The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-11-13
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such material as asproduces essay writers
and specialists; but he knew full well
the value of brilliant and rapid man
! 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
I and who, like a skillful chess player
can execute a counter move of appar'
emily trifing Importance, which, when
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 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 common
task and nights passed together in
various degrees Of discomfort otter
amounting to danger, will do much to
| obliterate the barrier that invariably
| stands between men belonging to 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 all they could claim, and
| there was something characteristic
| even in these small receptacles. Iden-
| tical in form, size and color, they ap-
| 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 a slight indented
mark as if from chafe or friction, such
| as one sees round a riverside post.
This betrayed the hardships they had
| passed through, one on 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, go 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 was 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
! weighed his words carefully, having
something rather difficult to say.
"In twenty-four hours" he said in a
speculative tone, "our official relation
ship ceases"
"Alasw observed Mistley, with ready
cheerfulneSs.
~ do not wish yoI, Mlstley," con-
tinued the colonel, gravely, Ito go
away without knowing how fully 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 own
personal feelings in the matter, l have
never ceased to congratulate myself
upon my action two years. ago in ask
ing you to join me, and only hope
that you will never have cause to re-
gret it."
For me-" replied Mistley, looking
out Of the window. and purposely
avoiding the colonel's face, "these two
years have simply been 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 we'll, if not better, than ones self.
There is absolutely no individuality In
| the army We are like so many brass
| buttons Oh a tunic; If two come or
they can be put back in reversed order,
| OF two new ones can be SeWed on, and
no one is the wiser-the tunic is neither
| better nor worse. Thanks to you, am
no longer q button. Thanks to you,
| / have got my foot on the ladder which
| to me has been the only one worth
| climbing since l was old enough to
| know that my life was my own. The
| gratitude should be on my side, l
| 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 Lis junior hy the
| unexpected powers of observation
| which his remarks portrayed.
| Il 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 1t already; and in climbing you
| have found time to give Il helping push
| to an old slOw-cOach above you, who
bid fair to stick where he was. l am
| not blind, nor am l ashamed to ac-
| knowledge that you are 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
he concealed. The difference lies In
the fact that you were born to 1t, and
had 1t forced upon me by circum'
stances. Everything in You points to
what Providence designed you TOT
with me rests only the honor OF finding
out the intention of Providence. Your
gift of languages points to 1t. your
restless love of travel, your very race
even. Why. look at mel say some
thing very diplomatic, and the best
can do in the way of Disgusting my
feelings is to look blank and vacant
whereas you can think on thing ane