The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-01-18


who il was. one day. and Chester told
him that IT was IAN Englishwoman,
air."
Now. this was in Texas. in the early
days shortly after the war. in the state
Of the Lone Stars palmiest time. There
was much drinking in the land. and
much poker, as well. no pious general
having as Yet arisen TO bid gambling
cease. There was also some shooting.
but Of unattached women there were
sadly few. and those that there were,
were. generally, not very nice. This
condition of affairs led 20 a good many
unfortunate things. ANY man prefers
even n second rate woman to none at
all, and any man-being deprived Of .
standard Of comparison for length
Of time-will come to think that an ex-
ceedingly poor article Is superior
enough, after all.
That was what happened to strath-
more. He should have known better.
because his youth had been spent
among women who were lovely in every
way; but the memory of man is short
and he was lonesome. There should
be provision for this in the regulations.
When a man gets any Of the ills that
frontier service is apt TO induce, they
bundle him of back east on a sick
leave; yet when-which is infinitely
more prejucicial 10 the standing OF the
service-he reaches the stage of loneli-
ness where he would marry the Witch
of Endor herself rather than continue
TO be alone, there is no one TO indorse
his application TO be sent somewhere
where he can find the proper sort of
girl.
Strathmore had been in the wilder
ness a matter of five years. and he was
ing from civilization. The first
intimation of this that Ches-
ter had was that the lieutenant made
unnecessarily frequent calls at ranch
house some ten miles from the reserva-
ton Chester knew that girl lived
there-a dreadful girl, who had a
plumply pretty figure and face, but
whose speech was a thing TO shudder
| at. and whose name. besides being
Halloran, was Mamie Pearle. He also
knew that If that were not enough TO
set Strathmore's teeth on edge, he must
be in very bad way.
Al this worried Chester n great deal.
Frequent contemplation of his one
| photograph had furnished him with
the standard of comparison which
Strathmore lacked, and he could see
what the outcome of things as they
were going was bound TO be. He ex-
planned it to the photograph. standing
4 before the mantel piece with his hands
damned deep in his trousers pockets
and a pucke- on his brow, which was
/ fair 70 the line of the cap and quite
crimson from there down. IF he mar
ries that freckle-face Halioran girl"
he said, he'll want TO shoot himself
and her the first time he goes east
\ Chester cherished cynical kind of re-
greet that he hadn't done as much him
self some time before-"or he'll COM
promise and take TO drink instead.
No. he nodded his head decisively. he
shall not marry Mamie Pearle. not
he looked at the picture long time
mot if have to marry her myself.
Which heaven forefend."
The next afternoon he found Strath-
more in the sitting room and proffered
a most unprecedented request. Il shall
like. sir" he said, ITO be given a fur
Tough for week. Strathmore con-
sidered and frowned. "What'll become
Of me, Chester" he asked, plaintively;
what will i do?"
"O'Toole has promised to take my
place, sir. He was Capt. Lacy's striker
for several years, and he knows his
duties. sir"
Strathmore sighed. Very good" he
agreed, with sufficiently poor grace,
II expect Ill make olt somehow. Put
in your application with the morning
report"
Chester went away. feeling con.
temptible and small. and Strathmors
sat and reflected dismaliy that it was
emergencies OF this sort that drove a
man TO matrimonv. lie ought 10 have
realized that when man marrics be.
cause he thinks the woman can be oil
use TO him, rather than he to her, he
Is making a grave mistake. But hs
fancied the vague dissatisfaction with
his present lot was the yearning Of af
fection. and believed more than ever
that he cared for Miss haIloran quite 9
credit able deal. Before Chester left Tho
rext day he stood in front 81 the photo
graph again. shell wear curl papers
and his forage cap and cape" he re
fiec;rd aloud. That was his notion O
the point beyond which sulgarity coult
not 20. Its a Lcvilish contemplate
business. | know il Is. Bat then-m,
futures all behind me; and his is al
. ahead. He's only boy. lie has al
sorts Of pnll"-what a striker does no
, know about his master is not wortl
considering at all-"he will be able I,
get anything he asks for in Washing
ton Not" he unused, that the Amer
lean army offers much for young maj
just now. Bu: he can get all il can give
II he behaves himself and marries tn
/