Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-08-02

dier ~ his heart gave him pang
at the thought that he was only a
Diapers assistant, with nothing in
common with the military but the
handling of red cloth He was a
dreamer by nature, and falling in
love did not lessen his weakness in
this direction. Dreaming is par
donable in poet, but an unpar.
donable crime in linen diapers
assistant, and as he stood at his
counter his mind was far away from
his work. Instead of listening to
the "Forward p of the shop.walker
he could only hear the short flung
word of command and the bugles
that sounded through his dreams ;
wherefore it was not long before he
came into conflict with his prscti-
cal chief. A few sharp words pass
ed. He threw up in three seconds
position it had taken six years Of
hard, unremitting labor to attain.
Then he enlisted.
He gained his title on his first
display in the riding school, where
after a short ride on the riding
masters pet buck jumper, he turn
ed deadly 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 a
couple Of rough riders who were
standing by. They we're quick to
inform their respective squadrons,
and, his former occupation being
known he was promptly christened
White Feather.
In those dark days it was the joy
Of the more hardy recruits to take
him aside solemnly and request the
service Of three farthing's worth Of
white feathers. Any morsel Of down
or fluff that might float into the
barracks was promptly captured
and presented to him with due GER
emonies by Trumpeter Pipes, the
low comedian Of the regiment.
The Older men forbore to join in
with these somewhat firing repeti-
tions Of q stale joke. They remem-
bered their own experiences in the
riding school and recognized that
White Feather was a quiet and in
offensive fellow, devoid OF the i'm
prudence and bad manners peculiar
to recruits and respectful aud help.
full to his seniors.
The sergeant instructor, too after
q time took fancy to his timid re-
cruit and took extra trouble to
teach him how to keep his heels
out, his hands down and his head
up.
"I've made smart cavalrymen out
Of bigger buffers than you" he
used to remark encouragingly as he
flicked White Feathers horse into
q canter, and I'll make o rider Of
you, or I'll break your neck %
White Feathers neck remained I'M
broken, SO it 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 caval-
rymsn. His chest contracted by
long hours at the counter, develop.
ed under healthy training. Fresh
air and much exercise helped 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 q
tumble now and then as q matter
Of course and to fire his carbine
without shutting his eyes and
blanching at the explosion Of the
cartridge.
elbow me, If he isn't going to
shape into a man at last 7" quoth
the sergeant instructor.
Then a great blow fell upon him.
He received one morning a letter
from the girl to tell him that she
had given him up in favor Of a
shopwalker who had expectations
of being set up in business by his
father. She admitted that she had
caused him to enter the army for
her sake. But she had omitted to
state that the soldiers she adored
we're soldiers who possessed the