The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-07-12

more promptly than Col. Sanford in en-
! deavoring TO sever the bond of enlist
ment that he might be restored to his
proper sphere of life
But you forget, Mrs Colby. that he
said he would not under any considcra-
ton have his term of enlistment short
cned one single day"
at could be done without consulting
his wishes in the matter If it should
be brought TO the notice of your father
that the young man is not only inilict-
/ ing upon himself really unmerited pun
/ ishment for mistake of his youth. but
Is by his action depriving the business
world of talent which would contrib
ute to its progress. he would scoff at
the mans exaggerated ideas of penance
and lose no time in restoring him TO his
| proper station. May be frank with
/ you, my child, and tell you that in my
opinion Mr. Brown, or Mr.. Thornton
is very, very foolish young man. But.
my dear girl, you don't know how your
| story has interested me. / wonder if it
can be true? And TO think he is in
Capt Colby's troop, too. May | tell the
captain?"
"Do you think it would be right, Mrs.
/ Colby? Mr.. Thornton did not enioin
secrecy--in fact, he said he had moth
ing to conceal from the world, yet were
his story known it might enforce upon
him notoriety which would be dis
tasteful to him"
THAT is true, my dear, but really
feel that his captain should know it.
The commanding officer of company
can do many things To tighten the du-
ties of one of his men, you know.
think will tell him under a pledge of
secrecy. Even Brown must not know
that his captain has heard of him."
Very well. You can tell Capt. Col
by and | will tell papa all know of
Mr.. Brown"
what a delicious secret we four will
have to discuss between ourselves,
and how doubly delicious II il prove
true that Private Brown is really Mr..
Edward Thornton and a gentleman
in every way our equal in life. But a
word of motherly caution, child. You
must not permit your girlish enthusi-
nsm TO arouse in your young heart a
feeling of aught but simple friendship
and sympathy for Private Brown"
A slight blush mantled the cheeks of
the young girl at these parting words.
After she had gone Mrs Colby sank
into chair and carefully weighed
every feature of the strange story, and
was yet deeply engrossed in thought
when the captain entered.
George she said to him, do You
know anything of Private Brown of
your troop"
Brown? Yes. lie has several
times attracted my attention. He is a
splendid young soldier, believe, al.
ways unusually neat in personal APP
pearance, and at times when he has
been on duty as orderly at my quar-
tiers have noted his intelligent lam
guage and gentlemanly bearing. lie
distinguished himself in noticeable
manner in several of our brushes with
the Apaches last winter, and | have
him listed for promotion when there is
a vacancy. Why do you ask, my dcar?"
u have very remarkable story to
tell you, George, if you will promise
me that you will never divulge it with
out my permission, not even to Brown
himself"
well, it must he startlnglv inn
portant secret. win such pledge in
any(manner conflict with my duty as
an otficcr?"
mot in the least, my dear, or would
not exact it of you
Then promise. lam all attention"
She told the story as Alice had re-
lated it to her, and the captains eyes
opened wide with aStonshment.
by Jove, wife, am inclined to be-
lieve the man has told the truth.
have never had occasion to give him
extra notice further than mentioned,
yet in the light of this revelation can
recall many of his actions which go to
corroborate what you have told me.
must keep my eyes on him in future"
Alice went at once to her father and
related to him the story Brown had
told her Tho old man at first cvinced
considerable interest in the recital, but
at its conclusion said:
"All nonsense, sunshine all bosh You
must not place any credcnce in the wild
cock and bull stories the soldiers tell.
Look after the sick men in the hospital,
child, and let the well ones take care of
Themselves
Did do wrong, papa, in listening
to him and showing my interest in his
worlS?"
MY little Sunshine could not do
wrong. If this man has interested You
with his skin with the pencil am
glad of IT, Your life is cast amid very
sober surroundings, little one, and any
thing that affords you pleasure and
helps you to while away the dull hours /
has my full approval, If big, honest
eyed Newfoundland dog should come
to you for recognition it would be no
wrong for you TO pat him on the shay
gy head and call him pet names. If
private soldier interests you and pos
sesses intelligence enough to treat you |
as becomes your station in the world |
above him, amuse yourself with him all /
you desire. Even listen to their fairy
stories If you wish. Soldiers love 20
boast of what they might have been
had they not been crowded into the
army by some remarkable circum-
stances. Their romances are all bosh,
Sunshine, all frothy bosh."