The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-03-01

49, SSAhS
an act of tyranny IN the part OF his COM
mander, with only an instant in which
to convey it all-her sweet aceiAushed
and her eyes famed with the light of
her girlish enthusiasm-in that instant
she had kissed her hand to him, and
then Col. Armstrong, turning sudden
1y and sharply to see who could be the
object of interest so absorbing, caught
one fitting glimpse of Billy Gray lift
ing his cap in quick acknowledgment,
and the words that were on the tip
of Armstrong; tongue the moment be-
fore were withheld for a more auspi-
cious occasion-and it did not COM too
soon.
It was only four days after that in
itial meeting in the generals tent the
foggy evening of the girls first visit
to camp. but both in city and on the
tented field there had been several &C.
casions on which the colonel had been
company with the young ladies.
Junior officers had monopolized the
time and attention of the latter, but
Armstrong was a close observer and a
nan who loved all that was strong,
high-minded and true in his own sex,
and that was pure and sweet and wiz
some in woman. A keen soldier, he haS
spent many years in active service, most
OF them in the hardy, eventful and Wig
orous life on the Indian frontier. He
had been conspicuous in more than
stirring campaign against the red a
riors of the plains, had won his medal
of honor before his first promotion,
and his captaincy by breyet for daring
conduct in action long antedated the
right to wear the double bars of that
grade. He had seen much of 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 a man loves, said they,
without getting married, forgetful of
the other side of the proposition ad-
vanced by horrid regimental cynics,
that many men marry without getting
loved. Armstrong would not have
proved'an'easy man toquestion.o on that,
or indeed on any other subject which
he considered personal to himself.
Even in his WI regiment in the reg
ular service he had long been looked
upon as an exclusive sort of fellow
q man who had no intimates and not
many companions, yet, officers and SOL
diers, he held the respect and esteem
of the entire command, ever of those
whom he kept at a distance, and few
are the regiments in which there are
not one or two characters who are not
best seen and studied through a binoc-
ular. Without being sympathetic, said
his critics, Armstrong was square"
but his critics had scant NEAR of know
ing whether he was sympathetic or
not. He was a steadfast fellow, an I'M
swerving, uncompromising sort of man,
a man who would never have done for a
diplomat, and could never have been
elected to office. But he was truthful,
just, and IS the English officer reluct-
ohtAJ ou1o VI AuSdu, "1OlI uC udlSUs
"Yes-damn him-he is brave" The
men whom he did not seem to like in the
army and who disliked him according
ly, were compelled to admit, to them
selves at least, that their reasons were
comprised in the above-recorded, re-
g%rettable, but unmistakable fact-he
didn't like them. Another trait, unpop-
ular, was that he knew when and how
TO say no. He smoked toe much, per-
haps, and talked too little for those
who would use his words as witnesses
against him. He never gambled, he
rarely drank, he never lent nor bor-
rowed. He was a bachelor, yet would
never join a "mess," but kept house
himself and usually had some favored
comrade 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 n e of the best to be
seen in many a line of officers at parade.
His eyes were steel gray and clear and
penetrating, his features %clear-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-
mirable mouth in every way, was
shaded and ~half-hidden by a long,
dropping mustache to which, some men
thought and some women snid, his
tapering white fingers paid too much
attention, but I doubt if a 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 a trihe
stern; and not ten people in the world
were aware what humor could twinkle
the orner of that mobile mouth
There were no five who knew the ten.
derness that lay in hiding there, fol-
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.
n woman who could say she had see
those eyes of Armstrong; melt and
glow with love. AS for Amy Lawrence,
she was not dreaming of such a 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 grour
that presently reclaimed her wandering
thoughts.
Coming up Point Lobos avenue STROBE
a party of four-all soldiers. One os
these, wild-eyed, bareheaded, dishev-
eled, his clothing torn, his wrists lashed
behind him, walked between two armed
guards. The fourth, a sergeant, fol-
lowed at their heels. Miss Lawrence
had just time to note that the downcast
face was darl and oval and Refined.