Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-07-03

Meanwhile the defiant Widow O'Riley
married teamster, but continued to
serve as laundress, while the Kid con-
tinued to improve In looks and smart
ness unit lat 16 she was a belle.
She had been sent to school in the
town, and she had passed some time
with a relative in the east who was
fairly well OFF, and the raik and file
of the Fourteenth had come to look
upon her as a goddess. One evening,
after the girl had attended the non.
commissioned officers ball and been
sought for al a partner and admired
and praised on all sides, the old fear
was revived. Caste forbids a commits
stoned officer marrying the daughter OF
an enlisted man, and the orderly ser,
geants who held a consultation were
agreed that Kitty was too handsome
and too much Of a lady to throw her.
self away.
Sergt. Brady was still with the regi-
ment. 1t was decided that he should
pay another official visit to Mrs.
O'Reilly and warn her Of the imprinted
rules and regulations again: It would
be q sin and a disgrace to have Kitty
marry outside the regiment. 1t would
be going against precedent and estab-
fishing a dangerous principle. The
sergeant donned full uniform and made
his way to the laundry. It was a busy
day again with the laundress, but she
wiped her red hands on her apron and
stuck out her elbows as before and
saluted her visitor with:
-Tm listening to you, sergt. Brady"
tits about Kitty" he replied. "Shes
Of a manageable age. She's hand
some and smart and a lady. She's
away from US much Of the time of. late
years, but she still belongs to the COM
pany and the regiment. Is she to
marry inside or outside Of it?"
"Would you have Kitty marry be-
meath the rank of s~ergeant?" asked the
mother.
II would not"
"Well, there's Abel, Baxter, Clinch,
Carter and Davis to start with. They've
all got wives"
"'Tis sol"
"Ther there's Davenport, Enright,
English. Franklin and Farmer. All OF
them get drunk when they can and
haven't a cent laid by"
I'm agreeing with you"
II could go ON and mention all the
others. but which n would you pick
out for Kitty's husband?"
"Not a blessed one Of the whole
Lot"
And who of the corporals?"
Il can't say"
Then come down to the privates.'
"They are a shamefaced Lot to picA
q husband from"
docs the regiment expect Kitty te
marry one Of the oflcersT"
TT can't expect It'll"
"Then will MI. Sergeant Thomas J
Brady tell me If Kitty O'Riley, the
handsomest girl for ten miles around
this fort, and not ashamed Of being
born In barracks and of her mother
being a laundress to this day, hai
got to live and die an old maid tt
obey the rules and regulations of the
service?"
"IIl be hanged If she hast"
Three months later there came
rumors that Kitty the Kid was en-
gagged to a merchant In the town, ant
the regiment bowed its head In sorrow
At the end Of six, a report came to The
fort that she had been duly married
The regiment went into mourning
Sergt. Brady was seated in his Office
with humility in his face when Kitty
mother was announced. On this oc
casion she was paying him an oficia
visit.
You have heard the news?" sh'
asked.
He bowed.
~Could Kitty have done anything
else under the circumstances?"
He shook his head.
"And will the regiment take any
action In the case?" asked the
caller.
"It has done that already, Mrs
O'Riley. It was bound to do 1t. It has
held a meeting, and
V0CA0eot AASAC WOS Ao.oAO LII ~
Fourteenth regiment good enough tt
become the husband of Kitty the Kid
and
whereas, The aforesaid Kitty wa!
not to blame for that and did no
want to live as an old maid; there
! tore
"'Resolyed, That she was entitled
to bust the rules and regulations ant
marry where she could and wanted to
and
"'Resolved, That If there is the devi
to pay generally and the service goe
to the dogs, the said Kitty Is not t
|, be held to blame-not by a darl
, sight!'"
Festival Of the Flag.