The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-15

that belongs 10 the army alone.
Suffice Il to say that his comrades are
proud OF his name.
He should never have entered the
army ait all, much less a hard-ridins
cavalry regiment which had reputa-
tion to sustain by yearly tribute OF
broken necks and collar bones.
His proper vocation was that OF
linen-draper's assistant. and he had NIL
ed that occupation very satisfactorily,
till one evil day he had fallen In love
with a girl. a silly shallow girl, at
whom no practical man or boy would
have taken a second look.
He adored her. and she adored SOL
diers. In their walks abroad she would
direct his steps toward the Horse
Guards or wellington Barracks, that
she might gaze in admiration at the
fine. strapping soldiers who were to be
seen there. and every time she pinched
his arm and exclaimed. ''Oh. Jack! look
at that lovely sodier" his heart gave
him a pang at the thought that he was
only diapers assistant. with nothing
in common with the military but the
handling OF red CLOTH He was dream
er by nature. and falling in love did not
lessen his weakness i'm this direction
Dreaming is pardonable In a poet, but
an objectionable crime I'm a linen-dra-
per's' assistant, and as he stood at his
counter his mind was far away from
his work Instead OF listening to the
Forward" OF the shop walker. he could
only hear the short flung word OF COM
mand and the blare of the bugles that
sounded through his dreams. wherefore
IL was not long before he came into con-
ffict with his practical chief. A few
sharp words passed He threw up In
three seconds a position II had taken
six years OF hard unremitting labor TO
attain. Then ne enlisted.
He gained his title on his first display
in the riding school, where, after
short ride on the neck OF the riding
masters pet buck jumper. he turned
deathly pale and cried aloud that he
might be allowed to dismount.
The horse at once gratified his desire
by throwing him on the tan. where he
lay trembling in every limb. much TO
the diversion of couple of rough rid
ers who were standing by. They
were quick to inform their re-
spective squadrons, and. his for
mer occupation being known, he was
promptly christened white Feather"
In those dark days II was the JOY OF
the more hardy recruits to take him
aside solemnly and request the service
OF three pence three farthings' worth of
white feathers. Any morsel of down or
nun that might float into the barracks
was promptly captured and presented
10 him with due ceremonies By Trum-
peter Pipes, the low comedian OF the
regiment.
The older men forbore to Join In with
these somewhat tiring repetitions Of
stale Joke. They remembered their
own experiences in riding school. and
quiet and inonensive fellow, devoid
Of the impudence and bad manners Pc
culiar to recruits and respectful and
helpful to his seniors.
The sergeant instructor. too after q
time, took fancy to his timid recruit,
and took extra trouble to teach him
how 10 keep his heels out, his hands
down. and his head up.
i've made smart cavalrymen out o.
bigger buffers than you." he used TO re-
mark encouragingly as he fiicked
white Feathers" horse into a canter,
"and I'll make rider o. you, or I'll
break your neck" white Feathers"
neck remained unbroken. so II is to be
presumed that the sergeant nt-nstructor
fulfilled his word.
Presently he began to lose the hang
dog look Of suppressed terror with
which he had been accustomed to enter
the riding school. and to acquire the
easy swagger OF a cavalryman. His
chest contracted by long hours at the
counter. developed under healthy train
ing. Fresh air and much exercise help
ed White Feathers" development.
which had been sadly retarded by the
heavy. gas-laden atmosphere in which
he had lived. His nerves acquired tone.
and he learned to take tumble now
and then as a matter of course. and
TO fire his carbine without shutting his
eyes and blanching at the explosion of
the cartridge.
BLOW me. II he isn't going to shape
into a man at last!'quoth the sergeant
instructor.
Then great blow fell upon him. He
received one morning letter from the
girl to tell him that she had given him
up in favor of shop walker who had
expectations of being set up in business
by his father. She admitted that she
had adored soldiers and that she had
caused him to enter the army for her
sake. But she had omitted to state that
abe soldiers she adored were soldiers
who possessed the Queens commission,
and who wore stars Instead OF wors-
1ed stripe.
III poor White Feather" was ply
slcal coward he was a moral hero.
There is no chance of display of feel
ing In barrack room. so, like the
Spartan boy of old, he hugged his trou-
BILE to him, slipping the cheap little en-
gagement ring, with which he had
sealed his troth, into his pocket, with
out sign beyond the twitching OF his
white lips. Then he lit his pipe with
the letter. not out of contempt. but be-
cause there is little privacy accorded
IN the correspondence that comes to
the barrack room, and private sold
Ser is not provided with a desk where
in to keep his faded flowers and other
sentimental tokens OF the past.
The blow was very heavy one. for
sWhite Feather was without the
worldly knowledge that should have
told him long since that he had fixed
mis- affections upon a vulgar, selfish. and
brainless fiirt, and he stll believed in
her.
For her sake he had learned TO over
come his physical cowardice. He had
dreamed OF a possible commission in
the dim future. and had rejoiced i'm the
recently acquired promotion az a step
toward her.
For her sake, too. he received the
news cheerfully when the word passed
through the barracks that the regiment
was ordered TO South Africa TO meet
the Beers. He knew that he was by
~ h,,t Go Al ~