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

Kings Own Chargers. Gentleman Cadet
Michael Chandos HOrsford, from Sand
| hurst. to be second lieutenant" He was
my favorite brother, and, as a tOddling
thing of 3, | used to shrek for Brother
Micky' to come and play with me, and
stamp my foot if any of the other boys
tried to carry me off instead. So that
my baby name for him chung; and while
to the general public he was Michael"
! in private life he was known still as
Brother Micky."
| We had a hilarious dinner for him that
evening and drank his health in fathers
| best champagne: and father said: Il
| hope You will do the family credit
Michael. 1t was not my wish you should
20 into the army, as you know; the bust
ness has been good enough for me and
my father and grandfather before me,
| and there Is room in it for all my boys.
| Bnt now that you hold the Kings com
| mission | hope you will remember that,
| though you are the son of brewer, you
are the descendant of a brave esquire,
who was one of the first gentlemen Of
England in his day. Family tradition
| can survive even the leaven of hops:
and gentleman is born, not made"
And Micky said; My dear old dad.
| if | ever forget | am a son of yours,
give you full leave to forget it too, and
to cut me when we meet
| And then the boys carried him round
the room and set him down between
mother and me, and we made as much of
| him as our foolish hearts told us to.
1t must have been about SIX weeks
later that | first began to notice a change
| in Micky. No one else saw it; but then
no one knew Micky as | did, and even
| | could not have said exactly where the
| change was.
A harassed line or two round his
mouth an anxious, distracted look in his
eyes, new way of breaking off from
hughter-the old boyish, inconsequent
laughter-intO sudden gravity.
The Kings Own Chargers had only
just come to Winchester, and we thought
it great piece of luck that Micky
should be stationed within driving dis
Gnce of us. We were rather puzzled,
though when no notice was taken of
fathers Overtures to the mess; he and
the boys left cards, but there was no re-
Spouse from the colonel or officers. And
rather an unpleasant little incident oc-
CURED TO me one day.
| had been uptown to stay the night
with an old school friend, and on the
way back a man got into my carriage
| did not notice him at first, nor did |
feel any alarm at travelling alone with
him; but presently he made a remark
that struck me as being rather imperti-
nent.
| answered him quietly enough, but
coldly, and he burst out laughing.
by Jove!' he said what pretty
little spittrew And then he added one
or two sentences that ! do not care to
remember.
changed my carriage at the next sta
ton, and when | got out at Winchester |
a. nj n
a dogcart
Wen, it was rather shock to me when
| arrived at the Bruces ball, and Micky
pointed ont some of his brother officers to
me, TO recognize this man among them.
Presently Mrs. Bruce led him up to me
ana introduced him; but, though l looked
at him as inditferently as if | had never
beheld him before. | told him my pro
gramme was full, and walked straight
away to Micky.
Are YOU going to dance with Hayi-
landE' Micky asked.
II have just told him haven't a dance
left" | answered
Micky looked relieved. but said moth
ing. Judging from Capt Haviland's be-
havior in the train. | should not think he
was the sort of man that Micky would
be great friends with.
The talrfaNs' ball was the next | went
10, and | heard several people talking
about the way the Kings Own Chargers
were going on. They had the reputation
already of giving themselves airs. and ON
TINS particular evening they had elected
not to dance, and Micky was the only
one of them who did
Ihe Others stood in corners. locking
eontemptuously about. as though the Vii
chester girls We're not good enough for
them; and Capt. Haviland was saving
the rudeSt things about the supper and
the band quite loudly once when | was
talking to one of the Fairfax bows close
by.
Micky and | waltzed three times to-
gether. and once, as we whirled round. |
could see that Capt. Hayland was talk
ing 10 the adjutant about us, and saving
something uncomplmentary judging by
the Sncer on his face.
Micky was to come home that week.
from Saturday to Monday. and we ex-
pected him to dinner; but he did not turn
up.
\ sort of uneasy feeling came to me
about him. and. though the others all
went TO bed, and the house was shut mn
at the usual time, | did not attempt to
undreSS. but sat ut my open window look
mS down the road that led in the direc-
ton Of the barracks. IL must have been
quite O'Clock, and | mad been doing
with my head on the sill, when there
were steps IN the garden. and Micky'S
signal whistle sounded below.
ran down S'airS aS quickly as | could
and sctt'v unharred the door.
'Nou had boy | said. What do YOU
mean by this, s!r?"
He was leaning against one of the pill
lars, and he did not answer and when
l ran out 10 him | saw that there was
something very strange about him. n,S
clothes were wet and torn. and there was
q cut right across one side of his fore
head-a nasty jagged cut.
clutched az him in terror
oh, Micky,' l said, "what is IL?
What has happened TO youy'
lie pulled himself together then and
put his hand 10 my lips.
Hush he said Let me in quickly.
lSla; l done want any of them 10 know"
helped him in and barred the door.
aud got him mp to his room: and then
saw how white and wild his face was.
and that his hands were stiff and swol-
len. and there was blood soaking through
one Of his sleeves.
/ ran and fetched some brandy from
the Stillroom. and | bathed the cut on
his forehead and bound il up: and then
he sent me away. He would not even
let me see his arm, and he told me | was
not To ppn word about -