Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-11

IRON SO:
Because Private Morton has the rare
knacE of doing the right thing ut the
right time. l do not think, however.
that he is the right man in the right
place."
Where would you put him."
II would put him on the list of COM
mlSsioned officers. il had my way about
it, said the generous lieutenant.
perhaps it is we'll that you nave not
Your Way. MIR. Reynolds. Now. l know
this Morton's antcccdents. and if YOU
knew them think Your ardent admira-
tion would cool"
Not Il bit of it, Major. l have not
lived as long as yom, but l have learned
to Judge of men as l find them. and
without amy consideration of their re-
putcd or actual antecedents. Good morn
ing. Major"
Mr.. Reynolds went out, wondering
what Private Morton had done to rouse
the animosity of the major, and coming
to the conclusion that Florence L.oriny
or Jennie Ford had something to do with
it.
Maj. Germon excepted. the officers of
the Fort saw from the first that Colin
Morton and Robert Br~accbridge We're
gentlemen. and though the regulations
forbade their being social with enlisted
men, they felt no Jealousy nor any sense
of inconsruity when they saw the favor
with which the beautiful girls regarded
the young heroes.
Judge Loring had a beautiful home.
back in the wilds, about forty miles
from Fort Clark, md close to the Cas-
cade Range. Everything that wealth
could do for the place had been Gone,
and its surroundings We're such as no
wealth could procure, yet its isolation
barred the Introduction of those art lnNu-
ries which even the moderately well-to-
do have in dcnsely populated commune
ties.
Believing that his daughter and her
cousin would miss the h%urly-burly of the
East, and be lonely out in the grand
mountains, the judge had planned to
build a temporary home near Fort Clark,
and remain there till the winner set in,
if not through the winter. But he had
suddenly changed his mind, and stopped
work on the structure.
why, you amaze me-" said Maj. Ger
mon. when he heard This decision. 81
felt happy in the thought that YOU might
be permanently with us; and ! have
planned excursions. fishing parties. and
picnics without end. l hope you may be
induced to change your mind"
mo; l find tat my business will re-
quire all my time out at the main fac
tory. 1t is natural that 1 should want
to have my daughter with me-"
Certainly, Judge. Why, it would be
downright cruelty to suggest anything
ola, <,,1 1,n% T ,,et ~, ,,,. j;,,V4
pointment."
"You can come out to see u.s." said
the judge. "You can make the trip in
two days in a boat, or IL day and II half
on horseback. We have fine hunting and
fishing near the mountains; and if YOU
delight in glorious scenery, l think we
can beat the world"
The major said he would so out to see
his friends. He would try TO get Il
three months leave of absence, and spend
all the time in the mountains.
That evening Colin Morton received q;
note, written in Il strong, clear, feminine
hand:
MY Dear Mr.. Morton: Tomorrow
morning Cousin Jennie and l start for
our home in the mountains. with father.
Before leaving, we are anxious to bid
YOU both good-by, bur not farewell, and
TO express again. as We hope often TO do
in the future. and have tried TO do in the
past, our respectful admiration and graf
itude. Faithfully your friend,
"FLORENCE LOEING."
WELL" said Colin. when he had read
this. and handed it to his friends, 'all
the light and sweetness is about to take
its departure from Fort Clark
I'VE must bear it as We have our
other misfortuncs. All. there goes Capt.
Phelps. | will ask his permission to
visit his house this evening"
The captain gave permission for the
friends TO remain at his house till 8 that
night. ut which hour taps sends the
soldiers not on duty TO bed, just as re-
veille calls them up mt daylight in the
morning, and announces to the sentries
that they must stop challenging.
Maj. Germon saw them vending their
way to the captains house just before
dusk. but with all his authority he was
powerless to stop them.
He sent Jean Marat to watch them
through the windows: and rs this was
work for which Jean Marat was emil
nently qualified by nature and practice.
he did it we'll. After taps that night,
Jean Marat came into the majors room
much agitated~ and delivered himself of
this report:
Mrs. Phelps she did leave those four
peoples alone in de sittin'-room and she
go to baby"
Never mind that" snapped the ma
jor. what did you see"
"Bime by. after a %leettle. dem four
peoples so out to de bluff back of de
house, and dey sit down and talk SO 1
could not hear widout / creep up"
$50 you greeped up?"
Jean Marat nodded his little head Wig
orously to indicate that that was what
he had done.
And" he continued, II leezen, and 1
leezen, and I leezen-"
"And leezen, and leezen, and leezen,"
sneered the major.
"And 1 hear noting to onderstan' till
Mortong and Mademoiselle Florence
stand up before de taps. Den he say,
Heaven bless you fob dem words Of
love, Florence And she make noise,
like a keez, and say, TO you I shall be
true as de STEEL"
l Indeed! So you heard saat7'