The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-07-31

just DottIed up IN me Ike ale. IL
didn't take the cork out now and then,
I should fy apieces!!'
but many time when you have
been close on the reward of your
splendid gailantry in the field you have
frustrated your own fortune and the
wishes of your superiors by Wantonly
proving yourself unfit for the higher
grade they were going to raise you to.
Why do you do that ~
Rake fdgeted restlessly and, to avoid
the aWkwardness of the question, re-
piled like a parliamentary orator by a
flow Of rhetoric.
Sir, there's a many chaps like me.
They can't help nohow busting out
when the fit takes EN-. Tain reasSna
BILE to blame 'em for it. They're just
made so, like chestnut's made to bust
its pod and a chicken to bust its she'll
But you wander from my question.
said Cecil gently. do you avoid pro-
motion
es. sir, i do. sad Rake, something
suIkily. for he felt he was being driv-
en- up a corner Il do. amt not
one bit filter for an officer than riot
ing pup is fit to- lead them crack packs
at home should be in a straitWaist-
coat if 1 was promoted. And as for
the cross. Lord. sir, that would get me
into a world Of trouble! should pawn
it for a toss Of wine the first day out
Or give it to the first girl that Winked
her black eye fer it.
Cecil's eyes rested on him with a
look that said far more than his an
swer. Rake, know you better than
you would let me do if you had
YOUR way. Ny noble fellow. you re-
ject advancement and earn yourself an
unjust reputation for mutinous con-
duct because you are too generous to
be given step above mine in the regi-
ment.''
WHO'S been telling you that trash,
sir?" retorted Rake, with ferocity.
No matter who 1t is no trash. 1t
is splendid loyalty of which am ut
terly unworthy, and it shall be my care
that it is known at the bureaus, so
that henceforth your great merits may
bet
"Stow thar, STRIP cried Rake vehe-
mently. "Stow that if you please!
Promoted won't be-no, not if the
emperor hisself was to order it and
come across here to see it done! A
pretty thing surely! Ne officer, and
you never a one; me accommodating of
you, and you a-saluting of me! By thy
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 If you do the littlest thing to get
me a step, why, sir, / swear as I'm liv-
ing being that I'll draw on Chateauroy
the first time see him afterward and
slit his throat as I'd slit jackal's!
There, my oath's took."'
And Cecil knew that it was hopeless
either to persuade him to his own adj
vantage or to convince him of his dis
obedience in speaking thus Of his SUI
preme before his noncommissioned Of
fcer. He was himself, moreover, deep
" moved by the mans fidelity.
He stretched his hand out
wish there were more black
guards with hearts like yours. can
not repay your love, Rake, but | can
value it.
Rake put his own hands behind his
back.
God bless you, sir, you've repaid
1t ten dozen times over. But you
shan't do that, sir. told you long
ago I'm too much Of a scamp. Some
day, perhaps, as said, when I've set
tied scores with myself and wiped off
all the bad uns with a clear sweep toll
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
there gathered courtly assembly Of
| much higher rank than Algiers can
commonly afford, because many Of sta
ton as lofty as her own had been
drawn thither to follow her to what
the Princess Corona called her Danish
ment.
There was a variety Of distractions
to prevent ennui. There we're half a
dozen clever Paris actors playing that
ARREST Of vaudevilles in the bijou the
alter beyond the drawing rooms; there
were some celebrated Italian singers
whom an imperial prince had brought
over in his yacht; there was the best
music; there was wit as well as hom-
age whispered in her ear. Yet she was
not altogether amused she was a little