The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-01-28


lamps. whiei, were placed at intervals of
ene or two hundred yards. The wind
was blowing SO fresh that it was with diff
ficulty [ could hold my cloak around me,
and conceal the absence of my undergar-
ments. Every now and then an extra
gust Of wind came round the corner, and
would quite defeat all the precautions
that | had adopted to encounter the
shade as much as possible, and more than
field officers horse, as [ skunk behind
him when the gas>light might have re-
revealed too much.
1t was terribly cold, to be- sure, the
wind and snow almost numbing my limbs
| had kind of faint hope that the field
officer might think that l belonged to
Highland regiment, and ifh did observe
the scantiness of my attire, he might be-
lieve that the kilt would explain it. l
struggled and shivered on, knowing that
all things must have an end, and that my
Grounds must come to an end before
| long. But feared that l should not
again get warm during the night.
w u udO COmPiSISo Ooh eOoi1
and were within few hundred yards of
the guard-room, when we passed the
eld-othcer's quarters. l fondly hoped
that he would not pass them: and that he
would dismiss me at the door, but | was
rather surprised to see light come from
the windows, and to hear the sound of
music. was certain that there was "hop"
going on inside, and 1 already began to
! al,
worse misfortunes were yet to attend me.
My premonltions were true, for upon
reaching his door my prosecutor, in quite
a cheeful tone, said:
"Well, we've had cold tour; you
must now come in and take a glass of
wine, and perhaps waltz will warm
you"
"I'm really much obliged" 1 hastily
answered, ssbut should not like to leave
my guard"
'sNonsense nonsense, man ! The
guard will be all right. You must come
in" This "must'' he said in quite a de-
termined tone.
| felt desperate, and again declared
that thought should be wrong to leave
my guard.
.I'h take the responsibility, said the
demon, $50 come along;" saying which
he grasped my arm and almost dragged
me into the porch of his quarters.
When we entered the house and were
exposed to the light of the hall lamps, l
fancied that saw slight twinkle in the
eye of the officer, and began to wonder
whether he really knew of my predica-
ment, aud wished to have his joke. He,
however, gave no other intimalions that |
saw, but quickly took off bis cloak and
said that [ had better do the. same.
Seeing me hesitate he said: "Come, look
alive-of with it"
Further remonstrancc, found, would
be useless, so that there was no help for
me but full confession. Summoning
my courage, and fearing to hesitate, l
b!urted out Colonel, I've no trousers
on"
'.The duce you havu't" he said.
"Well, you'd better so and put them on,
and then come here as soon as posi- bic,
and have a glass of something warm
| rushed out o. his quarters, half deter
mined not to return. I was fully awake
now, and shivered like half-drowned
dog; but no sooner had dressed myself
than the Colonefs servant came over TO
say that a quadrille was waiting for
| me.
l determined to put bold face upon
the matter, and entered the drawing
room, where party of about fifty had
assembled. 1t was evident by the filters
of the young ladies', the grins OF the men,
and the subdued smiles of the dowagcrs,
that my story was known.
The Colonel had told it as a good joke
to the Major, who had whispered it to
his wife she breathed it into the ear of
two of her friends, and in about ten min
utes every person in the room knew that
a young subaltern had unwillingly gone
| the rounds in his night shirt.
As long as / staid in that garrison l
was standing joke. When the girls saw
me they always looked away and smiled,
and it seemed as impossible for me to OBJ
tain serious answer from any of them
as for a clown to preach sermon. They
even seemed afraid to dance with me,
fearing, as | afterwards heard, to look at
my legs, lest might be deficient in some
article of raiment. l soon exchanged,
and weat into another regiment and
years afterwards heard my own adven-
ture related in a crowded room, all the
details of the story being true except the
name of the eormer-my misfortune hay
/ ing been attributed to an unfortunate fell
low who died in India.
never went to bed on guard after
that night.
A Slack Husband Punished.