Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-05
CHAPTER II-ABOUT THE Rail-,

"And how can one get up ball in
stupid little hole Of place in which there
are not dozen eligible girls?"
'Do' know, Pm sure; but Beauregard
and Mrs. Fanshawe have set their minds
on it, so it'll be managed SOMEHOW"
The speakers were couple of young Of
ficers who were sitting smoking by an open
window looking on the parade ground at
bennington Barracks. The window be-
longed to the sitting room of Major Frank
Travers' quarters; and the Major himself,
a jolly, jovial-looking fellow, with fair hair,
and light, laughing blue eyes, lounged on
one chair with his feet on another. His
companion, seated on the edge Of q table,
was Harry Dallas, lieutenant in the same
regiment, a handsome young fellow of
f1ve-and-twenty, who had f1eshed his sword
in the Afghan campaign under General
Roberts.
.'Beauregard has set his mind on it," re-
peated the Major ''Then, my boy, L be-
lieve you, the plan will be carried out. He
is the most determined fellow I ever met,
and Mrs FanshaWe will just follow his
Iead-he always gets the women on his
side"
you're JEALOUSY said Dallas, laughing,
for the jolly Major was the last man to be
guilty of anything so contemplate.
''Not L shall bless most fervently the
man who can bring about any excitement
in place like this. Why, hang it ALL
there's nothing to do here-nothing--not
a theatre, not even music hall; the circu-
lating library has only historical novels,
published between 1S49 and 1860. They
gravely offered my man The Gowrie Plat
when l sent him for a novel yesterday
The idea OF sending men to idle away their
time in such rat-hole"
There's lovely country round about"
observed Dallas, by way of sotatLuYs.
"Oh! very well for you and Beauregard;
you enjoy yourselves when other fellows
are friZzling; but it's too hot for walking
or riding-and then the eveningsw
Yes, the eyeningsr' echoed Harry, tax
ing fresh cigar. but the ball?''
''Oh, ay, the ball. Well, has Beauregard,
or anyone else, an idea where the girls are
to come from? So far as can at present
make out there are" Counting on his
finGers) ''the rector's daughters, two, both
plain by the way; curate's daughter, one,
rather pretty; daughter of another parson,
one; daughters Of q retired something in
big red house just outside the town, four,
SNo NCly pISUCys IiIeu GLISI6 tAI6 Inc lew
service dauGhters-matrons I haven't
counted. Altogether, we shall muster I'M
der twenty girls, two or three young mat
rons, and half-a-doZen fOgys."
perhaps Mrs. Fanshawe reckons to i'm
port some girls"
Where from? From London in the
height of the season"
The Major groaned at the thought of his
exile from the glories Of the Metropolitan
June. "No, no! the recruits must come
from the surrounding countryside bulk
of 'em, at any rate
Somebody said there were some very
good people scattered about in country
Seats" said Dallas, thoughtfully.
Indeed! who's somebody? Does he
know these parts?"
4 forgot who it was. OH LudlaIn. He's
a -shire man, and he was going up yes
terday evening to dine at the Generals. So
I dare say he gave Mrs. Fanshawe valuable
information"
Maybe" said the Major graciously,
there was council of war Was Beaure-
gard at the Generals, do you know?''
No, l don't know where he was last
night"
Securing the country in search of ad-
venture, perhaps"
No chance of adventure in this awfuliy
| civilized countryr' replied Harry Dallas,
rGefally. ''If they keep Us here long we
shall have to set a few houses and hayTicks
on fire for sheer mischief"
just then there was 4 knock at the door.