The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-05-30

by the field-officer's horse, as I skunk
behind him when the gas might reveal
too much.
It was terribly cold, to be sure, the
wind and snow almost nurnbing my
limbs l had kind of faint hope that
the field officer might think that be-
louged to O highland regiment, and II
he did observe the scantiness of my at
tire, might believe that the kilt would
explain it. Istruggled and shivered on,
knowing that all things must have an
end. and that my % rounds" must come
to an end before long. But l feared
that I could not again get warm during
the night.
We had nearly completed our tour,
and were within hundred yards OF the
guard room, when we passed the field
officers quarters. I fon ily hoped that
he would not pass them, and that he
would dismiss me at the door, but /
was surprised to see a blaze OF light
come from the windows, and to hear the
sound of music. 1t was evident that
there was "hop" going on inside, and
I already began to tremble from sort
of instinct that even worse misfortune
was yet to attend me.
Ny premonitions were tr1e, for upon
reaching his door my prosecutor, IN a
cheerful tone, said
"Well, we've had a cold tour; you
must come in and take a glass Of VINE,
and rerhaps a waltz will warm you.
I'm really much obliged" ] hastily
answered, " but 1 should not like to
leave my guard"
Nonsense, nonsense, man-the guard
viii be all right you must come in. y
This " must he said in quite a de
termined tone.
felt desperate, and again declared
that I thought l should be wrong to
leave my guard.
"Tll take tho responsibility" said
the demon so come along" saying
which he grasped my arm, and almost
J dragged me into the porch of his quar-
tiers.
When we entered the house and were
exposed to the light of the hall lamps,
fancied 1 saw slight twinkle IN the
eye of the officer, and I began to won
/ der whether he really knew of my pre-
dicament, and wished to have his joke,
He gave no other intimatiOn, however
that I saw, but quickly took off his
/ cloak and said that l had better do the
same. Seeing me hesitate, he said
/ 90 Come, off with 1t.
{ uILuEL IELlbLSbAA LEG lOAAtL FOtAlA
/ be useless, so that there was no help FOL
me but full confession. Summoninl
my courage, and fearing to hesitate,
blurted out, Colonel, IveRo trouser
on"
1.-The deuce You haven't !" he said
Well, you'd better so aud put then
on, and then come here here as soon a
possible and have a glass of something
warm.
1 flushed out of the quarters, half de
termined not TO return. l was full.
awake now, AMI shivered like 4 half
drowned dog; but no sooner had
Ore ssed myself than the colonel cam
over to say that a quadrille was waiting
for me.
I determined to put bold face o.
the matter, and entered the drawing
room. where party of about fifty La
assembled. 1t was evident, by the tit
ters of the young ladies, the grins O
the men, and the subdued smiles OF th
dowagers, that my story was known.
The colonel had told ii as n good jok
to the major, who bad whispered 1t (
his wife she had breathed it into til
ear of two Of her friends, and IL abou
ten minutes every person IN the roor
knew young subaltern had very IN
willingly gone his rounds IN his night
shirt.
AS long as I stayed in that garrison
was 4 standing joke. When the girl
saw me they always looked away an
smiled, and 1t seemed as impossible 70
me to obtain a serious answer from on
OF them as for clown to preach a sei
mon. They even seemed to be afraid {
darce with me, fearing, as 1 afterwar
heard, to look at my legs, lest l nigh
be deficient in some articles of raimen
I soon exchanged and went into nj
other regiment and years aft,rward
heard my own adventure related IN
crowded drawing-room, all OF the detail
of the story being true except the nam
of the prisOner-my misfortune havin
been attributed TO another unfortunat
fa1ICvv