Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-11-14

seem TO inspire.
Betty, who is that man playing the
clarionette? Doesn't he remind you of
some one we know? How exQuisitely
he playsi I'm sure ] know that face.
Let's go up and get them to repeat
that Polonaise. 1 must hear 1T again. -
The clarionette player was busy with
his score and had his back turned when
Claire (who came from New Orleans),
and the Boston man, and him of New
York. sauntered up to the stand to re-
quest that Radowski's inimitable crea-
ton be repeated.
OF course it was; but the so1oist al
tered his position. and Mrs. Chat
worth's party could hardly see him
from where they sat under the arched
pillars, enjoying the salt breezes and
their ices.
1--WE been noticing him for the past
month";" Betty remarked, craning to
get better view of the tall gray-haired
player whose easy pose seemed ia
miliar.
"Capt. Benham says his name is Gus
tavus Berret. But he told me they
none of them believe that is his real
name. He speaks French and likes to
IcdQ, anu Tile I'd Dldln say lie ld1hS
very little, but when he does his Ian
guage is that of an educated man.
I'm dying to find out who he isl
1t was after that night that Berret
positively declined to play again il
public. and went back again to the du-
ties of soldier in the ranks of L com,
pany.
This cool, September day when the
air was slightly answering, and light
haze yelled the tumb1ing breakers Oh
the Jetties, and over the old sand reef
of Drunken Dick, the sentry pacing
slowly at the foot of her tall embank-
ment of Fort Getty watched the swal-
lows eager fight southwark with
strange pulling at his heartstrings.
81 wish to Cod he said, then
stopped.
Because what is the use of idle and
vain regrets that the shackles we in
our folly once placed upon our wrists
were riveted by our own act? That
misspent years, squandered and ill
used, and debased, had not been diff
ferent1y employed, when we were in
the heydey of youth?
And why torture the soul with pic
lures of what might have been, but
is not?
The sentry, Gustavus Berret, knew
that the swallows were winging their
fight to a land in the south. once so
familiar before those turbulent years
of reckless and wild dissipation had
cut him off from old home ties, before
that black stain on his name debarred
him from the association Of
Berret groaned aloud.
He had recognized her instantly
Who could ever.Ihaving once seen that
laughing face, and those glorious eyes,
ever forget them? Why, he could re-
call as if it were yesterday, their
romps together in the old garden, when
blindfo1ded he would chase Odette,
his little sister, and her compa Mons,
like a flock of frightened doves down
the winding paths, and around the
acanthus and sweet olive bushes, and
always catch Claire, who, laughing and
brea thless, would beg for mercy.
She had fulfilled the promise of those
early years, her beauty a hundredfold
intensified.
Who were those men gathered
around her?
The swallows still fitted by, mi
grating south, and he slowly resumed
his walk.
t'Go to see the men practice at the
Life Saving station? With the great
est pleasure" Claire said. cit must
be such pretty sight"
They hurried down to the beach, but
there seemed to be hitch, because one
of the men was missing from some sud
den cause.
go and tell Capt. Benham / ask hin
to send me Berret; he's just off duty
the captain of the squad said to one O.
his men.
The small brass cannon used to shOo'
a cord to any endangered vessel, by
which to attach rope and secure com
munication, was rolled out on the
beach, and the squad of men with
spades to bury the anchor, against
which they were to haul the men from
the supposed wreck, were soon at
work, and the life-saving boat was
rolled out with rapid precision into the
surf now coming inward.
Berret came forward to take his
place on wooden tower, toward which
the shot was to be fired, and paused.
Claire caught her breath with a
snght exclamation, and Betty stared
with silent establishment.
Berret stood at attention pale as
death, with his eyes fixed on the rudy
face of the captain of the lifesaving
crew.
Receiving his orders he wheeled and
went with the mechanical tread of the
trained soldier to the tower up which
he slowly swung himself to small
platform. where he stood erect.
Its Gustavei dear old Gustave?''