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


guards or Wellington barracks. that
she might gaze in admiration at the
fine, strapplng soldiers who were 20 be
seen there. and every time She pinched
bis arm and exclaimed -Oh. Jack.
look at that lovely soldier," his heart
gave him a pang al the thought that
he was only q diapers assistant with
nothing in common with tie military
but the handling of red cloth He was
a dreamer by nature. and falling IN
love did not lessen his weakness in
this direction Dreaming Is pardon
able in a poet. but an objectionable
crime IN linen draper's assistant. and
as he stood at his counter his mind
was far away from his work. Instead
OF listening to the Forward" Of the
shopwalker he could only hear the
short-nung word OF command and the
blare OF the bugles that sounded
through his dreams: wherefore Il 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
9 short ride on the neck Of the riding
masters pet buck jumper be turned
deathly pale and cried aloud that be
might be allowed 10 dismount.
The horse At once gratihed his de-
/ sire by throwing him on to the tan,
where he lay trembling IN every limb.
much 10 the diKersion-of a couple Of
rough riders who were standing BY.
They were quick to inform their re-
spectiye squadrons and his former oc-
cupation being known. he was prompt
I ~ christened White Feather
In those dark days II was the joy 81
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 fun that mlght float into the
barracks was promptly captured and
presented to him with due ceremonies
By Trumpeier Pipes. the low comedian
Of the regiment
The older men f0rebore 70 join IN
With these somewhat firing repeiitions
OF a stale joke. They remembered their
own experiences IN the riding school
and recognized that White Feather
was q quiet and lnoiIensive fellow. de-
void of the lmpudence and bad man
ners peculiar 20 recruits and respectful
and helpful TO bis seniors.
The sergeant instructor. too. after a
time took a fancy % his tmld recrnit
and took extra trouble to teach him
how TO keep his heels out. bis hands
down and his head up.
I've made smart cavalrymen out O.
bigger buffers than you" he used to
remark encouragingly as be clicked
White Feathers horse into a canter
and IN make rider o. you. OF III
break your neck" White Feathers
neck remained unbroken. 80 il 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 a cavalrynan. 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 be bad lived His nerves ac-
quired tone. and he learned TO take a
tumble now and then as matter or
course and 10 are hts carbine without
shutting his eyes and blanching al the
explosion OF the cartridge
BLOW me. II De isn't going TO shape
into a man at lastia quoth the SER
geant Instructor.
Then a great hlow fell upon him. He
received one morning a letter from the
girl 70 tell him that she had given him
up In favor OK a shopwalker who had
expectations 81 being SCI up in basi-
ness By his father. She admitted that
she had adored soldiers and that she
had caused him 20 enter the army for
her sake But she had omitted 20 state
that the soldiers she adored were sol
dlers who possessed the queens COM
mission and who wore stars instead Of
a worsted stripe
II poor White Feather was a physl-
cal coward. he was 3 moral hero. There
is no chance OF a display Of feeling in
a barrack room. so. like the Spartan
boy Of old. he Rugged his trouble 70
him, clipping the oheap little engage
ment ring with which he had sealed
bis iroth into his pocket without a sign
beyond the twitchins Of BIS white lips.
Then be lit his pipe with the letter. not
out Of contempt but because there Is
little privacy accorded 10 the CORE
spondence that comes 70 the barrack
room. and a private soldier Is not pro-
vided With desk wherein to keep his
faded flowers and other sentimental
tokens or the past
The blow vas e very heavy enc. Tor
white Feather vas without the world
~ knowledge that should have told
L