Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-01-09

been sent to the canfonment on the
Cimarron with dispatches. Your Ia
Their was in command there. and wor-
ried half to death about you. He could
not leave the post, and the only officer
remaining there with him was dis
abled cavalry captain. Every man he
could trust was out on scouting serv-
ice. He took a chance on me. Maybe
he liked my looks. don't know; moro
probably, he judged l wouldn't be
sergeant and entrusted with those dis
patches I'd just brought in, II wasn't
considered trustworthy. Anyhow had
barely fallen asleep when the orderly
called me. and that was what was
wanted-that l ride north and head
you off,"
"But you were not obliged to go?"
mo; 1 was not under your fathers
orders. I doubt if I would have con-
sented if l hadn't been shown your
picture. l couldn't very we'll refuse
then"
She sat with hands clasped togeth-
er. her eyes Swallowed by long lashes.
Il should have thought there would
nave been some soldiers there-his
own men,"
There were" dryiy, but the army
just now is recruited out of pretty
tough material To be in the ranks is
almost confession of good for-noth-
ingness. You are an officers daugh-
ter and understand this to be true"
"Yes," she answered doubtfully. 81
have been brought up thinking so;
only, of course, there are exceptions"
mo doubt, and hope 1 am already
counted one.'
"You know you are. My father
trusted you, and so do II
Il have wondered sometimes" he
said musingly, watching her face bare
ly visible in the dawn, whether those
of your class actually considered. us
as being really human, as anything
more valuable than mere food for pow
der. came into the regular army at
the close of the war from the volun-
teer service. was accustomed to dis
cipline and all that, and knew my
place. But NIr-never suspected then
that q private soldier was considered
dog. Yet that was the first lesson
! was compelled to learn. It has bean
pretty hard sometimes to hold IN, for
there was time when / had some no.
cial standing and could resent an in
suit"
She Was looking straight at him.
| surprised at the bitterness in his
| voice.
they carry it altogether too far"
she said. II have often thought that
mostly the young officers, che West
Pointers-and yet you know that the
majority Of enlisted men are-well.
dragged from the sfums. My father
says it has been impossible to recruit
good class since the war closed, that
the right kind had all the army they
wanted"
Which is true enough, but there
are good men nevertheless, and every
commander knoMs5it. "A little consid-
crate treatment would make them bet
ter still"
She shook her head questioninsiy.
| Il do not know" she admitted. Il
suppose there are two viewpoints. You
were in the volunteers, you said Why
did you enlist in the regulars?''
Largely because liked soldering,
or thought l did. knew there would
be plenty of lighting out here, and, l
believed, advancement"
You mean to commission"
Yes. You see. did not understand
then the inpsssibility. the great gulf
fixed. dreamed that good fortune
might give me something to do worth
WHILE
And fate has bssn unkind?"
In = way. yes" and he laughed
rather grimly. 81 had my chance
twice; honorable mention, and ali,
tAak. bat that ended It. There is 10
bridge across the chasm An enlisted
man is not held fit for any higher 20.
sition; If that was not sui1icient 10
bar me, the fact that I had fought for
the South would"
You were in the Confederate army!
You must have been very young"
ooh. no; little more than boy. OF
course. but 80 were the majority OF
my comrades. IVES in nay senior
college year when The war broke out.
But, Miss AcDonalA. this viii never
do! See how Hight It h growing.
There, they hayA Asssa airing already.
we must get back cut ef sisAt behind
the sand dHnes -