The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-02-09
VOL. XIII.
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THE MEANS AND THE END
BY Gwendolen Overton.

/
y His respect for constituted au-
thority was as un-American
as his face. He was tall and fine
looking. his English was quite as pol
ished as Strathmores own; and
which was of infinitely more impor-
tance-he never touched whisky and
cigars, nor went on a payday spree.
So Strathmore felt himself justified IN |
supposing that he had murdered, or
stolen, or forged, or something, at one |
time or another. and he shrewdly |
guessed that Chester was not his real
name. But that was no ones concern,
that he could see, and everybody
knows that enlistment in the army or
the United States. even more than bap-
tism. is q new birth.
Throughout the department Strath-
more was known by the striker ne
kept. This had its disadvantages, but
the advantages outwelghed. No one
could have realized this better than
Strathmore himself. and yet sometimes
he was moved, In the bosom or the
mess. to complain. ut is telling on
me-" he would insist; Il am slowly
breaking down under the strain.
came across something In a French
book the other day about how Few
masters are worthy to be Wallets. That's
iust what I am striving to be, anu
the failure is telling upon me. They
used to-" he explained compiacentiy'
"they used to say-when my name was
mentioned from Dan to BeersheeDa-
.strathmore, Strathmore of tue
,steenth. Big, good-looking chap "
fStrathmore had picked up Chester's
manner of speech). "'one OF the
Strathmores of Boston, isn't her NOW
it's 'Strathmore? That's the chap
Chester's striking forT Oh! yes; l
think I'll send Chester back to the
troop"
which. of course, he never did. Apart
from the fact that he could never
have done without him, he could not
have had the heart.
Chester had been as good q soidier
as he was q striker, but he mad IAN
puished under barrack rule. Exactly
for the reason that he never said So
It was plain that he had been USED &c
better things. 1t was so plain tna'
Strathmore would never have though
Of suggesting to him to become oooy
servant. had not Chester himself
when a desperado's bullet had left the
6osition vacant-volunteered. AS
striker Chester had many little lux
uries that he had lacked before-hi
nwn room. his own bath-tub, and tn
run of his masters small but choic
library. With the help OF draperle
and blankets that Strathmore let hin
have, and with that OF some potte
plants he managed upon his own az
rount. he transformed the room Int
unite a sybaritic retreat, and his III
erary discrimination was thing
wonder ut. He tackled up colored SUI
Elements of the London Christmas pt
pers, and there was a photograph
inst one-on his mantel-piece. 1t va
NJ n woman who had soft eyes IN
hair and a lovely mouth. StrathnIol
yentured to ask who 1t was, one ia
and Chester told him that it was &c
Englishwoman, SIR"
Now, this was in Texas, In the ear
DAVIS shortly after the war. In II
state of the Lone Stars palmie
time. There was much drinking
the land, and much poker. as WE'LL
pious general having as yet arisen
bid gambling cease. There was al
some shooting, but Of unattach
women there were sadly few. al
those that were, were. generally. u
rery nice. This condition Of ana
led to a good many unfortunate thin'
Any man prefers even second-ra
woman to none at all, and any maj
being deprived Of q standard OF co
parison for a length of time Will col
10 think that an exceedingly poor
dele is superior enough, after all.
That was what happened to Stra
more. He should have known Dett
because his youth had been sp'
among women who were lovely
every way; but the memory OF N
Is Shorthand he was lonesome. In
should be provision for this In
regulations. When a man gets
Of the Ills that frontier service Is
10 induce, they bundle him on OF
East on a sick leave: yet when-wh
Is infinitely more prejudicial to
standing Of the service-he reaches
stage Of loneliness where he sho
marry the Witch Of Endor hers
rather than continue to be alone, tn
Ia no one to indorse his application
be sent somewhere where he can
the proper sort Of girl
Strathmore had been In the Will
ness O matter of five years. and
was gradually, very gradually II
ing from civilization. The first
nation of this that Chester had
that the lieutenant made unnecessa
frequent calls at o ranch-house s.
ten miles from the reservation. @
ter knew that q girl lived tner
dreadful girl. who had q plumply
nv figure and face, but whose sp'
was a thing to shudder at and WI
name. besides being Halloran,
Mamie Pearle. He also knew thu
that were not enough to set ST.
more's teeth on edge. he must be
very bad way.
All this worried Chester great
Frequent contemplation of his
photograph had furnished him
tho standard of comparison W
strathmore lacked. and he could
what the outcome Of things, as
were going. was bound to be. liz
planned 1t TO the photograph s'as
hefore the mantel-piecc with MS