Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-12-06

his fathers holding, took ship one
summer day across the Firth of
Lorne. The blood that was in him
answered to the bugle he heard there
when the White Watch marched
through recruiting, and, of set and
stubbornN purpose, he listed for a
soldier.
Chon Maclean, the elder, and Mora,
his wife, mourned their lost lad as one
dead, and the neighborS shook their
gray heads at sound of young Chon's
name.
Only the lass Mari had a good
word for the prodigal, and she, to
be sure, had reason for that, or
the ring she carried on ribbon
round her neck told no true story.
Chon Maclean, man of Null, was
no mean soldier, and as time went by
he came to be Color Sergeant John
Maclean, of the White Watch, man
thought we'll of by his regiment.
1t fell out, in time, that the
White Watch, its tour of foreign serv-
ice written red in history, was or
dered home, and marched up the High
street to the old castle of Edinburgh.
Black, brown or red were the faces
of the men, according as the sun had
fired them, but all were pinched with
the unaccustomed cold.
Color Sergeant John Maclean,
swinging along with his company, got
as many smiles and sweet looks by
the way as may be good for young,
unmarried man; but he needed none
of them until lass in the High
street, in plaid of the true Maclean
tartan, called out above the cheering
as he passed:
my word but look at the black
sergeant" then he glanced back over
his shoulder hurriedly, and muttered
shivering as he did so.
His work over, he found his way
to the sergeants' mess, walking
straight up to the mirror over the
fireplace to look long and fixedly at
the face that confronted him there;
it was truly Of a sun-scorched black
ness, and gave good reason to the
street lass for her cry; but the Null
man was ill-pleased-as who would
not be?
1t is a strange Homecoming in com
pany with the "black sergeant" as
the Lowland regiments lightly cal
Death. Chon shivered again as he
looked in the mirror, despite tte
roaring fire before him.
Once settled down in garrison
there was furlough in plenty for the
White Watch, and one of the first
to go home was Color Sergeant John
Maclean.
He was no longer the scapegrace
son of old Chon of the Fishnish, but
a seasoned man of war, one who hat
gone down into dark places at his
country's call. The men and WON
en- of Null are not forgetful, be it fol
good or evil.
The moment he entered his ia
theirs cottage, Color Sergeant Johr
Maclean was folded close in the
arms of weary old dame, who
motherwise, sobbed her welcome
against his broad shoulder.
There was the whisk of petit
coat down the passage, and Chor
looked inquiringly at the mother. The
old woman hesitated for moment
and the soldier laughed softly.
You have a maid now to help?'
ne said, remembering with conten
the gold he had spared to make III
for the absence of his own strons
arms.
1t was the old man who replied
smiling:
AYE, aye, Chon, lad; maid tt
help. And why not, if the poo
girls father is dead, and she has NJ
one else to look to-no one at all.
And Mairi, mother?"
MARI? Mari? Is it MARI Mac
donald you mean, Chon,?" the ole
man broke in; but will you not sa!
good day to our lass that helps;
old yChon struggled as one who sa
vors rich jest, as a young mait
stood in the doorway regarding will
blushing good will the two. old pee
pie and their stalwart son; youni
Chon looked but for a moment, an,
ran again.
Mora, his mother, caught at he
lads arm for last little sob, for /
was i'll to feel that another woman
stands between you and your son
But Mari, Mairi Macdonald, she wa
a happy lass that day.
Tobermory is fine place, but Chol
Maclean did not think so when h
was carried there feet foremost. HI
had begged leave to die in his owl
home, but an angry doctor had fol
hidden him to die either there o
elsewhere, and Chon, soldierlike, wa
for carrying out orders.
He was making what fight for lif
he might, in hired cottage besid
the doctors house, against an enem
known by an evil-sounding name
but he cared little for names, know