The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-09

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The Hilltown Cadets were boys who
would have liked to be Hilltown
Guards. but could not be admitted 70
that corps on account Of their extreme
youth.
In some respects there was q mark
ed contrast between the two military
organizations. The guards rejoieed in
splck and span uniforms. soidierly
equipments aud the services Of brass
band on public occasions. while the
cadets had little 10 boast Of In the way
Of outward trappings
Guy COnant. son Of she village tailor,
had a handsome military suit. 10 which
he owed his election as captain Of the
cadets. Some OF the boys had gar
ments made over from those which
their fathers had worn IN the Civil
War: but many had nothing 10 dis
tingnish their dress from that OF the
ordinary civilian except caps with the
letters III. G." upon them and strips
OF blue cloth sewed lengthVlse on their
trousers legs.
An had guns. but they were OF many
sorts and conditions. and the company
marched to the uncertain music o. hfe
and drum.
Yet She cadets had no reason 70 be
ashamed They marched we'll: they
were sure that in the manual Of arms
they we're ~ least equal 10 the guards
and their military spirit was simply
prodigious.
Their proficiency was due almost
wholly 20 one boy who seemed born "a
command 1.-The FIRST lieutenant and
drili-master. George Banks. Naturally
George should have been captain. but
he had given way cheerfully 70 the su-
perior claims Of Guys tailOr-made
suit.
Il was the rule that boys under four
teen years OF age should not be allowed
In the company: bat Hllitown boys be.
yond that aee and TOO young for the
guards were supposed 10 belong as a
matter Of course Yet there were ex.
ceptlons. John Gates. who was only
thirteen. but who weighed one hundred
and seventy pounds, was accepted "a
a cadet. while Wallace pcah,es. VINO
Was certainly old enough. was refused
admission 70 the company for reasons
well understood. Wallace was po1i
and iil-clad. and his family had the
name Of being shifiless. but that had
nothing 20 do with. the case.
1T wouldn't answer al ALL said
Captain Guy, when Wallace humbly
asked u he might Join. Then the cap.
tain went on 70 explain with a frank.
ness quite unintenllonally brutal. 'Yor
see you were never cut out for 4 sol.
der You are Kind OF loose -jolnted
and awkward. and your feet are ar.
ways In the way. You couldn't koeI
step. nor handle your SIN right Youg
break up the whole company"
Wallace accepted the decision meek
ly and without surprise. Nevertheless
he wished that things could be diner.
ent with him. He would stand ans
watch the boys al their drlll. and won.
der how Il would seem n he could b,
made over into an active. well-built
handsome fellow, and a leader among
his companionsi
Failing 10 get much comfort IN thal
way, Wallace would wander on al0n,
and build air-castles OF a different
kind. Even Il be was not cut out fol
a soldier. or for anything else that III,
other boys cared Tor. might he not ye
amount 70 something ia some othei
way2
At school he was FAR ahead OF otheri
IN certain things. He could repeal
whole pages Of hard lessons In thl
grammar. iine print and an. He knew
Quakenbos's History from beglnnln,
to end. And who else IN school coul,
learn such long pieces as he could. an,
speak them without once beinl
prompted7 What Il some day ~
should be an orator like CONGRESSMAN
B,own OF like the young man with thl
stereopticon who had given an enter
tainmont n the church?
Filled with this aspiration, Wallaci
would seek certain spot in the bacl
pasture. mount a convenient bo1lde
and deliver a long lecture made up
perhaps. from chapters In the history
interspersed with pieces" like "spart
acus 70 the Gladiators.7 or sometimes
by the way OF variety. with passages
from the English grammar. Thus tha
rock IN the lonely pasture came 70 b
quite an oasis il his barren life III
could be almost happy there. listen
ing 70 bis own voice and encouraged n