The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-24
THE REWARD OF DUTY.


| keynOtes Of the scale OF lifes harmony at
| v est Point. Duty begins in the morning
when the student ''nOn-cor' reports his
| fellow cadet for having forgotten 70 turn
| his wash bowl Uus'de down. @15 II
| a. taps" when the inspection officer
reports some Iuckless Os4-s =.
| traction OF a second late IN gettiIS be-
tween blankets. It's duty, hard duty,
| generally distasteful duty, but in the end
! II generally pays in acquired discipline.
/ Even at West Point, however, il is some
times possible TO stretch the Idea Of duty
Beyond the normal limit.
Billy Lang was a first-class man. Billy
vas a private He probably would have
| been a cadet officer If he hadn't been
caught the previous winter taking a trip
TO Cold Springs over the frozen surface
OF the Hudson. That was the time Billy
felt the result Of an officers devotion 70
duty. Billy took his punishment without
murmur, for he was a crank on the
subject Of duty. The commentaries les
sens on the subject. especially as ap-
Pied to what it was ones duty to do to
others who happened 10 mase dLsciplin-
sry slips, had made a deep impression on
Billy Langs mind.
II was in Biny's ''yearling" camp that
H." met Frances Curtis. She was
mighty pretty girl. who lived in New
Nerk City and who had spent month
at the Point with her mother Billy had
called on her in New York when he went
on his furlough as a second class man.
and now that he was in first class camp.
here was Miss Curtis back again with her
mother at the old hotel on the brow OF
the bluff overlooking the siege battery.
Billy Lang was the oldest man in h..'
class and consequently was called Dad
lie was just under the age limit when he
entered and would be within a month #
&c when he graduated. Now. Billy was in
love with Frances Curtis. There WASH
any question about that at all. and he
had an idea that was not in tie least DIN
that Frances Curtis had fallen victim 10
his handsome face, soldierly hearing ard
trass bell buttons.
He was sitting with her now under the
trees near the camp guard tents. Billy
as on guard, though off post for the
time being.
You see. Miss Curtis he said. "the
second class being on furlough and the
plebes' not being military enough yet to
do duty, we first class men have to walk
pest to help the yeariings' out. When
the 'plebes' are turned into the battalion
We will do guard duty only as officers"
st must be hard work, this walking lp
and down all night long, Mr.. Lang" said
Frances. but then it's duty and 1 al
ways did admire soldiers devotion to
bis duty
Yes. duty is everything: I was always
a great stickler for it answered Billy.
"One should always do his duty up to
the handle, ne matter what direction it
takes nor whom the doing of it hits
4 think you are right. Mr. Lang.
There's a certain nobility about it that
appeals to one
Billy Lang was hugely pleased to find
IL at on the subject of duty Frances Cur
it's ideas conceded with his own He
changed the subject. however, abruptly.
~ see that Mr.. Jackson is here he said.
! locking at Frances in a half-curlous way
Yes" answered the girl. a touch of
color coming into her cheeks, "he came
VI an the Powell yesterday and is to stay
here until tomorrow"
Frederick jackson was civilian adj
us;rer of Miss Curtis. He was a fne
fellow. and as a matter of fact the girl
il her heart of hearts hardly knew which
was her chosen one, civilian or soldier.
II m sorry I'm on guard today. Miss
Curtis" said Billy. for there is a hop
tonight in the mess hall. and l can't be
there. I shall think of you Waiting
while am walking my dreary post
What number are you, Mr.. Lang2
Number four" answered Billy. IT'S
just back of the commandments tent and
runs parallel TO the road leading along
the bluff to the hotel l go on post at
taps and walk till midnight. I'll be there
just at the time the hop is over
Hurry UP and turn out first relief"
yelled the corporal Of the guard. and
dug out at double time for the gun rack
outside the first guard tent.
Its duty" he sighed to himself. "a
hand duty, but still duty even II it does
take YOU away from the girl you love"
1t was IL o'clock at night. Taps had
sounded an hour earlier. Billy Lang was
pacing up and down number four between
the trunks Of the great elms. which, with
the sentiments. guarded the camp Up on
Gro Nest Mountain and to the north
ward toward the Catskills Hudson's crew
vas playing tenpins. II IS a long bowl
ing alley which Old Rips friends use when
they begin their favor.te game. The thun-
Ger came nearer and the lightning played
overhead This is a time when the sen
tinel. with his steel bayonet pointing sky
ward feels more nervously apprehensive
than when in the face Of a human enemy.
Tatter. patter. patter the rain began 10
fall on the leaves OF the elms. The sent!-
nes on number four knew that in a min
ute the gates would open and Their the
deluge. There are no rains like those on
the Hudson. mere are no drops-a solid
Tasss of water falls.
The Pickering oil lamp at the south end
OF the post sent ? feeble CLEAN out into
E t4tl N1AA hAf7-- w ~ fdiLH AtML t4AN
fCadway Billy Lang saw someone ap-
preaching. who comes there2" rang
out the challenge
Friends. came the answer. in a mans
voice
\ fash OF lightning lit up the roadway
and Billy Lang saw Frederick Jackson and
Frances Curtis held notionless by his
challenge. At that instant came the
ce!uge. Umbrellaless and unprotected in
any way stood the young couple strain
ing their eyes toward a place where they
knew was a young fellow with bayoaet-
tipped rifle
Billy Lang kpew that he could strain 4
point and let these twain pass. Any
cadet in the corps would have done II on
recognition as certain as his. But Billy
was a stickler' for duty He knew his
orders Halt. friends" he said. and
then. raising his voice. he yelled. Cor
pcraI OF the guard No. 81
No one has 4 right 10 cross seutinel's
rCst after taps unless he have the coun-
te-siEo.
How the rain did come down. Fraroes
Curtis light hall dress was q rag. She
vas chilled through and she stood holding
the arm Of her escor. and shiver.ng from
her light slippers 20 the bedraegied rose
r at crowned her hair. Frederick Jackson
was in IS bad q plight. though he didn't
allow himself e shiver.
It's my duty. said BILLY Lang 20 him
self, and Frances IS q stickier Tor duty.
she'll Ike me al the better for Il
The corporal came AZ last He allowed
the ssivering couple 20 pass On 70 the
hCt ei. he saw the plight they we're IN
and Il he hadn't been 2 veariirg corporal
end Billy Lang a nrst-clsss uaan he would
nave told No. that he was an ass Tor
rot using 4 little common sense and al
loving the storu-Strieken pair 70 pass
Frederick Jackson left f2r New York