The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-17
BY THE
"MONkEY
DNkA6 BY
Michael JameS
Copyright. 1905, by Ruby Douglas

But there isn't room for all seven of
US In the wagon box" said Clement
when Rex Burgess had invited the par
ty to "pile in.
"Oh. Gormley can ride on the front
seat with the driver" Burgess had re-
piled lightly enough. though Gormley
felt the undercurrent of malice in his
voice, up near the horses. These gal
liant cavalrymen like to be about
horses, you know
\ January thaw had left the clay
roads liquid but hard freeze follow
ing had reduced them TO smooth iron,
and the rumble of the wagon on the
hard surface echoed far through the
breathless, glittering cold of the moon
light.
1t was the night of the Changers
party at Mortified town hall, five miles
from Slocum. and week before Bur
CESS had invited a half dozen young
people of Soeum to attend, riding over
in his sleigh. The thaw had neeessi-
tated the change from sleigh to wagon.
II wish l hadn't come, wish |
hadn't come" beat necessarily in
Gormley's brain to the steady clop-elop
of the horses feet Il had no business
to do it. Burgess is a boor. He never
forgets his money nor remembers his
manners What got into me, Won
derY' and much more of the same sort
of self deception, for Gormley knew
perfectly why he was Drawing the nip
ping cold and Burgess thrusts. Moth
Ing but sudden death could have kept
him away Sylvia Gerrsh was there.
But the joy of being near her was
dashed by the thought that Burgess
was nearer still-beside her, in fact.
To secure that coveted place their host
had boldly ordered his rival to the
front seat
Any man with red blood In his veins
could scarcely blame Burgess for his
maneuyering The girl WAS II bewitch-
ing little figure, mutfled in furs co
quettish red tam-o' shanter setting off
her piquant face and mischieyous eyes.
Burgess had never seen her look pref
tier, and he glowed with satisfaction at
his neat disposal for the drive at least,
of his rival
Meanwhile the sweet tempered CORN
ley, by nature almost too submissive,
was near to being reused He was
flashing himself In bitterness of spirit.
1t had always been SO Fate had made
him the football of Rex Burgess even
in schooldays. Burgess was big and
brave and handsome. while he was
slight and pale faced. The boys had
nicknamed Gormley Molly because
he had once tainted ut the sight of
blood. Burgess father was the wealth
lest man In Slocum, and every cent of
the money would one day belong to
Rex. for he was the only child.
Regardless of the merry chatter and
the snatches of song from the others.
Gormley plunged deeper into his mel
ancholy reflections. He, puny clerk in
a dry goods store, to aspire to Sylvia
Gerrsh's love against one so favored
of gods and men as Burgess!
His cheeks burned, too, when he
thought OF the others contemptuous
reference to "cavalrymen. Frankly.
he admitted, it was ridiculous that he.
Molly" Gormley, should have martial
aspirations. Yet when the state mill
tary board had offered Slocum the
equipment for a troop of cavalry for
the national guard Gormley had been
unanimously chosen captain And he
was the man for the place. He could
ride. 1t had always been the sport In
which he excelIed. He knew the mon
key" drill of the United States cavalry
as he knew the alphabet
They talk of Cossacks and Bedouln
Arabs and Indians and the way these
savages handle a horse. but the man
who follows the yellow guidon Is lit
tie the best horseman of them all. And
Captain molly" Gormley, Troop A,
First cavalry. state troops, rode like
regular whether in the saddle. bare
backed over the hurdles or standing,
each foot planted firmly on the back of
galloplng horse. Besides the first
qualification of a cavalryman he had
the other requisite for an officer, the
gift of command and even West Point
can't touch that So despite the fact
that his body quailed at the sight of
blood Gormleys spirit sang with the
notes of the bugle when Troop A. two
long straight lines of men and horses
moving beautifully in unison, passed
in review at camp.
The thought of his creation-he had
made Troop A the pride OF the national
guard In the two years 1t had been or
ganlzed-gradually lghtened the gloom
which had overspread Gormley's spir
Its. He reflected with considerable com
fort that Burgess could not ride well.
The big fellow did not understand
horses and feared them. The bully in
him crept out, too on horseback, He
thought 1t merely discipline to jerk the
head of his mount cruelty and without
reason. Burgess was not member OF
Troop A, Maybe this fling at cavalry
men" had been due to envy.