The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-06-13

himself afore I'll insult him that way
So say little to him about the spahis.
he oNes:you, well, does your Rake"
Well indeed! Good God! Wha
nobilifyy' .@
~Picpon' glanced at him; then Will
the tact of his nation, glided away ant
busted himself teaching Flick-Flack tt
shoulder and present arms, the weapon
being a long chibouque stick.
Us this true, Rake-that you inten
tlonally commit these freaks of mis-
conduct to escape promotion?" Ceci
asked of the man when he stood alon.
with him in his place of confinement.
Rake flushed a little. Mischief.
bred in me, sir; it must come out. It,
just bottled up in me like ale. If
didn't take the cork out now and then
1should fly a-piecesv'
But many a time when you hayt
been close on the reward of YOU:
splendid gallantry in the field you hay.
frustrated your own fortune and til,
wishes of your superiors by wantonl1
proving yourself unfit for the highe:
grade they were going to raise you to
Why do you do that?"
Rake fdgeted restlessly and, to ayoi{
the awkwardness Of the question. re
Piled like parliamentary orator by
low Of rhetoric.
Sir, there's a many chaps like me
They can't help nohow busting on
when the fit takes 'em. faint reasona
Ole to blame 'em for it, They're Jus
made so, like chestnut's made to bus
Its pod and a chicken to bust it's she'll
But you wander from my question:
said Cecil gently. "Do you avoid pro
motion?'
Eyes, sir, d." said Rake something
sulkily, for he felt he was being div
en- up a corner" II do. 1 amt no
one bit filter for an officer than a riot
ing pup is fit to lead them crack pack:
at home. I should be in a straitwaist
coat if was promoted. And as fol
the cross, Lord, sir, that would get me-
into world Of trouble! I should paw
1t for a toss of wine the first day GU;
or give it to the first girl that winke6
her black eye for it,
Cecil's eyes rested on him with :
look that said far more than his an
swer. Rake, know you better thar
you would let me do if you hai
your way. My noble fellow, you re
Ject advancement and earn yourself ar
unjust reputation for mutinous con
duct because you are too generous tt
be given step above mine in the regi
ment.''
who's been telling you that trash
SIR? retorted Rake, with ferocity.
mo matter who. 1t is no trash. L
is splendid loyalty Of which I am ut
terly unworthy, and it shall be my care
that it is known at the bureaus, SC
that henceforth your great merits may
be-
"Stow that, STRIP cried Rake vehe
mently. "Stow that if you please
Promoted I won't be-no, not If the
emperor hisself was to order it anc
come across here to see it done! A
pretty thing surely! Me a officer, anc
you never one; me recommending OF
y
Lord, sir, we might as well see the
camp scullions a-riding in state and the
marshal a-scouring out the soup pots
If you don't let me have my own way
and it you do the littlest thing to ge.
me step, why, sir, swear as I'm a liv.
ing being that I'll draw on Chateauroy
the first time I see him afterward an6
slit his throat as I'd slit a jackals:
There, my oath's took"'
And Cecil knew that it was hopeless
either to persuade him to his own ad.
vantage or to convince him Of his dis
obedience In speaking thus of his su-
preme before his noncommissioned Of
fcer. He was himself, moreover, Deep
~ moved by the mans fidelity.
He stretched his hand out.
81 wish there were more black.
guards with hearts like yours. 1 can
not repay your love, Rake, but I can
value it,"
Rake put his own hands behind his
back.
"God bless you, sir, you've repaid
it ten dozen times over But YOU
oAeAA l. w ludI, Sill. L lClu you long
ago I'm too much Of a scamp. Some
day, perhaps, as I said, when I've set
tied scores with myself and wiped off
all the bad uns with a clear sweep tol-
erably clean; not afore, SIR
And Rake was so sturdily obstinate
not to always carry his point. Mean
while Picpon's news was correct.
The regiment was ordered out on the
march. There was fresh war in the
interior, and wherever there was the
hottest slaughter there the Black
Hawk always flew down with his fall
con flock. When Cecil left his incorri-
gible comrade, the trumpets were
sounding an assembly. There were
noise, tumult eagerness, excitement,
delighted zest, on every side. a gener-
al order was read to the enraptured
squadrons. They were to leave the,
town at the first streak Of dawn.
That evening at the Villa Aioussa