The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-06-09
Self
Conquest
How Love and Bravery Saved
a Man From Himself
By CHRISTOPHER BARLEY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Not far from Fort -, in what was
then called the far west, was once a
ranch house In those days the Amer
lean Indian was not kept In continued
subsection, and the rancher built his
house lJar enough TO the fort to go
there with those of his household for
protection in case of necessity. The
fort, now that the Ii iian has been
Importance, and the ranch house is
bu. charred spot. having been burn
ed by the redskins years ago
Not nn hour before its destruction a
couple, young officer from the fort
and girl, the rancher's daughter,
were sitting Oh the broad veranda in
the light of full moon. Allen Kim.
ball bad enlisted In the United States
army because he could neither be con
trolled nor control himself. He had
given in TO almost every kind of dis
sipation, and at the end of spree,
not having the hardihood to meet his
father and being out of money. in a
self in a cavalry regiment, choosing
that arm of the service since It would
send him farthest from his home
He bad not been long at his alton
when trouble with the Indians came
on, and Kimball showed himself so
brave that he was rapidly promoted
through the noncommissioned grades
and before the fighting was over was
made lieutenant. This gave him
heart, and he determined to redeem
himself with his family. But pas.
sion for gambling stood In his way.
At those remote posts there was little
or nothing for the men to do except
drink and gamble. and Lieutenant
Kimball found the temptation to gam.
bic too strong for him. Once he had
begun to play all caution deserted him,
and he bet wildly. The result was
that he became indebted to his broth
er officers In large amounts. One or
two of his creditors in order to get
what they considered to be their just
dues formed a clique against him. and
he found himself a "cut" man, which
is the army expression for one whose
brother officers will not speak to him.
though some dissented from the rest
on the ground that Kimball did not de-
serve what was inflicted upon him.
Kimball had formed the acquaint.
ance of Winifred Armour, the ranch.
mans daughter. at the height OF the
reputation he had made for bravery
and efficiency. He loved her. and his
loved was returned. He confessed his
previous life to her and announced his
intention thereafter TO be a credit In
stead of a disgrace to his family. She
sympathized with him deeply and
promised him that II he adhered to
his resolution for given time she
would marry him.
But" she said. II will confess that
there is In the east man of sterling
worth who has asked me 10 he his
wife He * much older THIN / and
thus far | respect him only. My love
is yours. II you relapse into your
former condition when | return TO thu
east shall accept his proposition
IOoptiCSo Sht pun hhN tiNN "
furnish an incentive 10 him 10 conquer
himself
He had ridden over TO the ranch
house on this moonlight night to bid
her goodby He had failed To conquer
himself and had lost her The Inter
view wns painful to both
well" he said. "in one thing re
st. 40, I. N.
heaven. | am not TO drag you down
with me! You Will be n member of a
family. while I'll am every day ex
pecting an invitation TO resign"
Winifrcd made no reply What could
she sayi She could not find II In her
heart to upbraid him And there was
nothing she could say To relieve the
mental torture both suffered She sim
ply put ont her hand In mute fare
well
They were both recalled from the
melancholy status existing between
them by hearing distant sounds of a
galloping horse. evidently coming at
full speed Both listened The AMI
NAL was not coming from the direc
ton OF the fort, but toward It, Kim
ball knew that the Indians on the
nearby reservation had been unruly.
and something told him the conner
was a messenger bringing warn
ing. His fear was realized a horse
man, reaching a point In the road op
posite the ranch gate. pulled bis horse
back on his launches and cried out;
1.-THE Indians are coming! They're
right on u.s.
without a word Kimball ran for the
stable near the house and In few
minutes returned. leading Winifred's
mare saddled and bridled Her father
was away from the ranch. and there
was no one In the house but employ
ees and servants. They. too. prepared
for flight Kimball put bis companion
on her horse. mounted himself and
they tore through the open gate and
away toward the fort. They had
scarcely started when behind them
came that terrible whoop which only
an Indian can give.
The fort was six miles from the
raneh-not long distance for an or
binary ride. but too great to enable
the fugitives to reach safety with a
horde of yelling savages in their rear
The horses knew that yell and put
forth all their strength
Scarcely a mile had been covered