The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-07-26
CHAPTER TX.

Brown walked to his quarters with a
light heart. With the one exception
of Alice Sanford this had been his first
conversation with woman since his
enlistment, and to him il seemed as n
slight raising of the veil to afford him
aglimpse of the social life which would
again be his when his term of service
should have expired. The food of sum
shine his acquaintance with Alice had
cast into his distasteful soldier life was
multiplied and intensified by the atten-
tions shown him by Mrs Colby, and IL
all came TO him as the first rift in the
cloud of servitude which must one day
melt into the horizon and disappear
from the sky of his life. The lady's
kind parting words: ~ hope to meet
you often, Mr.. Brown" were yet ring
Ing in his ears when the first sergeant
OF his troop grasped his hand and
warmly welcomed him back to duty.
But an hour after Brown left the
Colby quarters Alice Sanford entered,
and was met by Mrs. Colby with
radiant face.
~ have met your hero, my dear
girl" she said. ~ not only met him,
b& had long conversation with him
In this very room"
80. did you, Mrs. Colby? And may
ask what you think of him?"
HE is a very fine appearing young
man, and looks to be a model soldier"
she quietly answered.
80. bother the soldierl Leaving Pri-
vate Brown clear out of the question,
how did Mr.. Edward Thornton impress
you? Isn't he nice?"
~ will tell you, my dear, frankly
what think of him. He came here to
report to Capt. Colby for duty, and l
asked him in to give rue an artists
view of my Bicrdstadt picture which
you so much admire. From the dis
cussion of art led him into other fields,
and was really astonished at the wide
range OF his information. Putting Pri-
waite Brown out of the question, as you
suggested, dear, found Mr. Thornton
perfect gentleman, courteous and
polished in demeanor, highly educated,
fascinating conversationalist, a
brainy man of refined tastes-in short
were he to be to-day raised to his
proper sphere in life know of nothing
that should prevent me from welcom-
ing him to my home and presenting
him to my friends as "a gentleman well
worthy their acquaintance and esteem
so, thank you, Mrs. Colby. | am so
glad you met and like him, for your
friendship will greatly tighten the load
the poor boy has to bear. And You
think he is entirely worthy of my
fricndship?'
Mr.. Thornton would be, yes But,
Alice. dear, indeed you must not allow
your sympathies for him to blind your
c~Se t. his rank in our military world
You should look cron Private Brown aS
Private brown. aaj not what Private
Brown should hc or might be-"
"Oh. | hatr that barrier of rank
cried Alice. inpuliycly. Mrs. colby.
we are az Gul made Ms. and rank or
dress cannot change our natures Is
not Mir. Thornton as mach Ja honor
able man in the carb Of a private "l-
der as he would hc in the elegant dress
of a societ- gentlemen? Is not his eaal
us pure while serving as a soldio- az 4
would be had he never strayOC from
the path of life in which he belong.
Have HI; refined instincts and noole
traits of character been stuntcd or de-
s,royed by his enlistment?'
my dear child, there are rules Of
military etiquette and discipline which
we, as members Of the military world,
should sacredly regard. In military
society, as in military discipline, the
lines must be sharply drawn. The men
of the ranks must be taught to feel
that the plane they occupy is beneath
the level of those in official life, else
there would be no respect for authors
ty and military rules would be but
dead letters While Edward Thornton
chooses to fill the shoes of Private
Richard Brown ne must have no as
pirations above the sphere of the pri
vate soldier and must not cndeavor t.
step over the line of social distinction
When his term of service shall have
expired and he again takes his place il
the ranks of civil life-well that may
be different matter, my dear
"Then, as you reason, Mrs. Colby,
when jewel falls from its setting into
the mud no one must stoop to pick il
up, yet that same jewel in its proper
surroundings would assume its full
value in anyone's eyes. In other words
while Private Brown may be an honor
n al