The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-03-12

ment.
"The cardinal virtues don't send any
body. ! guess. into African service.
And yet I don't know. What fellows l
have known! have had men among
my Zephyrs-and they were the Wild
est scoundrels, too-that would have
ruled the world. l have had more wit.
more address, more genlus, more devo-
tlon. In some headlong scamp Of a pri-
vate soldier than all the courts and
cabinets could furnish. Such lives.
such lives too"
Faith" laughed Chameleon. IF we
all published our memoirs the world
would have a droll book. The real re-
cruiting sergeants that send US o the
ranks would be soon found to be-
women" growled the general
Cards." sighed the colonel.
"Absinth," muttered another.
"A comedy that was hissed."
THE spleen"
'sTbe dice"
'sThe roulette"
1.-THE natural desire of humanity to
kill and get killed."
"Morbleuw cried Chanrellon as the
voices closed. "All those mischiefs
beat the drum and send volunteers to
the ranks. sure enough. bat the general
named the worst. Look at little Cora.
The minister of war should give her
the cross. She sends US ten times more
ARE eaters than the CONSUMPTION does.
Five fne fellows Joined today because
she has stripped them of everything.
and they have nothing for it but the
service. She Is invaluable, Cora. 1t
was Ceur d'Acler who was the rage In
my time. She ate me w, that woman,
In three months. | had not a hundred
francs left. She stripped me as bare
as q pigeon. Her passion was emer-
aids uncut Just then. Well. emeralds
made m end Of me aud sent Inc out
here. CRur d'Acier was a wonderful
woman. and the chief wonder of her
was that she was as ugly ~ sin. Hell
lot There IL the handsome corporal
listening. All. Bel-a-faire-peur. you fell,
too. among the Cnurs d'AcIer once. !
will s~sarrnutw
The chasseur. who was passing. paus-
ed and smiled a little as be saluted.
"Cdstrs d'Acler r to be found In all
ranks OF the sex. monsieur. fancy"
bah! You beg the question. Did
not q woman send you out here. ehT
mo. monsleur-only chance
"a fig for your chance! Women are
the mischief that casts us ndrift to
chance"
Monsieur. we cast ourselves soms.
times."
81 doubt that. We should 60 straight
enough II It were not for them"
The chasscur smiled again.
Monsieur le yicomte thinks we are
sure to be right. then. II for the key to
every black story we ask. Who was
sheY"
"Of course | do. Well. who was she?
We are all quoting tempters to-
night Give US your story. mon brave"
Monsieur. you have 1t In the military
records as well as MY sword could
write IT,"
Good, good" muttered the listening
general. The soldierlike answer pleased
him. and he looked attentlvely at the
giyer of It.
C%hanrellon's brown eyes flashed a
bright response.
"And your sword writes in q brave
mans fashion writes what France
loves to read. But before you wore
your sword here? Tell US of that. 1t
was q romance. wasn't it?"
"lf It were. l have folded down the
page. monsieur"
"Open II then. Come. what brought
you out among us7 Out with itr
""Monsleur. direct obedience Is q SOL
dler's duty. but I never beard that In
quisitive annoyance was an officers
privilege"
The words were calm, cold. q little
ihnguld and a little naughty. The man.
her Of old habit. the instinct Of buried
pride. spoke In them and disregarded
the barrier between a private Of chas-
seurs and a colonel c~ommandant who
was also q noble of France.
C%hanrellon flushed scarlet over his
frank brow. and an irstant's passion
cleaned out of his eyes. The next he
threw bis threechaIrs down with a crash
~ he shook his mighty frame like an
Alpine dog and bowed with a French
grace. with a campalgher's frankness.
"A right rebuke. fairly given and well
deserved. thank you for the lesson"
The chasseur looked surprised and
moved. In truth be was more touched
than he showed. Under the rule OF
Chateauroy consideration or courtesy
had been a thing long unshown to MIN.
lnvoluntarIly. forgetful Of rank. ne
stretched his hand out on the impulse
Of soldier to soldier, Of gentleman to
gentleman Then. as the bitter re-
membrance Of the difference of RANK
and station between them flashed on
his memory. he vas raising 1t proudly,