Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-03-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TWO KINDS
OF A HERO
BY Edward Broderick

him properly with band and u parade
and ball-thc ball OF the season. You
must see TO that. Jeanne"
The colonc!s daughter lifted spar
king eyes from the newspaper. ut
was glorious" she breathcd, "glOri.
ous!" She bent over the paper. her
cheeks glowing Over and over she
had read the account Of Lieutenant
Weisoll's gallant charge on the Indian
stronghold at Checauba gulch. All the
west rang with praises for the lieu
tenant.
Jeanne McDermont had lived her
twenty years hero worshiper. She
loved the colonel not so much because
he was her father as because he was
her hero. And even the colonel could
point to no better days work than this
Of little Lieutenant WeisOll's.
"Papaw she called with rather
timid voice.
The colonel after a moment spoke an
encouraging We'll. jeanne"
q she began. "l-Licutenant Wei
soll-I never t@ld you. He asked me
towel. he asked me. 1t was just be-
fore he left. and | was 80 sorry for it
all. told him NO.
And now you'd change your mind.
you hero hunter. you" Her hand was
pressed over his lips.
The colonel sat and smoked. Like his
girl. he waS Il hero wOrshipcr. Sud
denly he remembered something and.
after Il moments frowning. spoke:
why. Jeanne. there's little gossip
down in town 4 broken down violin
player. fellow degraded by drink.
came two weeks ago looking for Lieu
tenant WciSoll When sober. they say
he's Il quiet, gcntlrmauly man. sad and
thOughtful; but he's seldom sober. He
plays In the saloons and everywhere
When drunk. he has given out that
Lieutenant Wrisoll is his brother and
has told Il story that may be- true.
"Th"y We're. this story runs. a power
ty stricken family. these Weisolls. when
John. the elder brother. and Harvey
We're growing up. From his boyhood
John, skilIful with the bow. was their
friendship with Il congressman that
Harvey secured his appointment for
West Point. The younger brother was
given every chance to work his way up.
John played AT the smaller theatcrs
and at summer resorts and ut beer
gardens. His weakness for drink was
fought and overcome by his hopes and
pride in his brother and the need OF un
firing work Well. Harvey was grad
uated and came west. But now his
brother Is hopeless and disgraceful
drunkard That's the tale"
What does it matter what his broth
er is? He is a hero" broke In Miss
McDermOnt.
"YcS. know" said the colonel; but
they say what broke down this mu.
sician brothers will and-heart. they
say. was something bit snObbish-
mean, considering the circumstances
Oh Harvey's part. The cadet was
ashamed Of the player. they say. OF
course ii is all gossip and drunken
players tattle. Perhaps I shouldn't
have told you"
Yes" answered the girl softly; ''it
does no harm won't believe q mean
ness Of the man who took Checauba.
That attack couldn't have been made
by a-a-a puppy"
II was the evening Of Lieutenant
WcisOlfs homecoming day. The young
warrior hnd been driven through the
streets behind the regiments band.
through ranks OF cheering townspeO-
pie. Now. in the cool Of the evening,
he was walking home with Jeanne
McDermOnt from the parade ground.
lie smiled up at the tall girl and
walked as he always did-eyes notice
ably straight ahead. Lieutenant Wei
soil never turned aside. The right OF
way he took. like many short men of
pompous mien. as a matter Of course.
Harvey WAS not quite pompOus. not
even tonight when he felt his pride
and happiness complete. He knew
that he had won more than glory.
He talked gayly Of the romance In
this frontier town aud OF how dreary
ii had seemed ut first. How ! want
cd an exchangc"' he cried. then softly.
And now ! want life tenure"
She flushed nnd smiled. "Well. the
old dust certainly has wonderful.
r,scate glow" Behind them walked
the colonel silent and thoughtful. and
several ladies and officers.
In the main street before the little
frame hotel crowd OF town idlers
and soldiers were gathered. The
strains OF violin music came from the
center OF the group. and there was a
hush over the square. For once Lieu
tenant Weisoll turned aside and cross
ed the street to avoid the men. Miss
McDerInOnt's eyes were intent upon
them. but suddenly she glanced up at
her companion with something OF anx
iety and doubt
Some one on the outskirts OF the
crowd caught sight OF the lieutenant
and set up a cheer. There was In
stant confusion. and the crowd began
10 break. Jeanne looked and saw
bent little figure standing by the hotel
rteps He moved forward now and.
nssisted by a stout soldier. began to
cross the street. He was weak. and
she could see his trembling The vio-