The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

OF listening to the Forward" of the
shopwalker he could only hear the
short-fung word of command and the
blare Of the bugles that sounded
through his dreams; wherefore 1t was
not long before he came into conflict
with his practical chief A few sharp
words passed. He threw up in three
seconds a position it had taken six
years OF hard, unremitting labor to
attain. Then he enlisted.
He gained his title on his first dis
play In the riding school, where, after
short ride on the neck of the riding
| masters pet buck jumper, he turned
deathly pale and cried aloud that he
might be allowed to dismount.
The horse at once gratified his de-
sire by throwing him on to the tan,
Where he lay trembling in every limb.
much to the diversion of couple of
rough riders who were standing BY.
They We're quick to inform their re-
spect1ve squadrons, and his former &C.
cupation being known, he was prompt
ly christened White Feather.
In those dark days it was the Joy of
the more hardy recruits to take him
aside solemnly and request the service
OF three pence three farthings worth
OF white feathers. Any morsel of
down or fluff that might float into the
barracks was promptly captured and
presented to him with due ceremonies
by Trumpeter Pipes, the low comedian
of the regiment.
The older men forebore to Join in
with these somewhat firing repetitions
OF stale Joke. They remembered their
own experiences in the riding school
and recognized that White Feather
was quiet and inoffensive fellow, de-
void of the impudence and bad man
ners peculiar to recruits and respectful
and helpful to his seniors.
The sergeant instructor, too, after a
time took fancy to his timid recruit,
and took extra trouble to teach him
how to keep his heels out, his hands
down and his head up.
I've made smart cavalrymen out o.
bigger buffers than you," he used to
remark encouragingly as he ficked
White Feathers horse into canter
and I'll make rider o. you, or I'll
break your neck!" White Feathers
neck remained unbroken, so it is to be
presumed that the sergeant instructor
fulfilled his word.
Presently he began to lose the hang
dog look of suppressed terror with
which he had been accustomed to enter
the riding school and to acquire the
easy swagger of cavalryman. His
chest, contracted by long hours at the
counter, developed under healthy
training. Fresh air and much exer-
else helped White Feathers develop
ment, which had been sadly retarted
by the heavy, gas-laden atmosphere in
which he had lived. His nerves ac-
CURED tone. and he learned to take a
tumble now and then as a matter of
course and to fire his carbine without
shutting his eyes and blanching at the
explosion of the cartridge.
Blow me, If he isn't going to shane
into man at last!" quoth the SER
geant instructor.
Then great blow fell upon him. He
received one morning letter from the
girl to tell him that she had given him
up in favor of shopwalker who had
expectations Of being set up in busi-
ness by his father. She admitted that
she had adored soldiers and that she
had caused him to enter the army for
her sake. But she had omitted to state
that the soldiers she adored were SOL
dlers who possessed the queens COM
mission and who wore stars instead Of
worsted stripe.
If poor White Feather was physi-
cal coward, he was moral hero. There
Is no chance of display of feeling in
a barrack room, so, like the Spartan
boy OF old, he Rugged his trouble to
him, slipping the cheap little engage
ment ring with which he had sealed
his troth into his pocket without sign
beyond the twitching Of his white lips
Then he lit his pipe with the letter, not
out OF contempt, but because there is
little privacy accorded in the CORE
spondence that comes to the barrack
room, and private soldier is not pro-
vlded With desk wherein to keep his
faded flowers and other sentimental
tokens Of the past.
The blow was a very heavy one, for
White Feather was without the world
ly knowledge that should have told
him long since that he had fixed his
affections upon vulgar, selfish and
brainless fiirt, and he still believed in
her.
For her sake he had learned to over
come his physical cowardice. He had
dreamed Of a possible commission in
the dim future and had rejoiced in the
recently acquired promotion as a step
toward her.
For her sake, too, he received the
news cheerfully when the word passed
through the barracks that the regi-
ment was ordered to South Africa to
meet the Beers. He knew that he was
by nature a coward, but for the men,
ory of her he swore an oath to himself
to do his duty without sparing himself
in the coming fight.
Look ere, old chap, we amt going
to call you White Feather no more!"
said Trumpeter Pipes as they lay to-
gether behind the shelter of large
bowlder, against the face of which the
Boer bullets were pattering like a
heavy rain.