The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-24
PART /.

y the year 1899 q relative OF
mine came limping down on
foot to this town of Chatham
~ My relative came to Chatham
to enlist in a cavalry regiment if Il
cavalry regiment would have him; ii
not to take King Georges shilling
from any corporal or sergeant who
would put a bunch of ribbons in his
hat. His object was to get shot. but
he thought he might as well ride to his
death as be at the trouble of walking.
Ny 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 a 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. / will live single
for your sake. but Mary Marshall's
lips"-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 a determination to be shot.
There was not more dissipated and
reckless soldier in Chatham barracks
in the year 100 than Private Richard
Doubledick. He associated with the
dregs of every regiment, he was as sell
dom sober as he could be and was con-
stantly under punishment. 1t became
clear to the whole barracks that Pr-
vate Richard Doubledick would very
soon be logged.
Now the captain of Richard Double
dicks company was a young gentle
man not above five years his senior
whose eyes had an expression in them
which affected Private Richard Dou-
bledick in q very remarkable way.
They were bright. handsome dark eyes
what are called laughing eyes gener-
ally, and. when serious. rather steady
than Severe-but they were the only
ones now left in his narrowed world
that Private Richard Doubledick could
not stand. Unabashed by evil report
and punishment. defiant of everything
else and everybody else. he had but to
know that those eyes looked at him for
q moment. and he felt ashamed He
could not 80 much as salute Captain
TAUNTON in the street like any other
officer. He WIS reproached and con-
fused troubled by the mere possibility
bf the captains looking at him. In his
worst moments he would rather turn
back and 70 any distance out of the
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 last
eight and forty hours and in which re-
treat he spent good deal of his time
he was ordered to betake himself to
stale and squalid state of man Just
out of the Black Hole. he had less
fancy than ever for being seen hy the
captain. but he was not so mad vet as
to diSobey orders. and consequently
went up to the terrace overlooking the
parade ground. where the officers quar-
yes We're. twisting and breaking in his
hands as he went along bit of the
straw that had formed the decorative
furniture of the Black Hole
Come i'm cried the captain when
he knocked with his knuckles at the
door. Private Richard Douhiedick pull
ed off his cap. took Il step forward
and felt very conscious that he stood in
the light of the dark. bright eyes
There was slight pause Private
Richard Doubledick had put the straw
in his mouth and was gradually dou-
bling it up into his windpipe and chok-
ing himself.
"Doubledick." said the captain. do
you know where you are going to?''
ITO the devil. SIR" faltered Double
dick.
Yes returned the captain. And
very fast"
Private Richard Doubledick turned
the straw of the Black Hole in his
mouth and made a miserable salute of
acquiescence
"Doubledick," said the captain, since