The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-08
With lantern, and we started on our tour OF IN

with lantern, and we started on our 'ol'i VI 1i'
spection.
The field officer asked several questions con
nected with the position and duties OF sentrles
to which gave answers as we'll as the ,, ehatter,
| ing of my teeth would permit me. The mos'
nervous work, however, was passing the gas
| lamps. which we're placed at Intervals Of
one or two hundred yards. The wind was
blowing so fresh that it was with difficulty
could hold nv cloak around me, and conceal
the absence of my undergarments. Every
now and then an extra gust OF wind Woulo W Wm
come around a corner, and quite defeat all the
the precautions which I had adopted to en-
counter the steady gale. [ managed to dooge
in the shades as much as possible, ana more
than once ran the risk of being kicked by the
field officers horse, as sunk behind him when
the gas might have revealed too much.
It was terrible cold, to be sure, the wind and
snow almost numbing my limbs. I had kind
of faint hope that the field officer might think
that belonged to Highland regiment ana II
he did observe the scantiness OF my. AZURE
might believe that the kilt would explain IT, 4
struggled and shivered on, knowing that al
things must have all end before long. But
feared that could not again get warm during
the night.
We had nearly completed our tour, and were
within few hundred yards OF the guaro-rooni,
when we passed the field officers quarters l
fondly hoped that he would not pas, them, and
that he would dismiss me at the door, put L
was rather surprised to see Dlaze OF llgh55
come from the windows, and to hear the sound
of mnsic. It was evident that there was a
"hon' poine on inside, and already began to
tremble FROM sort of instinct that even worse
misfortune was yet to attend me.
reach
ing 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"
"I am really much obliged ?" I hastily an
swered, "but should not like to leave my
guard" =, , ill
"Nonsense, nonsense, man-the guard Will
be all right you must come in."
This ssmust" he said in quite determined
tone.
I felt desperate, and again declared that
thought should be wrong to leave my guard.
"Ill take the responsibility" said this de-
mon $50 come along" saying which, he
grasped nv arm, and almost dragged me into
the porch of his quarters.
When we entered the house, and were ex-
posed to the light of the lamps, 1ancled l
saw slight twinkle in the eye of the officer,
and began to wonder whether he really knew
of nv predicament, and wished to have his
Joke. he gave no other intimation, however,
that saw, but quickly took off his cloak, and
said that 1 had better do the same. Seeing me
hesitate, he said, "Come, look alive; OF with
it,"
Further remonstrance I found would be use
less, so 1 found there was no help for me but a
full confession. Summoning my courage, and
fearing to hesitate, blurted out, Colonel, I've
no trousers on." .. ,,,,, :,
"The deuce you haven'tp he said. "Well,
you'd better 20 and put them on, and then
come here as soon as possible, and have glass
of something warm" :,
T rushed out of the quarters, half determined
not to return. I was fully awake now, and
shiyering like halfdrowned dog; but no
sooner had dressed myself than the Colonel
came over to say that quadrille was waiting
for me.
determined to put a bold face on the mat
ter, and entered the drawing room, where a
party of about fifty had assembled. 1t WAS
evident by the titters of the young ladies, the
prins of men, and the subducd smiles OF the
dowagers that my story was known.
The Colonel had told it as good joke to the
major, who had whispered it to his wife; she
had breathed it into the ear of two OF her
friends, and in about ten minutes every person
in the room knew young subaltern had un-
willingly gone his rounds in bis niightshlrt.
As long as I stayed at the garrison, was
standing joke. When the girls saw me they
always looked away and smiled, and it seemed
as impossible for me to obtain serious answer
from them as for clown to preach sermon.
They even seemed to be afraid to dance with
me, fearing, as afterwards heard, to look at
my legs, least I might be deficient in some
article of raiment.
I soon exchanged and went into another reg
iment; and years afterwards I hear my own
adventure related in crowded drawing-room,
all the details of the story being true except
the name of the prisoner-my misfortune hav-
ing been attributed to an unfortunate fall.
I never went to bed on guard after that
night.