Amador ledger., 1904-09-09
Prescription:
New Mexico,
By One Year
M 4
PHILLIPS
Copyright, 1901, by
7. C.McClur

The first joint encampment of regu-
lars and organized state militia was
over. The national guardsmen were
fast deserting Camp Young, Howard,
KY, for home and mothers pies. All
morning troop trains had pulled up to
the platforms, received their burdens
of humanity and, skirting the placid
Ohio. puffed away through the green
and gold of the Muldraugh hills, bound
for Louisville and the north.
The First battalion, Fifth Michigan
Infantry, consisting Of four companies
of stalwart khaki clad fellows from the
interior towns of the state, swarmed on
to their train right willingly. Now, as
the wheels slowly revolved, the men in
the tourist sleepers waved cheerful
goodbys to the soldiers still lining the
tracks. They sang, too, smile compel
ling doggerel on the depth and sticki-
ness of Kentucky mud or on the pro-
fame uncertainty of their re-enlistment
as guardsmen.
Back in the Pullman the dozen off
GERS of the battalion were little uuieter
in demonstrating their satisfaction.
Sword belts were unbuckled and flung
aside, service blouses and campaign
hats stacked in vacant sections. Sand
wiches were shared unfortunately
among the members of the happy
group.
There was one who sat apart, an
overcoat wrapped about his tall figure,
although the sunlight was warm over
head. Unseeingly he gazed out the
window, smile on his lips. It was a
grave, sweet smile, not without q GER
tain tolerant cynicism in it, as one
smiles who can enjoy joke on him
self
Most men in the shoes of Captain
John Stewart, commanding Company
K, Fifth infantry, Michigan national
guard, would have smiled not at all.
Signs, deep and dolorous, would have
been their offering. But when man
fights his way up from a foundling's
crib through successive stages of news
boy, farm laborer and college student
to place at the bar of his county mis-
fortunes mildly amuse
Stewart was unceremoniously drag
ged into the hospital tent the last day
of camp for examination.
There had been questions, a thump-
ing of back and chest with the sur
geon's little hammer and divers appli-
cations of the stethoscope. Then the
activity was relaxed, and the bluff old
doctor, who had known and liked
Stewart for years, delivered himself.
You're sick man, captain; sicker
than you know Lobe of the right
lungs affected. 1t isn't consumption
yet but it will be if you don't get out
of that Internal Michigan climate.
Stay up there three months, and you're
sure of a nice military funeral. Go to
New Mexico or Arizona for year,
and you'll die some time, but it'll be
of old age or anything else but con-
sumption"
The pallor on Captain Stewards
cheek deepened a trife. II have a
cousin down in the Oscura mountains,
New Mexico, keeping books for a min
ing company. 1 could go there" he
said quietly. He had felt the doc
tors verdict before it was uttered
"The very thingr replied the other
enthusiastically.
So Captain Stewart went back to
quarters, his decree of Punishment
hanging over him. He had no fear,
for he felt the doctor spoke truly;
year beneath the balmy southern skies
would cure him. The affair of the
lungs did not bother, but the affair of
the heart! That was another story.
There was a girl-"there always is"
Stewart told himself grimly, as the
train bore him northward next day,
and he smiled cynically at his own po-
sition. From every standpoint, it's
the best thing possible for me that
I'm going. I suppose it's human ma
ture to be contrary, though, and no
exile ever felt worse over leaving
home than do"
Delightful are the vagaries of love,
the leveler Stewart, who had a
mighty pride, had fallen hopelessly in
love with Marjorie Madison, heiress of
millions and courted assiduously by
crafty fortune hunters, young and old.
Stewart loved her not for her money,
but in spite of it. Marjorie became
singularly interested in the clear eyed
young lawyer with his wealth of quiet
humor.
Now, to be in love, even when too
much money on one side and too much
pride on the other offer no obstacles, Is
a sufficiently uncertain and heart trying
business. Something within him drag
ged the unwilling Stewart to the Madi-
son home about once in three weeks.
Being unable to forget the barrier be-
tween them, Stewart devoured the girl
with his eyes and came away after his
fool. He was q different sort Of
caller from most, Marjorie discovered,
and as an antidote to the hunger of
Stewards glances she talked arrant
nonsense to him. eff she were only
poorw Stewart groaned in secret daily.
Callahan appeared on the scene three
weeks before the Kentucky encamp-
ment. Callahan had curly blond hair,
almost as much money as Marjorie S
father and limitless audacity. He was
the Junior member of a northern Mich
1gan lumber firm and came to Water
vile as manager of a branch office. He
straightway paid court to Miss Madi-
son in a fashion that bid fair to dis
tance all rivals. He was constantly al
her side. Stewart still made periodical!