The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-24
By CHARLES DICKENS

| l entered ms majesty S service. a boy
of seventeen, ] have been panied to
see many men of promise going that
road. bug have never been so panied
to see q man determined to make the
shameful journey as l have been, ever
since you Joined the regiment. to see
you
Private Richard Doubledick began to
| find a 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 a commol soldier. ST.
said he 1T signifies very little what
such q poor brute comes to-"
"You are a map" 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 l had be-
lieved. How low that must be l leave
you to consider. knowing what know
of your disgrace and seeing what l
see."
"I 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 ia BILE 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
l would see 5000 guineas counted out
upon this table for a gift to my good
mother. Have you a mother?"
Il am thankful to say she is dead.
sir"
''If 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 ssy. with pride and joy.
He is my SOM -
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 al
ways had. l know. but not-spare me.
sir. l am a broken wretch. quite at
your mercy! And he turned his face
to the wall and stretched out his i'm
ploring hand.
MY friend began the captain.
"God bless you. sirr' sobbed Private
Richard Doubledick
You are at the crisis Of your fate.
Hold your course unchanged a little
nd ho
pen. l 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 1t, sir" in a low.
shivering voice said Private Richard
Doubledick.
But man in any station can do
his duty" said the young captain. land
in doing it can earn his own respect
even if his case should be so very I'M
fortunate and SO very rare that he can
earn no other mans. common sol
der. poor brute though you called him
just now. has this advantage in the
stormy times we live in. that he al
ways does his duty before a host of
sympathiZing witnesses. Do you doubt
that he may so do 1t as to be extolled
through a whole regiment through a
whole army. through a whole country:
4urn while you may yet retrieve the
past and try"
Il will. ! ask for only one witness.
sir" cried Richard. with bursting
heart
Il understand you. will be
watchful and n faithful one"
l 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. 1923. the French were
in Egypt. in Italy. in (iermany-where
not: Napoleon Ronaparte had like
wise begun to- stir against lis in India
and most men could read the signs of
the great troubles that were coming
on. In the very next year. when we
against him. Captain Taunton's regi-
ment was on service in India. And
there was not Ener noncommissioned
officer in it-no. nor in the whole line
than Corporal Richard Douhledick.
In 1901 the Indian army We're on the
coast of Egypt. Next year was the
year of the procla nation Of the short
peace and they were recalled 1t had
then become well known to thousands
of men that wherever Captain Taun-