The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-05-09

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direct his steps toward the Horse
guards or wellington barracks, that
she might gaze in admiration THE
fine, strapping soldiers who were to be
seen there. and every time she pinched
his arm and exclaimed: ooh, Jack,
look at that lovely soldier!" his heart
gave him a pang at the thought that
he was only a Diapers assistant, with
nothing In common with the 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 Diapers 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-flung word of command and the
blare Of the bugles that sounded
through his dreams; wherefore It was
not long before he came into conflict
with his practical chief. A few sharp
words passed. He threw up in three
seconds 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
short ride on the neck of the riding
masters pet buck Jumper, he turned
deathly pale and cried aloud that he
might be allowed to dismount.
The horse at once gratified his de-
sire by throwing him on to the tan,
where he lay trembling in every limb,
much to the diversion of couple of
| rough riders who were standing by.
They were quick to inform their re-
spective sQuadrons, and his former oc-
cupation being known, he was prompt
ly christened White Feather.
| In those dark days it wars the Joy Of
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 fluff that might float into the
barracks was promptly captured and
presented to him with due ceremonies
by Trumpeter Pipes, the low comedian
of the regiment.
The older men forebore to join in
with these somewhat firing repetitions
of stale joke. They remembered their
own experiences in the riding school
and recognized that White Feather
was a quiet and inoffensive fellow, de-
void Of the impudence and bad man
ners peculiar to recruits and respectful
and helpful to his seniors.
The sergeant instructor, too, after a
time took a fancy to his timid recruit,
and took extra trouble to teach him
how. to keep his heels out, his hands
down and his head up.
I've made smart cavalrymen out o.
bigger buffers than you," he used to
remark encouragingly as he flicked
White Feathers horse into canter.
1 "and I'll make rider o. you, or I'll
break your neck:" White Feathers
neck remained unbrollen, SO it is to be
presumed that the sergeant instructo.
| 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 cavalryman 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 he had lived His nerves ac-
CURED tone. and he learned to take a
tumble now and then as matter of
course Ito fire his carbine without
shutting his eyes and blanching at the
explosion of the cartridge
Blow me, if he isn't going to shape
| into man at last" quoth the SER
geant instructor
Then great blow fell upon him. He
received one morning letter from the
girl to tell him that she had given him
up in favor of a shopwalker who had
expectations Of being set up in bust
ness by his father. She admitted that
she had adored soldiers and that she
had caused him to enter the army for
her sake. But she had omitted to state
that the soldiers she adored were SOL
| diers who possessed the queens COM
mission and who wore stars instead Of
a worsted stripe.
If poor White Feather was physi-
cal coward, he was moral hero. There
is' no chance Of a display of feeling in
q barrack room, so, like the Spartan
boy of old. he Rugged his trouble to
him, slipping the cheap little engage
ment ring with which he had sealed
his troth into his pocket without a sign
beyond the twitching Of his white lips.
Then he lit his pipe with the letter, not
out OF contempt. but because there is
little privacy accorded in the CORE.
spondence that comes to the barrack
room. and a private soldier is not pro-
vided with a desk wherein to keep his
faded flowers and other sentimental
tokens Of the past. a
f. The h1nw was a 1,or, I,aorr ono for