Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-12-29

man."
The sergeant laughed.
'Proof? You can find my epitaph
written in unpaid bills over the face
of half dozen counties Isn't that
enough?''
Don't be a fool" said the woman
CURLY Granted you are dead, and
you art not. Why don't you resurrect
yourself? Why don't you work?'
"Work? | am working. I'm drilling
recruits, and that's hard enough. It's
no good, Madge," obstinateIy. "You
would better have stayed away. I'm
happy enough"
The woman flushed dangerously.
John Trevor, | have come 5000
miles all al,ne to find you, and you tell
me you are happy and that would
better not have Gomez"
'Well," bitterly, what would you
have me say-ask you to marry me?''
Eyes" frankly.
The sergeant laughed again.
lord, | can imagine 1.-THE dishon-
orable sergeant and the Hon. Mrs.
Brown carried on the troop returns
and drawing their monthly rations,
pound Of bread per day, pound of
fresh meat, including bone-don't for
get the bone-and an ounce and a frac-
ton of coffee, ETC., and living in
tumbledown wooden howell, and you
taking in the troop washing at $3.50
month per man and baking pies, which
| should peddle to the men in quarters
on credit until pay day! Don't you like
the picture? Of course you'd be very
happy, and / should be contented 1t
goes without saying. No; don't think
you've thought much about the bar
gain or you wouldn't make this offer"
'John Trevor she said ''since | left
New York | have not allowed myself
to sleep because of thinking of this
thing. Now you tell me [ haven't
thought of itv'
The sergeant smiled grimly. He had
been in the habit Of taking to his bunk
and resolutely closing his eyes to keep
from thinking
Then the woman pleadingIy: Jack
you know this thing would not be as
you say. We should not have to stay
here. l have something if you have
not"
Eyes; that would be better still. I'm
the class OF man that should marry an
heiress, without penny, without even
a character
when God placed you in the world,
DEAR" said the woman gently, che
gave you strong mans heritage
health and strength and the whole
world to live in Won't you come?
Let us go away together somewhere
and make a home"
The sergeant shook his head sorrow
fully.
mo, Madge." he said; Il won't do it
for your sake nor for mine. If | work
ed my fingers to the bone, could | ever
pay those men ran away from when
the gray broke his neck and my for
tune at that water Jump
The woman smiled to herself in the
darkness
'Jack, didn't you ever hear how
much your horses brought when they
were sOld?"
mo; I've heard nothing, seen no
man, seen nothing, not even line as
to the old life. Let's see There were
ten OF them without the gray Proba-
bly, they made $4,000"
The smile was still on the woman's
lips
yes she said quietly, $4,000 each,
and they paid all your debts. You owe
no man anything"
give thousand dollars eachr the |
sergeant gasped. what fool bought
them?''
Il bought them. I sent Walters, the |
horse dealer, up to the sale with orders
to start the bidding for each at $1,000 |
1t nearly spoiled Walters reputation, |
but it saved yours So now, you see,"
unsteaiily, I'm not such an hsiress
after ALL"
She had stepped back into tae light |
of the only lamp on the company pa
rade and taken her hat off.
"Come, Jack" softly. Eyes, dear,
come"
She was holding out her hands again, |
and the light showed the tears in her |
eyes. The band was playing "In Old |
Madrid"
Longtngly through the dusk came the |
music to the lines
Come, my love! The stars are shining,
Time is flying, lsve is signing!
Come! For thee a heart is pining!
Here alone I wait for theel
The sergssat turned and shouted
over to the first sergeant, and his voice
was joyous:
"Say. Sanders, can you put me ON
check pass1
OyerheXl old Stokes was saying:
Il ten We that woman's ez full o.
tricks ez dogs full o. fieas. Did you
see her step back in the light an take
her hat off an show she wuz cryin'?
That wuz nothin' but a gram stan play
-nothin She knowed it 'ud fetch him,
an it did.'-F E. Clayton in Lotus.