Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-11-16
WHITE FEATHER.
a Coward That Was
a Hero.


There Is no need to mention the name
OF his regiment here. That Is a secret
that belongs 10 tho army alone.
Suflirr II TO say that his comrades
are proud Of his name.
lie should never hive entered the ar
my mt nll. much less n hard riding cav.
airy regiment which had n reputation
10 sustain by a yearly tribute OF broken
hrrks and collar bones.
Ills proper vocation was that Of n
linen Diapers assistant. and he had
allied that occupation very satisfacto-
rlly ~ I evil day he had fallen In
10y" " lin girl. n silly. shallow girl. at
wiiom no practical man or boy would
have taken n second look.
lie ad0rrd her. and she adored sol
diTrs. In their walks abroad she would
direct lis steps toward the Horse
guards or Wellington barracks, that
size might gaze in admiration Mt the
line stamping soldiers who were to be
s'fu there. and every time she plnchcd
his q NJ ! exclaimed. "Oh. Jack. look
az tilt lovely sGldler!" his heart gave
hini % uIns M the thought that he was
Dn. % driirr's assistant. with nothing
20 cnH-i with the military but the
's az rod cloth, He was n dream
~ re. and falling In love did
iini L. g. rs weakness In this dircc-
Ir,amlng Is ~pardonable In n
net hut ~ objectionable crime In a
. Hnon 1rnpcr's assistant. and as he
sioG = - lis countcr his mind was far
q - a. fwOrN HE NrnrlF FWuNnAI 80 ~,
ttE.ng to the "Forwni d." Of the shop.
wnlkrr hr could only rear the short
nUnG worl If command and the blare
of the buG that sounded through his
dreams; W, rrefore II was not long be.
fore he ca - into conflict with his prac-
teal chief. \ fcw sharp words passed.
He threw up In three seconds n posi-
ton It al taken six years of hard. un-
remlttlng labor TO attain. Then he en-
HsiPd.
He gained his title on his FIRST dis
play In the riding school. where, after
a short ride on the neck Of the riding
masters pot buck jumper, he turned
deailly pale and cried aloud that he
might be allowed to dlsmOunt.
The hOrs, Gt one gratihcd his desire
by throwing him on to the tan. where
he lay trembling In every limb. much
20 the diversion of n couple Of rough
riders who We're standing by. They
were quick to inform their respective
squadrcns. and. his former occupation
being known. he was promptly chris
tened White Feather.
In those dark days II was the Joy Of
the moro hardy recruits to take him
aside solemnly and request the service
OF t%hrccpence 2 farthings' worth Of
white feathers. Any morsel OF down
or fun that might float into the bar
racks was promptly captured and pre-
scented TO him with due ceremonies by
T%rumpeter Pipes, the low comedian OF
the regiment.
The older men forbore to Join In with
these somewhat firing rcpctitlons Of a
stale Joke. They remembered their
experiences In the riding school
and recognized that White Feather
was n quiet aud InOTensive fellow. de
void OF the %Impudcncc and bad man
ners peculiar to recruits and respectful
and helpful To his seniors.
The sergeant instructor. too. after a
time took n fancy 10 his timid recruit
and took extra trouble to learn him
how tor keep bis heels out. his hnnds
down and lis hcad up.
'I'vP made smart cavalrymcu out o.
bigger buffers than you." he used 10 re-
mark cncouraglngly rs he clicked Whitc
Feathers horse into u canter. and I'll
make n rider o. you. or I'll break your
neckr' W. itr Feathers neck remain.
cd unbrokf .. so II IL To hc presumed
that tho , geant Instructor fulfilled
his word.
Presently he began to lose the hang.
dog look Z suppressed terror with
which he Il Il been accustomed TO enter
the riding school md to acquire the
easy swagscr OF n ca%valryman. His
chest contracted by long hours at the
counter. developed under healthy train.
ing. Fresh mir aud much exercise help
Ell white Feathers development. which
had been lily retarded 10y the heavy.
gas laden mospbcrc In which he had
lived. His nerves acquired tone. and
be learned - take a tumble now and
then ns a r-'tpT OF course and to FIRE
his carbirr ihout shutting his eyrs
and blsnch'rs At the explosion OF th'
cartridge.
blow q he isn't going to shar
INTO a mas lasir' quoth the sergcar
instructor
Then i,w 'rlf ceoa him.
received . r9 % lciirr from 9
Girl 10 foi. l fso l.a.i given
~ IN frr fp ~anpva'.tr wao ;