Morris tribune., 1914-11-13
PART /.


foot to this town of Chatham.
My relative came to Chatham
to enlist in a cavalry regiment If a
cavalry regiment would have him; If
not, to take King Georges shilling
from any corporal or sergeant who
would put bunch of ribbons in his
hat. His object was to get shot, but
he thought he might as we'll ride to his
death as be at the trouble of walking.
My relatives Christian name was
Richard. but he was better known
as Dick He dropped his own surname
on the road down and took up that of
Doubledick. He was passed as Rich
ard Doubledick, age twenty-five, height
five foot ten, native place Exmouth
which he had never been near in his
life There was no cavalry in Chat
ham when he limped over the bridge
here with half shoe to his dusty feet,
so he enlisted into regiment of the
line and was glad to get drunk and
forget all about it.
You are to know that this relative of
mine had gone wrong and run wild.
His heart was in the right place. but it
was sealed up. He had been betrOth-
ed to a good and beautiful girl whom
he had loved better than sheer per-
haps even he-believed. but in an evil
hour he had given her cause to say to
him solemnly: Richard. l will never
marry another man. l will live single
for your sake. but Mary Marshall'S
ipS"-her name was Mary Marshall
"'never address another word to you
on earth! Go, Richard! Heaven for
give you" This finished him. This
brought him down to Chatham. This
made him Private Richard Double
dick. with determination to be shot.
There was not more dissipated and
reckless soldier in Chatham barracks
in the year 1899 than Private Richard
DOubledick. He associated with the
dregs of every regiment, he was as sell
dom sober us he could be and was con
Stantly under punishment It became
clear to the whole barracks that Pri
waite Richard Doubledick would very
soon be flOgged.
Now the captain of Richard Double
dicks company was Il young gentle
man not above five years his senior
whose eyes had an expression in them
which affected Private Richard DOu
bledick in a very remarkable way
They were bright. handsome, dark eyes
what are called laughing eyes gener
ally, and. when serious. rather steady
than sevCre-but they were the only
ones now left in his narrowed WORLD
that Private Richard Doubledick couIC
not stand Unabashed by evil repor
and punishment. defiant Of everythins
else and everybody else. he had but Il
know that those eyes looked at him 70
moment and he felt ashamed. II,
could not SO much as salute Captain
Taunton i'll the street like any othe
officer. He was reproached and con
fused. troubled by the mere possibilit,
of the captains looking at him. In hi
worst moments he would rather tur1
back and go any distance out Of tn
way than encounter those two hand
some. dark. bright eyes.
One day. when Private Richard Dou
bledick came out of the Black Hole
where he had been passing the las
eight and forty hours and in which re
treat he spent good deal of his time
ne was ordered to betake himself t
Captain Taunton's quarters. In tn
stale and squalid state Of a man JUS
out of the Black Hole. he had les
fancy than ever for being seen by th
captain. but he was not so mad vet a
TO d1sObey orders. and consequent
went up to the terrace overlooking tn
parade ground. where the officers qua
tiers were. twisting and breaking in hi
hands as he went along a bit of th
straw that had formed the decorativ
furniture of the Black Hole.
Come fn"' cried the captain whe
ne knocked with his knuckIes at th
door. Private Richard Doubledick pul
ed OF his cap. took Il step fOrwar
and felt very conscious that he stood j
the light Of the dark. bright eyes.
There was a slight pause. Privat
Richard Doubledick had put the stra
in his mouth and was gradually do
bling it up into his windpipe and choI
ing himself.
"Doubledick." said the captain. e
you know where you are going to"
ITO the devil, sir" faltered Doubl
dick.
Yes" returned the captain "Al
very fast"
Private Richard DoubIedick turn,
the straw of the Black Hole in b
mouth and made miserable salute
acquiescence
''Doubledick." said the captain, 'sin