The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-10-31
From Old and New for October. ]
DGiSy'S Sergeant.
BY FRED. W. LORING.

1 L
intrinsic merits, as being one of the last pro-
ductions of It's brilliant and lamented auth
or.-ED. OLD AND NEw.l
By a special order from the War De-
partment, Capt. Burlington, brigadier
general Of volunteers, was transferred
from comparative peace and comfort
in one of our inland cities, to q remote
military station, west of the Rocky
Mountains. This military station
was oalled Camp Jenkins, after the
commander of surveying expedition
who established il. It had been es-
tablished because there were Indians
in its vicinity; the instant that it was
established the noble red men faded
away like morning mist, with the ex-
ception of few who did washing for
their oppressors. 1t was a lovely
spot; it had cottonwood and willow
| trees standing by the banks of a rivu-
let of clear and sparkling spring wa
ter, and the parade ground was a
magnificent lawn of velvety grass.
Around this parade ground stood the
quarters of the garrison; at the head
four cottages belonging to officers and
surgeon; while the guard-room COM
pleted three sides of the rectangle, the
fourth being left open, and showing a
wonderful picture of purple mount
aims, barren and verdureless for thou
sands of feet, while the SUBMITS held
pine forests, and fields of dazzling
snow that flashed ON the eyes even in
the middle of arid July. Outside of
Camp Jenkins, for miles around, were
deserts of sage-brush; inside was a
natural landscape, that by contrast
seemed a bit of paradise. The inhab-
tBSs9RHffhn tBSs9RHfn q o. this 3is 9s5a9ss e. were at the
condition as far as the absence of wO-
man was concerned. Mrs Gen. Bull
lington had fatty refused to accom-
pany the general when she first heard
the news Of his transference to the
West; afterwards, finding that the
general was placidly preparing to go
without her, she determind to follow.
Imagine, then, the scene as 1 have
described it at Camp Jenkins, while
Gen. Burlington is discovered on the
piazza in front of his cottage, just
walked from his afternoon nap by the
arrival of the daily mail. In his hand
is an open letter, signed Matilda Bull
lington, which informs him that his
wife will arrive week after her let
ter.
"Crestle!" cried the general to his
lieutenant, who was crossing the pa
background, "look here, will you ?n
Lieut.. Crestle, formerly a lieuten-
ant-cOlonel of volunteers, not only
looked there, as the general requested,
but came there, and stood by the side
of his commanding officer He was
handsome soldierly-looking fellow,
dear to General Burlington because he
was brave, honorable, a graduate of
West Point, and a Philadeiphian.
"Crestle,n said the general, "my
wife is coming next week"
$50 is mine," replied Crestle.
"And the cottage is not in order;
and the carpets are not down." said
the general plaintively. "Here's the
doctOr.n
'I have good news" said DIR. Gil
bert, "my wife is coming next week"
"It's a conspiracy !n said Gen. Bull
lington,. "What do they all come
together for? There will be a row
here in two days"
''That IS an ungallant remark"
said DIR. Gilbert.
i'I can't help it." said Gen. Bull
| lington. "MatiIda is the best woman
in the world; but when shs-eOr'1s-
mall -ReRtlaTITos, now DO pass my
afternoons now
"You sleep, and you go trouting,"
said Col. Crestle.
"WeIl after Matilda comes" said
| Gen. Burlington. 81 shall go trout
| ing altogether
With these oracular words, Gen. Bull
lingtoD ceased. Men were detailed
to paper and carpet the offices and
cottages; and a week after the gener-
al received his wife's letter, that lady
was deposited at the door from the
ambulance which had been sent to
/ the railroad station, distance of six
teen miles, for her.
At the same time Mrs. Crestle
alighted. The general knew who
Mrs. Crestle was, and greeted her
cordially.
s'Your husband will be here in a
/ few minutes" he said. 81 see you
and my wife have travelled part of
/ the way together, 80 that suppose you
are acquainted
ave have not yet been introduced, 1"
said Mrs. Gen, Burlington severely.
The general felt vaguely that there
was a natural antagOnism between
Mrs. Crestle and his wife, and intro
duced them with the air of a martyr.
s'I am happy TO meet you, Mrs.
Crestle," said Mrs. Gen. Burlington.
"YOu are very kind" returned
Mrs. Crestle. Mrs. Crestle was a
large one; but size is not always vic
tOriOus in feminine contests.
'Is your husband stationed heTe?''
]
"Yes, Mrs. BullingtOn," replied
Mrs. Crestle. "Colonel Crestle was
transferred to this place by the same
order that sent your husband here"
"Ah ~ remarked Mrs. Burlington,
In a slightly surprised tone.
SIS your husband a colonel, then?n
"That is his volunteer rank" re-
piled Mrs. Crestle sweetly, 'just as
brigadier general by brevet is Cap
tain Bullington'A you know"
The skirmish had proved successful
for Mrs. Crestle. Mrs. Burlington
realized it, and wondered whether
that audaciOus women, as she des.
ignated Mrs. Crestle, would ever dare
to address her as "Mrs. Captain Bull.
lingtOn." As for the general, he felt
that there had been q battle, though
he could not comprehend how it had
been fought.
The arrival of Col. CrestIe, who
was affectionately greeted by his wife,
suspended hOstilities for a time and
the couples went in to dinner
Now, what Mrs. Burlington said tO
the general at dinner, only she and
her husband know; but after dinner
was over, the general was seen with
his extensive fishing-taekle making
his way to the trout-stream.
Two days after this, Mrs. DR.. Gil.
bert arrived. and with her came hel
sister-in-law, Daisy Gilbert. Daisy
Gilbert was uncommOnly pretty. She
had curls and dimples and smile:
futtering around and across hel
face. She was 1.-the and graceful
though petite. Sine had considerable
independence Of character. She sci
dom asked advice, and still more sell
ldom took it. She was in a word {
snirited IfffIa haaufv