Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-21

| u bIeduy Ills SlSlOu, lutI tuc yes tut'
had SO strong an influence over hin
He put his hand before his own eyes
and the breast Of his disgrace JACKIE
swelled as II it would fly asunder.
II would rather" said the young CAP
tain. "see this in you. Doubledick. thai
would see 5000 guineas counted ou
upon this table for a gift to my goo
mother Have you mOtherT
II am thankful to say she is dead
SIR"
"If your praises" returned the CAP
/ tain. "were sounded from mouth +
mouth through the whole regiment
through the whole army. through tn
whole country. you would wish sb
had lived to say. with pride and Joy
He is my SOM"
"Spare me. sir" said DoubledicE
"She would never have heard any goo,
of me. She would never have hat
any pride and Joy in owning hersel
my mother. Love and compassion sh
might have had. and would have al
ways had, l know. but not-spare me
sir! am broken wretch. quite a
your mercyr' And he turned his fac
to the wall and stretched out his Inn
ploring hand.
my friend began the captain.
"God bless you. SIR" sobbed Privat'
Richard Doubledick.
"You are at the crisis Of your fate
Hold your course unchanged littl'
longer and you know what must hap
pen. I know even better than you cal
imagine. that. after that has happened
you are lost No man who could shet
those tears could bear those marks"
Il fully believe 1t. SIR" in a low
shivering voice said Private Richard
Doubledlck.
"But a man in any station can d.
his duty" said the young captain. "ant
In doing 1t can earn his own respect
even II his case should be so very un
fortunate and so very rare that he car
earn no other mans. A common sol
dier. poor-brute though you called hin
Just now. has this advantage In the
stormy times we live In. that he al
ways does his duty before host OF
sympathizing witnesses. DO you doubt
that he may 50 do It as to be extollef
through a whole regiment. through 9
whole army. through whole country
Turn while you may yet retrieve the
past and try"
II will. ask for only one witness
SIR" cried Richard. with bursting
heart.
II understand you. will be u
watchful and faithful one"
have heard from Private Richard
Doubledick's own lips that he dropped
down upon his knee. kissed that Off.
GERS hand. arose and went out Of the
light of the dark. bright eyes an al
tered man.
In that year. 1899. the French were
in Egypt, in Italy, in Germany-where
not7 Napoleon Bonaparte had like.
wise begun TO stir against US in India,
and most men could read the signs Of
the great troubles that were coming
on. In the very next year. when we
formed an alliance with Austria
against him. Captain Taunton's regi.
n&nt was on service In India. And
here was not finer noncommissiOned
officer in it-uo. nor in the whole line
than Corporal Richard Doubledlck.
In 1901 the Indian army were on the
coast of Egypt. Next year was the
year of the proclamation Of the short
peace. and they were recalled. 1t had
then become well known to thousands
Of men that wherever Captain Taun.
ton, With the dark. Dri.ht eyes. led
there, close to him. ever ut his side,
firm as a rock. true us the sun and
brave as Mars. would be certain to be
found while life beats In their hearts
that famous soldier. Sergeant Richard
Doubledick.
Eighteen hundred and FIVE. besides
being the great year Of Trafalgar. was
year Of hard fighting In India. That
year saw such wonders done by a ser,
geant major who cut his way single
handed through solid mass Of men,
recovered the colors Of his regiment,
which had been seized from the hand
Of poor boy shot through the heart
and rescued his wounded captain, who
was down and In very jungle OF
horses hoofs and sabers-saw such
wonders done. l say, BY this brave ser
geant major that he was specially
made the bearer Of the colors he had
won. and Ensign Richard Doubledick
had risen from the ranks.
Sorely cut up In every battle. but al
ways REINFORCED by the bravest Of mel
for the fame of following the old col
ors, shot through and through. which
Ensign Richard Doubledick had saved
inspired all breasts-this regiment
fought its way through the peninsular
war up to the Investment OF Badajos
In 1872. Again and again II had Oeen
cheered through the British ranks until
the tears had sprung into mems eyes
at the mere hearing Of the mighty
British voice so exultant in their valOr
and there was not drummer boy but
knew the legend that wherever the
two friends. Major Taunton. with the
dark. bright eyes. and Ensign Richard
Doubledick. who was devoted to hun
were seen to so. there the boldesl
spirits in the English army became
wild to follow.
One day at Badajos-not in the great
storming. but In repelling hot sally
Of the besleged upon our men at work
In the trenches. who had given way
the two officers found themselves run
ming forward. face to face. against q
party of French infantry, who made
a stand. There was an officer at theil
head encouraging bis men-a coura
geous, handsome. gallant officer Of five
end thirty. whom Doubledick saw hur
riedly, almost momentarily. but saw
we'll He particularly noticed this ON