jim Hooker, mad
been ushered With the formality of
challenge, saluting and presented bay
unetst
Luckily Brant had taken advantage
OF his first gratiied ejaculpaion to
shake him warmly by the hfhd, and
then with both hands laid Familiarity
on his shoulder force him down into q
phnir>- y,rlrfJ1-H f1,.Hl>,, 49, ~ ~.
Hooker had with characteristic gloomt-
ness oun time to taste the pangs of
enyy---an envy the more keen since, in
spite of his success as a peaceful con
tractor, he had always secretly longed
for military display and distinction.
He looked at the mar who had
achieved it, as he firmly believed, by a
sheer luck and accident and his eyes
d~arkened. Then, with characteristic
weakness and vanity, he began to re-
sist his first Impressions of Clerance's
superiority, and to air his impor-
tange. He leaned heavily in his chair
IN which he had been thus genially
forced. drew off his gauntlet and at
tempted to thrust it through his belt,
aS he d seen Bran do, but failed on
accountof his pistols already occupy
ing that position. dropped it, got his
sword between his legs in attempting
to pick it up. and then leaned back
again. with half-closed eyes, serenely
indifferent of his old companions smil-
ing face.
Il reckon he began, slowly, with a
slightly patronizing air. that we'd
have met, sooner or later, at Washing
ton, or at Grants headquarters. for
Hooker. Meacham & Co. go every
where, and are about as we'll known as
major generals. to say nothin','' he
went on. with a sidelong glance at
Grants shouldefstraps, of %bcigadiers
and It's rather strange, only. OF
course. you're kind of fresh in the
serNice-etl.a.t lot amt heard of me
afuIe.'
"Hut I'm very, very glad to hear OF
you now, Jim" said Brant. smiling.
and from your own lips-whfch / am
also delighted TO flnd,' he added, mis-
chievously, are still as frankly com
mun!catiNe on that topic. as of old.
But 1 congratulate you, OLD fellow on
Your" good fortune. When did YOU leave
the stage2'
MI. Hooker frowned slightly. II
never really vas on the stage. you
know" he said waving his hand with
please my Wife. Mrs. Hooker wouldn't
act with vulgar professionals. don't
you see. I was really manager--most
Of the time, and lessee of the theater.
Went cas- when the wal, broke out to
ofser-mN sword and knowledge OF In
jim fightin'-to Uncle Sam! Drifted
into a big pork contract at st. Louis
With Fremont. Been at 1t ever since.
offered Il commission in the regular
service lot O. times. Refused"
"NNhy?" asked Brant. demurely.
"TooInuch West Point starch around
to suit me- returned Hooker, darkly.
al 100 many spies!"
Spies?" echoed Grant, abstractedly,
with a ~momentary "Reminiscences OF
Miss Faulkner.
Yes spies" continued Hooker with
dogsed mystery. "One-half of Wash
iiigion is Watching t'other half. and,
from TIE presidents wife down. mos
o. the Women are secesh!"
I'rant suddenly fixed his keen eyes
on his guest. But the next moment he
reflected that this was only Jim Hook
er's usual speech and possessed no I'LL
terror significance. He smiled again
and said more gently:
And how is Mrs. Hooker?'
Mr.. Hooker fixed his ayes on the cell
Ing. rose, pretended to look out Of the
window; tben, taking his seat again by
the table, as IL fronting an imaginary
audience, and pulling slowly at his
gauntlets, after the usual theatrical In
dication Of a perfect sang froid. said:
There amt any,"
Good heavens!t' said Brant, with
genuine emotion. Il beg your pardon
really L"
Mrs. Hooker and me are divorced
continued Hooker, slightly changing
his attitude II leaning heavily on his
saber, with his eyes still on his fanciful
audience. There was, you under
stand,"-lightly tossing his gauntlet
aside--'incompatibility of temper!-
and-we-parted. Hal" hi uttered a
low, bitter. scornful laugh, which, how
ever. produced the distinct impression
IN Brant's mind that up to that mo-
nent he had never had the slightest
feeling in the matter whatever.
You seemed to be on such good
terms With each other murmured
Brant. vaguely.
Seemed" said Hooker bitterly,
glanctng ~sardonically at an ideal sec
ond row in the pit before him-"yes,
seemed! There were-other differences
social and political. You understand
that-you have suffered too" He
reached out his hand and pressed
Brant's in heavy e~ffusiveness. But
he continued, haughtily, lightly tossing
his glove again, w are all men OF the
world-we let that pass!" And it was
49, 49,