Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-19
MY FIRST RED PANTS.

a certain year, each of the st. Cyrians
carried a bundle under his arm on
leaving the train.
These bundles were each about the
same size, and folded carefully and
symmetrically.
Was it some extensive work on
Military Strategy" or the ,accessor-
les for temporary earthworkI
Neither one nor the other, and those
who thought that, must have had an
over extended idea of how such things
are worked at ST. Cyr.
Were they drawings, or perhaps
modelS2
No. indeed; if SO, why should they
take them to Parisl
Well then, / will tell you, for you
are not likely to guess it.
1t was Just this-a PAR of breeches.
Goodness gracious and what for.
Well, then, listen. The day pre- r
vious an order had been issued, as
follows:
'Since a great number of pupils,
not to say all the pupils, have been
seen wearing on exact days trousers
which are not regulation style, such
characterization can no longer be, and
the general in command of the college
hereby says that he will not tolerate
such an objectionable offense in a
school whose pupils have the honor
of being allowed to Dear epaulettes.
Gin consequence a period of forty
eight hours is given, at the expiration
of which time any non regulation eff
fects 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 taken
out 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
a bundle under his arm
myself was unfortunately not of
that party / had been detained till
the last moment by a vexatious red
tapeism for one of my brass buttons
being unpublished.
was in the court at the inspection.
which precedes tho opening of the
large gates. | was SO annoyed at my
misfortune, and so enraged at this
unlucky button, which refused to
polish, that | remained there quite
downcast looking after my retreating
comrades. was forgetting, how
ever, the rigid order about the neither
garments | held it there while l
brooded over my Ill luck, when sud
denly the idea struck me of allowing
enc of my friends to get rid of it.
Alas but too late. The door was fast
closed
/ turned round in anger to find
myself face to face with the general.
He had been fellow officer of my
fathers.
"Well, said he, flames, are you
going in already"
THAT is, general" said confused
ly, that | am not going out.
THAT is not on account of your
work ! am sure that Is quite good
enough"
mo, general, / nave been shut in
this very moment"
You stupid fellowW
"Yes, general.
p y
ed me on the shoulder.
"Cheer up never mind Come and
diNe with me; the time will pass
quicker that way, won't it2 will tell
the sentry to allow you to pass into
my quarters.
You are too good, general Thank
you"
well, this evening, then"
Here was just what | wished. Ex-
cspt my garment What luck |
would surely find some opportunity
to give il to Ben, 1.-THE orderly who
would hide it for me till better times.
You see, / would have thrown il
away, no matter where, although it
would have grleyed me to do so. They
were my first pair ofred coutinuances.
No matter. Anything would have
been better than twelve days conhne
meut.
So at 6 o'clock l rang at the gener
ais headquarters, hiding my packet
under my arm and hoping to give il
to the faithful Ben.
The door was opened. ttT Hello
it was not Ben; it was a little brunette
Of engaging appearance Anyhow, ]
was gong to give her the package IN
confidence, when there at the end oil
the hall, as if Intentionally, the gen
eral appeared with several people
whom he was leading 10 the door.
slipped in hastily, and, almost il
spite of myself, the maid pushed m,
toward the drawiugroon, where
with my cap in my hand AID ny
garment in the other, ! remsined
Happily no one was there, but "a plan
had 10 be thought OF for copcealment
and THAT quickly.
CHANGING round sought some plac
of safety; but nothing met me
and | heard some one coming.
| was near the piano, it lay open
the steps were quite near So mucl
the worse Here goes And my meth
ers disappeared m It,
Just in time. A moment later am,
the general arrived, followed by hi
daughter
They must have thought me YER
shy, because / was intensely red whel
| salutpd them