Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-10

erally does at Brighton, and, above the
| human hum, the ceaseless hum Of the sea
! forms pleasing accompaniment, to the
unaccustomed ear of the LondOner
And then the Downs! What concoursG
| is to be seen there little later in the day !
The Grand Stand chock full, and row
upon row of carriages. Mounted officers
galloping frantically about on special
missions, in addition to all the usual ex-
elements of Ascot on cup day.
so thought little Epaminondas Sparkes,
as, in the rear rank OF No. 3 Company,
Goth Diddlesex Volunteers, he trotted past
! the Grand Stand, en- route for the ground
his regiment was to occupy at the com
mencement of the review.
Weighted with his rife, and oppressed
with the heat of the day and the long
strides he was obliged to take, IN order to
clock up properly with his front-rank
man, Epaminondas' thoughts sometimes
would irresistibly stray in the direction of
Primrose Villa, and his excellent arm
chair in the parlor; but martial ardor soon
eXtinguished these despicable consldera-
lions. And, besides the honor and glory
of the thing, he was aware OF the adyan-
tage a uniform of any sort gives man in
the eyes of the British female, and ladies
yes, lovely ladies were Gas he saw
looking at his regiment, and Epaminon-
das fancied, particularly at himself,
as they deiiled past. He strutted out
more proudly than ever as he
thought of this, and in his enthusiasm
lost his step. o what a miserable sensa-
ton it is to tyro in the military art to
lose the step! and how difficult it some
times is to regain it
During his frantic endeavors to do so,
Epaminondas observed that young wo'
man, dressed in what he thought beauti-
full mauve dress, wasTeally watching him.
This increased his nervousness, and in his
confusion he caught Thomson, his front
rank man, smart kick upon his calf. The
latter lunged out behind in reply, and the
line of the company became somewhat
disordered.
"What's the matter here?" said the ad-
jutant, riding up at this moment. Come,
come, steady, my men! Look at the Lon
don Scottish! they march like a wall" On
again they went, this time in order.
Halt was soon afterwards called out, and
deploy into line took place.
The troops had now mostly reached
their appointed stations, and the eyolu-
tions commenced.
The spectators had been left some dis
lance off, all save q little knot of persons,
who, in spite of the regulations, persisted
in following the troops. Amongst them,
that wretch Epaminondas what would
Mrs. Epaminondas say y thought he could
distinguish the lady in mauve, and had
the audacty to wink at her. The word
was now given to load, and tile-tiring from
the right Of companies was the next word
of command.
Now fle-firing, to be good should be
continuous and regular. With these provi-
sions, of course, the quicker it is the bet
ter
The Goth Diddlesex prided themselves
upon the quickness Of their file-tiring.
Consequently, frantic were the efforts
OF some of the men to get their pieces
loaded in time to take their turn, No
ones efforts were more frantic than
Epaminondas'.
Suddenly the bugle sounded, Cease
firing"
A connection was observed at the same
time, among the little knot of people be-
fore mentioned, and mounted officer be-
ing dispatched to inquire the cause, soon
returned with news that man had been
led-apparently shot by q volunteer
in fact, the poor fellow was plainly to
be seen lying upon the grass, with acoupie
of surgeons bending over him.
The officer commanding the goth l)iddle-
sex was an old line officer He lost no
time. The regiment was thrown into
open order, and the word was gwen to
"examine arms"
AS the captain Of No Spassed down the
rear of his company, he observed one OF
the priyates apparently in an ague-ilt. 1t
was Epaminondas and lie hat no ranar0d TO
SholoI
"Where is your ramrod, Sparkes?"
asked the captain,
"Please, sir-I-I-do-on' know"
stammered Epaminondas, whose tongue
seemed suddenly stricken with palsy.
"Fall out, sir!' said the captain, sternly.
The conscience stricken Epaminondas
was at once made over as prisoner, to a
corporal and four men of his regiment,
who were detailed for this purpose. The
party was then dispatched to Brighton.
AS they passed by the spot where the poor
victim still lay extended on the grass,
Epamnondas beheld female figure
habited in mauve, bending over the pros
trate form, apparently dissolved in &gonies
of grief
His own feelings were hardly less ex-
/ cruciating In imagination he beheld
himself as already tried and convicted,
and shortly to be executed, or, at all events,
transported for life. Quite crowd OF
small boys and the usual idlers ere long
collected round the little party, and &C
compamed it to the Town Hall, where,
after the charge had been duly taken
down, Epaminoudas was locked up for the
night, prior to appearing before the
magistrate on the following morning.
Before this, however, he implored and
obtained permission to despatch a tele-
gram to his wife. This was it,
From Epamnoudas SparSes,
prsoupr Hrphtou Police Station.