The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-09-25
MY RED PANTS.

"Ihe smokers, tor so we called all
civilians at the military college of st.
Cyr, might well have asked each other
the reason why, on a certain day in
certain year, each of the St. Cyrians
carried bundle under his arm on leav-
ing the train.
1t was just this-a pair Of breeches.
Goodness gracious!-and what for?
Well, then, listen! The day previous
an order had been issued as follows:
Since great number of the pupils, not to
say all the pupils, have been seen wearing
on exact days trousers which are not reSula-
tiOn STYLE such INSTRUMENTATION can no
longer be, and the general in command of
the college hereby says that he will not toll
crate such an unpardonable offense IN
school whose pupils have the honor of be-
ing allowed to wear epauietteS.
In consequence period or forty-elght
hours is given, AT the expiration or which
time ali traces OF any non-regulation effects
must be disposed of. Any pupil after that
period found guilty of such possessions will
be punished to the extent of fifteen days in
the police cells, eight of which shall be TAX
ell QUE of the annual holiday period.
(Signed) By The GENERAL.
That is why every one was hurrying
off with the compromising vestments
and were arriving in Paris each with q
DuQQlC unuer MS arm.
l myself was unfortunately not of
that party. l had been detained till the
last moment 10y vexatious red-tape-
ism for one of my brass buttons being
unpublished.
was in the court at the inspection
which precedes the opening of the
large gates. | was annoyed at my
misfortune, and so enraged with this
unlucky button which refused to polish,
that l remained there quite down-cast,
looking after my retreating comrades.
1 was forgetting, however, the rigid
order about the neither garments.
held it there while l brooded over my
illAuck, when suddenly the idea struck
me of allowing one of my friends to
get rid of it Alas! but too late. The
door was fast closed.
| turned round in anger to find my
self face to face with tho general.
He had been a fellow-officer of my
fathers.
"Well," said he, James, are you 60
ing in alreadys'
THAT is, general" L said confused
ly, .that am not going out"
THAT is not on account of your
workp l am sure that is quite good
enough"
mo, general, l have been shut in
this very moment.
You stupid fellow!'
Eyes, general"
was moving away, when he touched
me on the shoulder.
"Cheer up! Never mind! Come and
dine with me; the time will pass quick
er that way, won't il? will tell the
sentry to allow you to pass into my
quarters.
'You are too good, general. Thank
you"
We'll, this evening, then"
Here was just what wished. Ex-
cept-my garment! What luck! /
would surely find some opportunity to
give it to Ben, 1.-THE orderly" who
would hide it for me till better times.
You see, l would have thrown it
away. no matter where, although it
would have grieved me to do so. They
were my first pair of red combinations.
No matter. Anything would have
been better than twelve days confne-
ment.
So at 6 o'clock rang at the generals
headquarters. hiding my packet under
my arm, hoping to give it shortly to
faithful Ben.
The door was opened. Halo!
it was not Ben; it was little brunette.
of engaging appearance. Anyhow, l
was going to give her the package in
confidence, when there, at the end of
the hall, as if Intentionally, the gencr-
al appeared with several people. whom
he was leading to the door. l slipped
in hastily, and. almost in spite of N.Y.
self, the maid pushed me toward the
drawing-room, where. with my cap in
one hand and my garment in the other,
Iremsfned Happily no one was there!
but q plan had to be thought of for con.
cealment. and that quickly.
CHANGING around, l sought some
place of safety, but nothing met me,
and heard some one coming.
was near the piano; it lay open; the
steps were quite near. So much the
worse! Here goes! And my nethers
disappeared inside it.
Just in time. A moment later and
the general arrived, followed by his
daughter.
NAAhSh eAhiSi cotAlO AO" III dAoP-
ped in and the general took the men off
to the smoking-room to have what he
called the regulation fumigation."
Imagine my horror when, on return
ing to the drawing-room. l saw the
candles lighted on the piano.
Were they. then, going to play?
Yes, they were. though! That was
quite evident. The ladies were TALKING
of sanatss and concertos. What a
fatality this wretched music! 1t near
ly drove me mad, l detested it so that
evening.
Miss N raised her hands grace
fully and opened the fray. At the
same time closed my eyes and heard
a noise like the distant howline of a
strangling cat. Then again a silence!
With frightened look l gazed at
Miss N, who. in her turn, looked
At me in perplexed manner.
'There must be something in the
piano. surely!" she exclaimed.
There just is" said l to myself.
They looked in. Halo! why, here's
large package" am done for.