The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-05

whose thoughts are almost instructive
-one who, as a plot unfolds itself be-
fore him, can at. once and with light
touch lay his finger upon the motive
and say, This is what he is leading
up to-" "That is what he will do next"
and who, like a skillful chess player,
can execute q counter move of appar-
emily trifing Importance, which, wien
the crisis comes, carries everything
before it.
, OF this latter type was Vineyard
Mistley, and the colonel was fully
aware that the best step he ever took
in his life was to persuade that young
officer, when fretting under the COM
mand Of a man somewhat his inferior
in many ways, to leave the army and
join him, since he could not retain his
commission and accept the offer. Two
years Of constant intercourse, of days
spent in the performance Of a common
task and nights passed together IN
various degrees of discomfort often
amounting to danger, will do much to
obliterate the barrier that invariably
stands between men belonging to a diff
ferent generation. 1t had been so with
Colonel Wright and Vineyard Mistley.
Two small black boxes, lost in, a
chaos of huge trunks somewhere in the
van, were oil they could claim, and
there was something characteristic
eve in these small receptacles. 1den-
teal in form, size and color, they up
peared to cling, as if from long habi-
tude, to each other. The same labels
and enticing hotel placards were to be
found on both; and in particular there
was around each q slight indented
mark as if from chafe or friction, such
as one sees round q riverside post.
This betrayed the hardships they had
passed through, one IN each side OF
a weary packhorse, balancing and sup
ing each other, lashed together, though
separated by the body Of their bearer.
Many of US, methinks, so through our
travels like these roadworn trunks,
with a mark of friction upon US, show
ing that we have come through. A
grocer, for instance, though he be
clad in purple and fine linen, seems to
me to have a slight indentation around
the centre Of his person, where the
apron string vas wont to press. 1t is
his mark, his trademark, as it were,
worn and chafed into his soul as into
his body.
VINEYARD Mistley lay back in his cor
ner, serenely unconscious Of his SEN
ior's steady gaze. Colonel Wright was
absently looking at him, merely be-
cause, perhaps, that clear-cut, intelli-
gent face was the most interesting OBJ
ject in sight. At length he spoke with
the determined air Of one who has
weighedf his words carefully, having
something rather difficult to say.
I'm twenty-four hours" he said in a
speculative tone, "our oficia! relation
ship ceases"
"Alas!w observed Mistley, with ready
c%hee:fulness.
81 do not wish you, Mistley," con-
tinued the colonel, gravely, ito go
away without knowing how fully I ap-
preciate and have appreciated all your
unfailing patience, your skill, and your
happy power of ever being cheerful
and good humored under the most try
ing circumstances. AS for my W
personal feelings in the matter, I have
never ceased to congratulate myself
upon my action two years ago in ask
ing you to join me, and I only hope
that you will never have cause to re-
greet it."
For me-" replied Mistley, looking
out of the window, and purposely
avoiding the colonels face, "these two
years have simply been a holiday.
That soldering in India was not the
work for me at all-there is too much
unavoidable routine-too little to do,
and too much time to do it in. Be-
sides, there is always the feeling that
the first fool who comes along with his
head full of theory could do the work
as well, if not better, than ones self.
There is absolutely no individuality in
the army. We are like so many brass
buttons on a tunic; If two come off
they can be put back in reversed order,
or two new ones can be sewed on, and
no one is the wiser-the tunic is neither
better MOI worse. Thanks to you, I am
no longer q button. Thanks to you,
I have got my foot on the ladder which
to me has been the only n worth
climbing since I was old enough to
know that my life was my own. The
gratitude should be on my side, ]
think, colonel"
This was unsatisfactory, and in no
manner helped Colonel Wright in his
little speech. So the old gentleman
went straight to the point at once, and
somewhat surprised his Junior by the
unexpected powers Of observation
which his remarks portrayed.
II think" he said, that it IS Of no
use mincing matters between us, Mist
ley. We know each other too we'll for
that. You have got beyond the lower
rungs Of the ladder, for you are half
way up it already; and in climbing you
have found time to give q helping push
to an old slow-coach above you, who
bid fair to stick where he was. l am
not blind, nor nm I ashamed to &C.
knowledge that you are a sharper fell
low than I. You are my superior in
the work we have had to do together,
and there is no reason why it should
be concealed. The difference lies In