The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1914-09-09

/ entered his majesty's service. a boy
of seventeen, | have been panied to
see many men of promise going that
| road, but | have never been so panied
/ to see a man determined to make the
shameful journey as have been, ever
since you Joined the regiment. to see
| you
Private Richard Doubledick began to
find film stealing over the floor at
| which he looked. also TO find the legs
of the captains breakfast table turn
ing crooked. as if he saw them through
water.
II am only common soldier. sir, "
said he. 1T signifies very little what
such q poor brute comes to-"
you are man." returned the cap
tain, with grave indignation. 'of educa-
ton and superior advantages. and if
you say that. meaning what you say.
you have sunk lower than | had be-
lieved. How low that must be ! leave
you to consider. knowing what know
of your disgrace and seeing what |
see.'
IL hope to get shot soon. sir" said
Private Richard DOubledick. land then
the regiment and the world together
will be rid of me-"
The legs of the table were becoming
very crooked. DOubledick. looking up
to steady his vision. met the eyes that
had so strong an influence over him
He put his hand before his own eyes.
and the breast of his disgrace jacket
swelled as if it would fly asunder.
Il would rather" said the young cap
tain, see this in you. Doubledick. than
would see 1900 guineas counted OF
upon this table for gift to my good
mother. Have you a mothery"
Il am thankful to say she is dead
sir"
''lf your praises" returned the cap
tain. were sounded from mouth to
mouth through the whole regiment
through the whole army. through the
whole country. you would wish she
had lived to say, with pride and joy.
He is my son"
Spare me, sir" said DOubledick
"She would never have heard any good
of me. She would never have had
any pride and JOY in owning herself
my mother Love and compassion she
might have had. and would have III.
ways had, | know. but nOt--spare mt
sir! | am a broken wretch. quite al
nd hn fn
to the wall and stretched out his i'm.
ploring hand.
"My friend began the captain.
"GOd bless you, sir"' sobbed Private
Richard Doubledick.
you are at the crisis OF your fate.
Hold your course unchanged a little
longer and you know what must hap
pen know even better than you can
imagine. that. after that has happened.
you are lost. No man who could shed
those tears could bear those marks"
II fully believe it. sir" in Il Tow.
shivering voice said Private Richard
DOubledick
But Il man in any station can do
his duty" said the young captain. land
in doing IL can earn his own respect
even II his case should be 80 very I'M
fortunate aud 81 very rare that he can
earn no other mans. A common sol
der, poor brute though You called him
Just now. has this advantage in the
stormy tiu3"S we live in, that he nj
ways does his duty before Il host Of
SymlmthiZlng witnesses DO you doubt
that ne ma" so do il rs 10 be extolrd
through whole regiment. through
whole army, through II whole country:
Turn while you may yet retrieve the
past and try"
Il will. ask for only one witness.
sir" cried Richard. with a bursting
heart.
II understand you. | will be
watchful aud 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, l709. the French were
In Egypt. In Italy. In Germany where
not! 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 TuuntOn's regi.
ment was on service in India And
there was not liner nOncommisSioned
officer in tho. nor in the whole line
than Corporal Richard Doubledick.
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. II had
then become well known 20 thousands
Of men that wherever Captain Taun