Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-17


RsSMA HE younger "noi-coms we're engaged IL
TT y hot discussion the capture OF Tar
lace and several attempts had been made
ssxxmr.szsA to draw the old quartermaster sergeant
HRATse into the argument but he intrenched him
G45& self behind his paper and replied in mono
E%V SNH syllabes, meanwhile pulling vigorously at
bGsAN{2g his pipe The old mans attitude acted
4 SE3 Y like a wet blanket on the rest. and the
4 3 Z conversation finally died natural death.
pszer4assu@ Then he leisurey folded his newspaper
49, and looking up, spoke with a certain slow
scorn:
You boys don't know anything about
campaigning It's the men who served in the old
army who'vc had the real experience. Back in the
days Of the Empire as we called it, when the West
was the sure-cnough Wild West there was fighting
that was lighting; none of your little scrimmagcs
where few volleys fired and the little brown
brothers" run away followed by the boys in khaki
but real stand-up and knocl;down fights, where YOU
had to win pass in your checks, and your last
moments weren't made any too pleasant for you
either
Tell us about it. Sergeant" said the commissary
sergeant
The quarcrmascr sergeant carefully tapped the ashes
out of his pipe
Did any OF you felcrs hear OF Captain Bob
Spauldng of the old Eleventh Cavalry" he asked.
No, none OF them had.
well, ! served with MN IN inc seventies. l Was
his striker. They didn't call en- ordcrlics in those
days, Just plain striker was good enough They even
called EN- dog-robbers but that always meant fight,
and sometimes it wasn't hardly safe,
"The captain was thoroughbred lie was that
spic and span that, matter what kind OF clothes
lie wore he always looked if he had Just stepped
out OF a handbook. Straight arrow, he was as
active cat.
Il had my bunl, and kit in of the back rooms
OF his quarters, and took purity good OF him,
if do say So
He was engaged to be married to some girl back
in New England, and the wedding day was all set,
but when he tackled the colonel for a leave OF alb
scncc the Old Man kicked You the only other
officer in C. Troop young shavetail just out
OF West Point and the Old Man afraid OF his
communicating influence on the troop 1t purity
hard lines though and gathered from few remarks
I overheard the captain let drop Che had way OF
talking out loud to hmscD that the girl didn't
altogether understand and sort OF held him personally
responsible.
There were lot of pictures of her scattered about
the captains room, and she about purity
YOU could think Of. Wavy yellow hair and a pair OF
clear blue eyes with smile in em that seemed to
look right into YOU. There little Sc; look about
ne: mouth which didn't interfere any with her good
looks but knew, first time looked at her picture,
that the lady would be boss of the ranch il she
got the chance
Anyhow. they seemed to get it all patched III, and
they fixed on another date The captain used to write
her long letters every day. and | guess she wasn't
Oil Of his mind much Of the time, He got terribly
restless as the days wen. by, and I knew he
worrying for fear the leave would fall through again;
bit our first lieutenant coming back, and the
Old Man said that as he came the captain
could 90 But the captain kept on worrying, and
could see that he getting thin. He didn't eat
his meals regular and often heard him moving
about all hours Of the night.
"Then one day he came home, and | saw right off
that something new the matter. thought he
was sick but when asked him what l could do for
MIN. he lust said Nothing in that short way he
had and for long time he walked up and down
the room talking himeslf. hung around, pre-
tending to clean up house. and presently he stopped
md says:
"Brown, have You heard the news The Sioux
Indians are on the war-path'
"Well could have shouted for JOY, but his face
stoned me- For second l got cold all over. for
you must know how much | thought OF him. was
only kid, and to me he was greater man than
NAPOLEON ever thought Of being Then the truth
flashed over me- and l ashamed that I'd doubted
him even for that second. 1t was the girl! The
moment the Sioux broke loose and dug up the Ratchet
# knocked his leave Of absence into cooked hat
OF course he Withdrew his application at once, and
tbe wedding had to be postponed indefinitely. | had
ourtv clear idea what that meant, for as glanced
m at the girls picture that funny little expression
about her mouth struck more than ever and
knew in that minute that she wouldn't stand Tor 1t
You see a girl raised in the army would understand
but wav back East in those days they scarcely knew
we had any army, let alone what was expected OF II
So lust kept my heels together and says, Very vel!
sir TT get the captains held-kit in order and wen
about ny business
wrote long letter that night and the mex