Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-01-03

old officer think If his own lads, grow
ing up, and not quite sure to do we'll for
themselves after all,
IL would never have asked it for the
sake OF my box, observed the General,
leaning back i'll his chair. aud inwardly
wondering what Lady Elizabeth would
say of his carelesSneSs.
but we ask il for the sake OF our
honor, General, said the Commandment
testify.
And We do not seem to have asked
it needleSsly,' whispered the spitefnl
Major.
II will not do this thing cried the
young Ensign passionately, and he look
ed wildly round the group rs il he sought
for one face that would comprehend and
compassionate his misery. The face
which looked the kindest was that of
the old General himself, partly because
it was not his hospitality which was
outraged, partly because his genial ma.
ture was terribly shocked 1T finding
anything Of his the cause of such u
wretched act of iiShonor.
I'll the General will come with me To
the ante-room, said the young man,
." will convince hum that | have not
touched his box. But this public eS-
posture | will nat submit to; our con-
sent was not asked, and"
"Certainly not" "0ut upon youl'
General, you must not think ofindulg-
ing his insolent request, were the only
sentences audible i'll the general hub
bub that arose on every side.
But the General rose, Gentle
men, he said quietly, | have never
vet refused Is listen to All enemy'S pc
tition. II you can satisfy me, sir, per-
haps my comrades will take my word
for you.
"There was murmur Of very re.
luctant acquiescence as the Ensign
bowed and waited respectfully TO follow
the General To the ante-chamber. They
had not disappeared behind the heavy
curtains before all sorts OF surmises
were whispered round the table, guesses
and hints So Wild and SO sinister as to
do credit neither to the heads nor To the
hearts which originated them. The
General and the Ensign stand II longer
time III the ante-room than would have
suihced to search the Ensign's pockets
twice and thrice over. Not sound
could be heard. If any conversation
was going forward, it must have been
in a very low voice. The two gentle
men were away for nearly half M
hour. All the military servants had
been subjected to the commandant's
rigid scrutiny, and then dismissed. 1t
might be rs we'll that none but the
gentlemen Of the regiment should
know exactly what the end was. The
delay grew tirst awkward and then aw-
fuI. Even the whispers and rumors
merged into an intent and excited
watching.
Sat last the General and the Ensign
came out. The Ensign's face was still
very pale; what flush remained had
now mounted to the eyes. The old
General was blowing his nose.
Ensign Ransom has thoroughly
satisfied me-, he said, i'll his most geniaI
voice. Never mind my box. 1t has
vanished by one of those mysterious
accidents which willhappen sometimes
1t will be found some day. And, now
gentleman, perhaps, MS we have been
thus broken up, we shall not settle
down again very comfortably tonight
| hope we shall see you all ut the castle
before Lady Elizabeth and ! leave foi
London
- General, said the commandant
drawing him II little to one side, may
say that | sincerely trust your groa,
generosity has not led you to-
Sir cried the old General, car
you imagine that any mistaken idea o
kindness would cause me to make you
Il companion Of thieves? Gentlemen,
nc went on, seeing that the company
were not unaware Of this little by-play
: | pledge you my word that | am salts.
fled of Ensign Ranson's honor, anc
whoever dares to doubt him makes me
to be his accompllce
"And the old general seized the young
Ensign's arm and marched him from
the banqueting-room, while every ont
sat dumb-(ounded, till the spiteiu
major remarked that wonders woulc
never cease.
There was nothing more to be said
1t was discovered that Ensign Ransoi
was not only invited 10 the castle witt
the other officers, but was also asked
there by himself, AID actually was be
lieved to nave taken tea with the Gen
eral and Lady Elizabeth in their deep
est retirement For the generals sake
rather than his own, his brother officers
continued on courteous terms with him
and he had always been SO shy, ant
held himself SO aloof, that perhaps ht
did not discover there was but little
cordially in their courtesy. And pres
emily he exchanged into another regi
ment, which went on foreign service.
He was away for several years, anc
in the fortunes of war he got rapidly
promoted. so that when he returned
home, though he was still young, ht
was no longer poor nobody. Wher
he landed in his own country he found
letter awaiting him, written by one
who had sal near him at that memoir
able dinner-party, and who was now re
siding IN the old castle where the Gen
eral and Lady Elizabeth had then beer
guests. This letter pressed him, IN the
warmest terms, to spend some Of hi'
al