The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02


"In this room it was few minutes ago
and in this room it must be still. Nc
gentleman, to his knowledge, has it in
his possession. Let the servants at the
door come in though, to the best of my
the table since the box was brought out
Let the door be made fast, and let oul
search be thorough"
The candles were brandished to anG
fro, under the tables, under the chairs
round the table drapery. But from nc
point flashed out the brilliant beauty o
the lit g 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 be the first to do so. And
the servants shall be the last"
| Nobody could be expected to demul
at 80 simple and sensible q proposal,
backed as it was by the honest old of.
ficer instantly rafting out some crown
pieces, and tobacco pouch, half-pence,
and an old pipe. One after another, the
! gentlemen On either side of the table
i followed his example, while sharp but
not unfriendly eyes took eager note oi
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 sud-
denly into his seat, whence he had risen
in the first eagerness 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 and nearer to himself. Within
five minutes later, one or two of the Of
ices were whispering to each other that
any simpleton mig h. have seen he did
not expect it could be found.
His turn was the very last. "Ensign
Ransom" said the commandant, steadily.
Ensign Ransom was certainly the first
who required to be call upon by name.
The youth arose, and, though the
rest of his face was a deadly whiteness.
there was spot of burning red on each
cheek.
81 don't think any gentleman should
be asked to do this" he said. "I will
give my word of honor than the box is
keep it i'll my hands for n moment; I
merely took it and passed it on"
"Too high minded even to look al
such gewgaws," sneered spiteful ole
major under his breath.
What men high i'll the service an
old enough to be his father have already
done, Ensign Rapson may safely do
ALSO" shiG the commandant, with q sc
verify which was not unkindly, foi
young Ransom looked such boy among
the crowd of men, mostly stout ano
middle-aged and the very suspicion
suddenly lowering over him made the
old officer think of his own lads, grow,
ing up and not quite sure to do well for
themselves after all.
4 would never have asked it for The
sake OF my box, observed the general,
leaning back in his chair. and inwardIy
wondering what Lady Elizabeth would
say of his carelessness.
But ve ask it for the sake of our
honor, general" said the commandant,
testify.
"And we do not seem to have asked
it needlessly," whispered the spitefu'
major.
81 will not do this thing |" cried the
young ensign, passionately; and he
looked wildly round the group as if he
sought for one face that would compre-
hend and compassionate his misery. The
face which looked the kindest was that
of the old general himself, partly be
cause it was not his hospitality that wa
outraged, partly because his genial ma
ture was terribly shocked at finding
anything of his the cause of such q
wretched act of dishonor.
eff the general will come with me to
the anteroom," said the young man, "l
will convince him that 1 have barely
touched his box. But this public ex
posure will not submit to-; our consent
was not asked, and -
"Certainly not |" "Out upon you T.
General, you must not think of IL
dulging his insolent request" were th4
only sentences audible in the general
hubbub that arose on every side.
But the general rose. Gentlemen,
he said, quietly. 81 have never yet re-
fused to listen to an enemy's petition
II you can satisfy me, sir, perhaps your
comrades will take my word for you"
There was murmur of very reluctant
acquiescence, as the ensign bowed and
waited respectfully to follow the general
to the ante-chamber. They had not dis
appeared behind the heavy curtains be-
fore all sorts of surmises were whispered
round the table, guesses and hints so
Wild and 80 sinister as to do credit
neither to the heads nor the hearts
which originated them. The general
and the ensign stayed longer time in
the anteroom than wonld have sufficed
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 gentlemen were
away for nearly half an hour. All the
military servants had been subjected to
the commandsnt's rigid scrutiny, and
then dismissed. 1t might be as we'll
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 tagged into an in.
tent and excited watching.
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.
Ensign Ransom has thoroughly sat
isfied me-" he said, in his most gentle
voice; Never mind my box. 1t has
vanished by one OF those mysterious ac-
cidents which will happen sometimes.