The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-11-24

crept round to the back of the colonel'f
carriage, and just as il was starting
he sprang nimbly on the step behind
The coachman whipped up his horses
and ratified his wheels through the still
streets of the sleeping city, clearing the
distance in double-quick time, in order
to forestall the delinquent officer
Neither master or man guessed that
their hot haste was bearing back the
truant to his post. Within the carriage
sat the Colonel, stiff and erect, as be.
came a worthy disciplinarian, wholly
intent on the conviction of This peccant
junior, in whose impending discomfl-
ture he could not help feeling a grim
and righteous satisfaction. At the back
the Captain sat crouching ON the step,
desperately concerting his measures.
"Impudence stand my friend through
this scrape," he mentally CALCULATED.
"Perhaps all is nof lost yet" When
the carriage turned into - Street
and the bank appeared In view, he
jumped lightly down and under the
friendly cover of the night, ran to the
euuaii wickeU gate In the lane. Most
luckily he had taken the Lkey with him,
and he hsrriedly let himself in, he
passed swiftly through the court, and
came up with the sentinel inside the
gate while the carriage was taking the
longer curve which led up to the front.
How he blessed the chance impulse
which had induced him to take that
key.
"The ColonePs there, "he said breath
lessly. "Don't be too quick in undoing
the chain. Give me as long as you can,
And say, Dickson, he added anxious
ly, NUNS the word, you know--if you
can"
Gay, ay, SIR" muttered the old senti-
mel as he shufiled slowly along. lie was
very partial to the young man, and not
so much so to the Colonel.
The Captain passed hurriedly within.
Just then the bell of the great gate
rang out long resounding peal.
Inc sentine clanked the chain noisily
as he hooked and unlocked it, fumbled
with the key in the lock and made such
iudicious delays as enabled the officer
on guard to compose himself in attend
ance at his post, before the heavy doors
turned on their hinges to admit the
Colonel
"Where is. Captain Kendall?" he ask
ed, as he alighted, in sentorian tones,
which yibrated strangely through the
silence, with sort of angry expectant
note of triumph.
"On guard, sir" answered the old
soldier curtly.
"Whatl" cried the Colonel, in the
shrillest of accents. He was too utterly
taken aback to say another word. The
sentinel adopting his usual stolid in.
difference took no notice of his evident
astonishment. Captain Kendall heard
the inquiry from within and came for
ward. Repressing any inward tremor
he might feel, he resolved to put q bold
face on the matter.
"Iicre sir, do you require me?" he
asked coolly.
The Colonel stared at him. His ia Co
with its expression of mingled stern
ness and entire bcwildcrment would
have been no mean study for painter.
He could hardly believe his eyes.
Keenly scrutinizing the young man,
who did not quail before his gaze, he
said stiffiy, after a pause of some
seconds:
'I certainly thought sir, 1 saw you at
the ball in D. street just now."
"Me, sir" replied the other auda-
ciously. "Why, I'm on guard, SIR"
at is very singular" resumed the
colonel, without relaxing his scrutiny
and slightly raising his voice. 81 could
have sworn that l saw you there"
every singular indeed, sir" retorted
the delinquent, gaining boldness from
the very extremity OF the strait to
which he found himself reduced; "since
a man can't be in two places at once,
aud you have found me here. A case
of mistaken identity, perhaps, SIR"
The two men stood still eyeing each
other, one keenly eager to dctoct, aud
the other as eagerly seeking to avoid
detection. The colonel was complete
ly baflied. The mao was there before
him, that was certain; but how, having
left him, as he felt sure he had done,
among the guests at the ball, he came to
be there now, was incxplicable. Not
having wings wherewilh to fly, how
on earth had the fellow got there?
Could he have been mistaken, he won
dered for moment. But no, he knew
he had not.
lie shifted the form of his interroga-
tion:
"Then you were not at the ball?" he
asked very pointedly.
The young officer was worthy of all
condemnation for having forsaken his
post of duty. But though he had acted
inexcusably, he was still gentleman,
and he would not pollutc his lips with
a lie. lie hesiiated for reply; then
parried the question with another.
GLOW could l be at the ball when
you find me here" he asked.
Yes, how; that was the mystery, the
simple solution of which was the far
thest in the world from presenting it.