The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-30

tncS showed ItIIS pS>luSS charging troops and the smoke
OF battle, Naturally. all this weighed fesriuMy on nv
spirits l realized that here was a crisis ,ha, mus, Ia
met. The integrity of our home was threatened. | de-
termined to rise TO ClariSSas conception OF nv duty a.
a man. a patriot and a descendant. Once resolved on
my course. l fastened to impair, the glad tidinss 10 nv
wife.
"Clarissa," | said. with conscious pride. &" YOUR smbi-
ton is about to be achieved. Within three DAYS | shall
be a soldier"
With a cry OF rapture Clarissa threw herself into nv
arms. oh, my dear" she auavered ecstatically. n
must tell Mrs, Tagglety at once. But" after a moments
pause. how can you accomplish Your noble purposes
Il shall enlist" l explained.
"But-but you will be a private, oh. Arthur. wha, .
disgrace to your angus, ancestors! A common soldier.S
Il suppose | can rise" said. moodily.
What? Rise from the ranks?" Clarissa Questioned.
ooh. no. YOU couldn't do that"
I became indignant Evidently my self sacrifice was
not accomplishing the happicst results, Moreover. l did
not like Clarissas dognatic assertion tina, i, would be
impossible for me to rise from the ranks.
why not" demanded.
Clarissa was explicit: Why. you see. nobody ever
rises from the ranks. i'll all I've read. unless he dis,in-
cuisines himself by some action of wonderful valor-s
sort of Victoria Cross thing. you know"
And why shouldn't | do something Victoria-Cross-
like, l want to know, I guess I'm brave enough. You
forget the blood that flows in my veins"
But you would have to fight. so it is impossible"
my wife replied. imperturbably.
"Of course I'd have to hght-soldiers do"
o but you mustn't. Arthur, dcarest!"
"Eh:" I questioned. blankly.
mo, darling. never! Why. YOU might get hurt -
Clarissa's eyes were wide with dismay.
But. Clarissa," I argued. Il can't be a soldier unless
l fight"
o yes. you can. Just Join the militia"
"The militia gets called out sometimes" I persisted.
"and goes to war. too"
Pooh! If anything happens you can resign"
Don't you know that to resign at such a time is i'm.
possible to a man OF honor?"
Would you rather be hurt in a horrid battle,"
eyes, certainly" I affirmed.
Then you mustn't enlist" Carissa decided. I'm
not going to have you run any risk of getting all mussed
up by one of those nasty ratters."
"Ratters?" l repeated, in bewilderment .
"Wen'" said Clarissa, with great lucidity, cit has
something to do with rats or terriers or mice-thats the
way l remember it."
"Mausers!" cried.
"Mousers or ra,ters or terriers! 1 really do not see
that it matters" Clarissa replied, ~pettishly!
Not at all" ! agreed. But l sha'nt enlist!"
Certainly not" Clarissa said, disdainfully. II don't
see how you ever came to think of anything so ~foolhardy
and reckless and-er-criminal."
Thus the incident was closed. Afterward, Clarissa was
more gentle in her manner toward me. l appreciated
her chastened mood, and learned to sing the Two
Grenadiers." though l haven't the voice for it., so NV
friends said. Still, 1 could see that Clarissa was not
content. despite her efforts to conceal her longinss
from me.
During the months of my affection. l had been very
DuSS WIFI poHUCdl WOrk. Campaigning Tor m friend
Norton. who. after holding many Offices of importance.
now sought election as chief executive of the State. A
hard hight ended IN his victory, and when the struggle
was over. he and l took a vacation trip together. Mature
ally. | revealed all my troubles to him, and in tho
simplest manner he relieved the situation.
/ cut short my absence that l might hasten to inform
Clarissa of the beautiful truth.
"Clarissa,' | began, as soon as l had kissed her, -
am a worthy scion of my race. ], too, Clarissa-I am 4
warrior"
"Oh, Arthur, you haven't gone and enlisted?" And
l thought she grew a little pale.
mo. dearest. no; it is perfectly safe"
But what can it be, them Oh, is it true? How can
it be true" Her eyes were like stars now, and her
voice was charged with JOY.
Il am a soldier" l said. solemnly; " a w~arrior-more.
l am an officer. a colonel"
How wonderful" Clarissa breathed, reveren,ly.'
ooh, won't you look just splendid in your"
81 have already been measured for my uniform"
announced 1T is magnificent! Gold lace"
Gold lace!'
and epauiets-"
"Epaulets."
and a sword"
" A sword"
and boots"
Boots"
"-and-er-things Magnificent"
o its Just too heavenly" Clarissa sighed. But
tell me, Arthur dearest. how did you do it,"
Norton has appointed me a colonel on his staff"
There was a rap,urous pause. Then Clarissa ex-
claimed:
A staf-ohicer, only think of it,"
Uncle Jimmy, indeed,
Clsrissa became thoughtful for a moment. When she
spoke, her words were heavy with importance:
We must plan to go abroad You will wish to at
tend the military nanruvres of Europe"
The servant announced Mrs. Tagglety. As that obi
Gus person entered, Clarissa turned to her with a new
majesty of bearing, and said in a voice thrilled with
emotion:
my husband. the COLONEL, has returned"