Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-15


and that was why he was so late and so
Knocked about; and he made light of it
all.
But / could see he was III, and, when
everyone had gone to bed HAT night,
went to his room and told him / meant
to lind out the truth. | had TO be firm
with him, for he was so feverish that he
was quite light-headed.
Finally. having sworn me to absolute
secrecy-oh, Micky, if | could only take
back that oath!-he told me.
He had no chance in his regiment from
the first moment he joined. They did not
even wait to see whether he was de-
cent boy or not. The very first evening
they said they weren't going to have "a
damned brewers son in the Chargers, z
and he should pay his footing before they
chucked him out.
They made him play cards for high
stakes. and when he told them he could
not afford to lose such sums and must
stop, they said he could draw on his
father, for they meant TO have f2O00 out
of him. They held him down in his
chair one night and made him drink port
and brandy alternately until he was I'M
conscious. They broke his furniture,
and slashed a lot of his uniforms to
pieces. Finally, they forbade him to
dance at the Fairfaxs' ball.
He told them he had known Lady Fair
fax all his life and could not be so dis
courteous to her, and he would sooner
| stay away from the bail But they in
sisted on his going, and dared him o.
dance.
at was Haviland who was so keen on
the Chargers, no dancing" Micky said
TO me. He has had Il down on me ever
since that night at the Bruce's. when
you told him your programme was full. :"
Then told Micky why had refused.
and Micky's words were not good to
hear. lie sat M bed and said the most
awful things about Capt. Haviland for
having ventured to insult me.
Well as soon as the Chargers got back
that night they told Micky he was to be
court martialed, and. finding that he was
coming home to us on the Saturday for
dinner, they fixed that night for it.
He would not tell me what they did to
him, and he said that he must go hack
the next morning as if nothing had hap
pened. because it would ruin his whole
life if il got known that he had been
ragged and had let on about il to his
people. Il should have to resign" he
said, "and the dad and mother would
feel was disgrace TO them: a man
who leaves the service in that way never
succeeds in anything. My career would
be over"
So he went back. and what he had TO
go through after that for another fort
night | do not know. for he never would
tell me.
But at the end of that time it was an
nounced that ne was exchanged to India.
and was to sail in ten days.
He came over 10 tell us and as soon as
We could get away quietly alone he said:
They gave me no choice. Isla: don't
think am coward and running away.
They fixed it up. and Haviand saws he
Df inn IL,
me that will insure me il warm welcome.
out there, so that | shan't miss any of
my home comforts. They mean to do
for me-"
"oh. MIieky. my boy. was it you talk
ing IN that voice, with that blank hope
less, old look ON your face?"
Its not that / mind their killing me.
he said, If | could be certain it would
never come to the dads ears. But
can be sure it won't come cut after
ward. Yet 10 resign now and tell him
why would be just rs bad. 1t would
break his heart. lSla."
1t has broken mine already" | sobhed.
ON, Mlcky. what is anything compared
10 your life. They Will kill YOU, and |
can t-can't-can't live without YOU"
lie put me away quite quietly. Don't
tret. ha 10y, he said. going back to the old
name, lit can't be helped; it's just bad
luck. | could have made them like me,
Ntu4N nave WON luCH over II fheN
would have given me half chance. But
II was foregone conclusion The one
thing now is to keep dad from ever
knowing it, Remember Isla. YOU have
sworn not to tell. | hold YOU TO il.
whether | am alive or dead"
Ii did not sound like Micky talking:
his voice had been SO hoarse ever since
that night, and had such ring of de-
spair In IT,
l don't know how I managed 10 say
goodbye to him, 1t was ali so ire
vocahle. What could |. a girl With only
girls ideas of honor and manlineSS and
duty-what could | do to set things
right? | had pledged my word to NIicky
not To tell, aDd he counted on my keep
ing it,
So he sailed away from Southampton.
and / watched his ship until ii disap-
peared, and knew in my heart of hearts
that | should never see Brother Micky
again.
When the letter came from Bombay I
knew what il would tell Us before il
was opened
Second Lieut. Michael Chandos Hors.
ford, Kings Own Chargers. died of acute
neuritis March 20, and was buried at
sea-
l met Capt Haviland one day fort
night after the cable came, when | was
riding across the Long valley He fol
lowed me some distance. and then as
SlCCkened my pace be came up 10 sneak