The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-06-06
WHITE FEATHER.
A Gov ard That Was
u Hero.

s'ffs . . 20
There Is no need to mention the name
of his regiment here. That is secret
that belongs to the army alone.
Suffice 1t TO say that his comrades
are proud of his name.
He should never have entered the ar
my at all, much less hard riding cav
airy regiment which had a reputation
to sustain by u yearly tribute of broken
necks and collar bones
His proper vocation was that of u
linen Diapers assistant, aud he had
filled that occupation very satisfaeto-
rily till one evil day he had fallen in
love with girl, a silly, shallow girl, at
whom no practical man or boy would
have taken Il 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 We're to be
seen there, and every time she pinched
his arm and exclaimed, ooh, Jack, look
at that lovely soldier" his heart gave
him pang ut the thought that he was
only Diapers assistant, with nothing
In common With the military but the
handling OF red cloth lie was dream
er by nature, aud falling in love did
not lessen his weakness In this dlrec.
ton. Dreaming Is pardonable IN Il
poet. but an objectionable crime In a
linen Diapers assistant, aud as he
stood ut his counter his mind was far
away from his work. Instead of lis
tening TO the Forward of the shop
walker lie could only hear the short
flung word of command and the blare
Of the bugles that sounded through his
dreams; wherefore II was not long be-
fore he came into conflict with his pran-
tical chief A few sharp words passed.
He threw up In three seconds POSI-
tion It had taken six years of hard, I'M
remitting labor to attain Then he en-
listed
He gained his title on his first dis
play in the riding school, where, after
II short ride on the neck Of the riding
masters pet buck jumper, he turned
deathly pale and cried aloud that he
tDlEllt bt hiipN tu W diSillOuits
The horse at once gratified his desire
by throwing him on to the tan, where
he lay trembling In every limb, much
to the diversion of couple Of rough
riders who We're standing by. They
were quick to inform their respective
squadrons, and, his former occupation
being known. he was promptly chris
tened White Feather.
In those dark days 1t was the Joy OF
the more hardy recruits to take him
aside solemnly and request the service
of threepence 3 farthings' worth of
white feathers. Any morsel Of down
or fluff that might float into the bar
racks was promptly captured and pre-
scented to him with due ceremonies by
Trumpeter Pipes, the low comedian of
the regiment.
The older men forbore to join In with
these somewhat firing repetitlons Of
stale joke. They remembered their
own experiences In the riding school
and recognized that White Feather
was n quiet and inoffensive fellow. de-
void OF the iinpudence and bad man
ners peculiar to recruits and respectful
and helpful to his seniors
The sergeant instructor too after Il
time took fancy to his timid recruit
and took extra trouble to learn him
how to keep his heels out, his hands
down and his head up.
1--WE made smart cavalrymen out o.
bigger buffers than you" he used to re-
mark encouragingly as he fiicked White
Feathers horse into canter. and III
make u rider o you, or III break your
neckr White Feathers neck remain
ed unbroken so 1t Is to be presumed
that the sergeant instructor 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 cayalryman 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 a tumble now and
then as a matter Of course and to fire
his carbne without shutting his eyes
and blanching at the explosion OF the
cartridge.
BLOW me, II he isn't going to shape
into man at lastw quoth the sergeant
Instructor.
Then a 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 shopwaiker who had
expectations of being set up In busi-
ness by his father. She admitted that
she had adord soldiers and that she
had caused him to enter the army for
her sake. But she had omitted to state
that the soldiers She adored were sol
oilers who possessed the queens com
mission ard who wore stars instead OF
worsted stripe.
II poor White Feather was physical
coward, he was moral hero. There Is
no chance Of display of feeling Ia
barrack room; SO, Ike the Spartan boy
Of old, he Rugged his trouble to him,
slipping the cheap little engagement