Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-13

yous work, however. was passing the
-eas-laHps, which were placed at inter
walls of one or two hundred yards. The
wind was blowing So fresh that it was
with difficulty could hold my cloak
around me. Every-now and then an
extra gust of wind would come around
corner, and quite defeat all the precau-
tons which had adopted, to. encounter
the steady gale. managed to dodge in
the shade. rs much as possible, and more
than once ran the risk of being kicked
by the field officers horse, as skunk be-
hind him when the gas might reveal too
much.
/ 1t was terrible cold, to be sure, the
wind and snow almost numbing my
limbs. had kind of faint hope that
the field officer might think that be-
longed to a Highland regiment. and if
he did observe the scantiness of my at
tire, might believe 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 l feared
that / could not again get warm during
the night.
We had nearly completed our tour,
and were within few hundred yards of
the guard-room, when we passed the
field officers quarters. / fondly hoped
that he would not pass them, and that
he would dismiss me at the door, but |
was rather surprised to see blaze
of light come from the windows, and to
hear the sound of music. 1t was evil
dent that there was a ''hop" going ON
inside, and l already began to tremble
from a sort of instinct that even yet mis-
fortune was yet to attend me. ~.
NV premonitions were true, for upon
reaching his door, my prosecutor. in
cheerful tone, said !: %
"Well, we've had cold tour; you
must come in and take glass of wine,
and perhaps waltz will warm you. !" {.
"Im really much Obliged" I hastily
answered, ''but should not like to leave
my guard"
ttNonsense, nonsense, man the guard
will be all right. You must come in. "
This ''must'' he said in quite deter
mined tone. ar. ~. -
/ felt desperate, and again declared
that thought it would be wrong to
leave my guard. ~ ~
ssI'll 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 all the lamps, l
fancied / saw slight twinkle in the eye
of the officer, and began to wonder
whether be really knew of my predica-
ment, and wished to have his joke.
He gave no other intimation, however,
that saw, but quickly took off bis
cloak, and said that had better do the
same. Seeing me hesitate, he said:
.s'Come, look alive; off with it.
Further remonstrance I found would
be useless, so that there was no help for
me but full confession Summcning
my courage, and fearing to hesitate, l
blurted out, "Colonel, I've no trousers
on. IL -. ...s .s..s.
1.-THE deuce you haven't T" he said
on, and then come here as, soon as. posi-
BILE, and have a glass of something
warm. :" DIR rE 1875 .-.,.s. o..
/ rushed out of the quarters, half de-
termined not to return. I was fully
awake now, and shivered. like a half
drowned dog but no sooner had j
dressed myself than the colonel came
over to say that quadrille was waiting
for me. .s..Estl .L...t ...#
| determined to put bold face on the |
matter, and entered the drawing room,
where party of about fifty had assem- /
bled. 1t was evident by the filters of
the young ladies, the grips of the men,
and the subdued smiles of the dowagers
that my story was known. ., ..rst.E
The colonel had told it as joke to
the major, who had whispered it to his
wife, she had breathed into the ear of |
her friends, and in about ten minutes
person in the room knew young sub
altern had unwillingly gone his rounds
in his night shirt 81
AS long as stayed in that garrison I
was standing joke. When the girls
saw me they always looked away and |
smiled, and it seemed as impossible for
me to obtain a serious answer from any
of them as for q clown to preach a ser
mon. They even seem to be afraid to
dance with me, fearing, as afterwards |
heard, to look at my legs, lest | might |
be deficient in some article of raj
ment.
/ soon exchanged and went into an
other regiment; and years afterwards /
heard my own adventure related in
crowded drawing-room, all the details
of the story being true except the name
of the prisoner-my misfortune having
been attributed to another unfortunate
fellow.
/ never went to bed on guard after
that night.