The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-24
BY THE GATE OF THE SEA,
BY David Christie Murray,
AUTHOR OF "a MODEL FATHER. "A LIES
AToNEMENT," ETC.
CHAPTER I.-CONTINUED.


Contrary to Tregarthen's expectation
no immediate action followed upon his
refusal OF the Majors ultimatum. A
day or two went by, and he was simply
disregarded. No brother officer came
near him; he heard nothing about the
continuance of his arrest or its discon-
tinuance, and, after waiting in his own
quarters until the sense of tedium be-
came too marked to be easily endured,
he wrote careful little missive to the
Colonel, requesting to know what form
the charge against him would take,
and when it would be preferred. In re-
spouse TO these inquiries came letter
from the Adjutant informing him that
the character of the charge was under
consideration, that he would receive
ample warning of the date on which it
would be preferred, and that ne was in
the mean time to regard himself as be-
ing released from active participation
in regimental duties. Following on
this came another letter (signed by
every officer of the regiment, with the
exception of the Colonel, the names
following each other in order OF senior
ity), urging upon him the extreme de-
sirableness of withdrawal from the
regiment, and suggesting, in terms of
studied politeness, that even the serv-
ice at large might manage to get along
without him.
This second epistle Tregarthen left
unanswered, but he appealed to the
Adjutant to know whether he might re-
gard himself as being Professionally at
liberty; and being answered in the af-
frmatiye, he set out for London He
found his story there before him,
garbled, as such stories are. He had
drunkenly insulted his Colonel, had
thrown wine glass at him--in milder
versions, had only thrown the contents
of the glass-in versions even stronger,
had used decanter as missile.
He suffered much heart burning be-
lore the court-martial summoned to de-
eide his case was appointed, and if he
had expectations of support from any
court Of honor, they were dashed to
pieces. The assemblage of officers and
gentlemen who Investigated the history
OF the quarrel were unanimously
against him. They were also unani-
nous in their recommendation that he
should quit the service. This, with the
obstinacy natural to'him, be utterly de.
clined to do; and the upshot of the
whole matter was that, when all due
formalities had been accomplished, the
contumacious youth was deprived of
his commission, and was returned to
the world with q character more DAM
aged than it deserved to be. Discipline
must be maintained, and there is no
doubt that if Comets were accustomed
publicly to rebuke their Colonies for
breaches of good-breeding the British
military service would enter on phase
of some novelty.
Tregarthen went home Disguised and
embittered. The only career he cared
for was closed to him for good and all;
and even in later years, when expert
ence brought him more wisdom than
two-and-twenty can commonly boast
of, he believed himself TO have been I'M
Justly used.
1t seemed necessary to relate this
episode of his career for two reasons
it strikes keynote of his character, and
it furnishes an explanation for his after
mode of life.