The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-03-23

of honor before his first promotion,
and his-captaincy by brevetfor daring
conduct in action long antedated the
right to wear the double bars of that
grade. He had seen much Ct the world,
at home and abroad; had travelled
much, read much, thought much, but
these were things of less concern to
many a woman in our much married
army than the question as to whether
he had ever loved much. Certain it was
he had never married, but that didn't
settle it. Many q man loves, said they.
without getting married, forgetful of
the other side of the proposition adj
vanced by horrid regimental cynics,
that many men marry without getting
loved. Armstrong would not have
proved an easy man to question on that,
OF indeed on cny other subject which
he considered personal to himself.
Even in his own regiment id the reg
ular service he had long been looked
upon as an exclusive sort OF fellow
man who had no iltimctes and not
many companions, yet, officers and SOL
ciers, he held the respect and esteem
OF the entire command. even of those
whom he kept at O distance, and few
a-e the regiments in which there are
cot one or two characters VINO are not
best seen and studied through a binoc-
ular. Without being sympathetic, said
his critics, Armstrong was square,"
bat his critics had scant means of know
ing whether he was sympathetic or
q c{ooIfacI Sol~
s|erving, Incorporating sort of man,
man who would never have done for a
diplomat, and could never have been
elected to Office. But he was truthful.
and as the English officer reluct.
said of Lucan, whom he hated:
damn him-he is brave" The
zen whom he did not seem to like in the
ar2y and who disiiked him cccording-
", were compelled to admit, TO them
se.Tes at least, that their reasons were
comprised in the abcve--ecocded, re-
g-ettable, but unmistaka6ie iact-he
didn't like them. Another tat, unpop-
ular, was that he knew when and how
to say no. He smoked too E,uch, per-
haps, and talked too little FOR those
who would use his words as witnesses
against him. He never gsnbled, he
rarely drank, he never lent nor bor-
1oIed. He was a bachelor, yet would
never join ''mess," but kept house
himself and usually had some favored
conrade living with him. He was 40
and did not look IS. He was tall, erect,
athletic, hardy and graceful in build,
and his face was one of the best to be
seen in many line of officers at parade
His eyes were steel gray and clear and
penetrating, his features c1eac-cut, al
most too delicately cut, thought some
of the best friends he had among the
men. His hair was brown, sprinkled
literally with silver; his mouth, an ad-
nairable mouth in every way, was
shaded and half-hiddcn by a long,
dropping mustache to which, some men
thought and some women snid, his
ta2ering white fingers paid too much
attention, but doubt if G knowledge Of
this criticism would have led to the
faintest alteration in the habit. Gen
orally the expression OF Armstrong; |
face was grave, and, on duty trife
stern; and not ten people in the world
were aware what humor could twinkle |
in the clear, keen eyes, or twitch about |
the corners Of that mobile mouth. |
There were no five who knew the ten
derness that lay in hiding there, for
Armstrong had few living kindred and |
they were men. There lived not, as he |
drove this glorious August morning to
the breezy uplands beyond the camps,
one woman who could say she had seen
those eyes of Armstrong; melt and
glow with love. AS for Amy Lawrence,
she was not dreaming of such thing.
She was not even looking at him. Her
thoughts at the moment were drifting
back to that usually light-hearted boy
who stood gazing SO disconsolately
after them as they drove away. her eyes
were intent upon an approaching group
that presently reclaimed her wandering
thoughts.
Coming up Point Lobos avenue strobe
= party of four-all soldiers. One of
these, wild-eyed, bareheaded, DISNEY
eled, his clothing torn, his wrists lashed
behind him, walked between two armed
guards. The fourth, sergeant, fol-
lowed at their heels. Miss Lawrence
had just time to note that the downcast
face was dark and oval and refined,
when it was suddenly uplifted at sound
of the whirring carriage wheels. A