New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-02-26

~ ObOdy knew; every body said thatho
had silently passedit on to his fellow.
9 The General rummaged his own
pockets, lest it had found It's way back
to him and he had half consciously put
it away. No, it was not there, and the
brave old fighting face looked q little
blank, and he murmured an excuse
about how its loss would vex Lady
Elizabeth :.
-. But 1T cannot be lost, General
cried the officer in command of the
fort. In this room it was few min
utes ago, and in this room it must be
still. No gentleman, to his knowledge,
has it in his possession. Let the serv-
ants at the door come in, though, to
the best of my belief, not one of them
has approached the table since the box
was brought out. Let the door be made
fast, and let our search be thorough
THE candles were brandished to and
fro, under the tables, under the chairs,
round the table drapery. But from no
point flashed out the brilliant beauty Of
the little box.
"Still it must be here insisted the
Commandant, and surely no gentle
man will think his honor infringed il
each in turn is asked to empty the con-
tents of his pockets upon the table. /
myself will he the first to do so. And
the servants shall be the last
. Nobody could .bc expected to do.
muir at so simple and sensible pro-
posal, backed as it was by the honest
old officer instantly rattling out some
crown pieces and a tobacco pouch,
half-pence, and an old pipe. One aft
er the other, the gentlemen on either
side of the table followed his example,
while sharp but not unfriendly eyes
took eager note of strange pieces of
personal property, and of dainty three
cornered notes, which might serve in
the future as material for badinage and
quizzing.
/" But one drew back when the Com
mandant made his proposal. That
young man who had walked in from
the eastern end of the town dropped
suddenly into his seat, whence he had
risen in. the first eagernesso of the search.
He passed his hand once or twice,
nervously, through his hair, leaving it
wild and struggling. And then he
watched blankly, as the fruitless search
drew nearer to himself. Within five
minutes later, one or two of the officers
were whispering to each other that any
simpleton might have seen he did not
expect it could be found.
His turn was the very last. En-
sign Ransom said the Commandment,
steadily. Ensign Ransom was certainly
the first who had required to be called
upon by name.
"The youth arose. And though the
rest of his face was of deadly white
ness, there was spot of burning red
on each cheek.
"' don'tthink any gentleman should
be asked to do this he said. Il will
give my word of honor that the box is
not upon my person. did not even
keep it in my hands for a moment:
merely took it and passed it on
Too high-minded even to look at
such gew-gaws. sneered a spiteful old
Major, under his breath.
"' What men high in the service and
Old enough to be his father have al
ready done, Ensign Ransom may safely
do also, said the Commandant, with
severity that was not unkindly, for
young Ransom looked such bow
among the crowd of men, mostly stout
and middle-aged; and the very suspi-
cion suddenly lowering over him made
the old officer think of his own lads,
growing up, and not quite sure'to do
well for themselves after all.
8" would never have asked it for
the sake of my box, observed the Cen
eral. leaning back in his chair, and in
wardly wondering what Lady Eliza
beth would say of his carelessness.
60 But we ask it for the sake of our
honor, General said the Commandment,
testify.
"And we do not seem to have asked
it needlessly,' whispered the spiteful
Major.
- will not do this thingr cried the
young Ensign, passionately, and he
looked wildly round the group as If he
sought for one face that would compre-
bend 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 nature was terribly shocked
at finding anything of his the cause of
such wretched act of dishonor.
"'1f the General will come with me
to the ante-room,' said the young man,
i will convince him that have not
touched his box. But this public ex-
posture will not submit to; our con-
sent was not asked, and -
Certainly not!'' .Out upon you'll!
General, you must not think Of in.
dulging his insolent request were the
only sentences audible in the general
hubbub that arose on every side.
But tho General rose sGentle-
men, he said quietly, Il have never
yet refused to listen to an enemy's peti-
ton. If you can satisfy me, sir, per.
haps your comrades will take my word
for you.'
:" There was q murmur of very re-
luctant acquiescence, as the Ensign
bowed and waited respectfully to fol-
low the General to the chamber.
They had not disappeared behind the
heavy curtains before all sorts of sur
misses were whispered round the table,
guesscs and hints SO wild and SO sinis-
ter rs to do credit neither to the heads
nor tho hearts which originated them.
The General and the Ensign staid =
longer time in the ante-room than
would have sufficed to search the En-
signs pockets twice and thrice over.
Not q sound could be heard. II any
conversation was going forward, It
must have been in a very low voice.
The two gentlemen were away for near
" half an hour. All the military sery-
ants had been subjected to the Com
mandart's rigid scrutiny, and then dis
missed. It might be as well that none
but the gentlemen of the regiment
should know exactly what the end was.
The delay grew first awkward and then
awful. Even the whispers and rumors
Jagged into an intent and excited
& '.At last the General and the Ensign
came out. The Ensign's face was still
very pale; what flush remained upon
it had now mounted to the eyes. The
old General was blowing his nose.