Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-30


lod Gus, ripping as a canary song, and
JUS as spontaneous. Neither lady had
said anything at the moment that was
incentive Of merriment; but il Mrs. Law
renee had given utterance to the quaint
est, oldest, most whimsical conceit i'm
agi 1able. Mrs. Bellnap's laugh could not
have been more ready, and her great,
dark eyes shot sidelong glance to note
the effect. Down went the paper, and
up, with considerable propping from his
muscular arms, came the burly form Of
the post commander. Two sweet, smil-
ing faces beamed upon him through an
aperture in the leafy screen, and Mrs.
Belknap's siivery voice hailed him in
lau Ching salutation:
did we spoil your siesta, colonel
How can make amends? You see, you
were so hidden by the vines that no one
wo I'D dream of your being there in am
bush"
"Oh, indeed, | assure you l wasn't
asleep" answered the colonel, hastily.
Won't you come in, ladies. and sit
here in the shade awhile?"
I'VE thought we would stroll around
until parade" said Mrs. Lawrence, hest
tatingly, land then sit down and watch
it somewhere"
No place better than this" promptly
ans wered the colonel "You can sit be-
hind the vines on that side and see, or,
what we would infinitely prefer, sit here
at the entrance and be seen. Meantime,
I've been unpacking some photograph
alb inns this afternoon, and you can
am Use yourselves with those while ] put
on my harness. Gomez
The colonel's collection of photographs
was something the ladies had already
genial and popular officers of the army,
he 1ad gathered together several Large
alb inns full of pictures of prominent men
ano attractive and distinguished women
not only those with whom he had been
associated in his long years of service,
but men eminent in national and state
aft irs. and women leaders in society in
many gay metropolis.
10th the ladies had hoped to see this
famous collection the evening before, but
the colonel had not then unpacked the
albums, and they were disappointed.
Nov, however, the prospect was indeed
| alluring, and neither could resist When
the first call sounded for parade few
moments after, and the commanding
| officer was getting himself into his full
dress uniform, the two pretty heads were
| close together, and two pairs of very
| lovely eyes-one dark and deep and dan
! gerOus, the other a clear and honest gray
were dilating over page after page Of
photographed beauty. There was no
neei to puzzle over the identity of the
originals; under each picture the thought
full colonel had carefully written the
name and address. Absorbed in this
trest t, they could barely afford time to
Lsol, up and smile their thanks as the
colonel passed, clanking forth at the
sounding of sdjutant's call, and were too
con pletely engrossed in their delightful
occupation to notice what took place at
parade.
The long, slender line had formed
the infantry companies on the right and
left TANKS, their neat and tasteful dress
Of blue and white contrasting favorably
with the gaudy yellow plumage of the
-four dismounted troops of the cavalry.
! Company after company had taken the
stat lresque pose Of parade rest" and its
| captain faced to the front again, the ad-
| Jutant was just about moving to his post
on The prolongation of the front rank,
and the colonel settling back into the
conventional attitude of the command.
ing officer, when from outside the rect
ang liar Enclosure of the parade ground
from somewhere bsyond the mems
barn acks-there came sudden outcry and
| commotion. There were shouts, indis-
tinguishable at first, but excited and
star ling. Some of the men in ranks
twitched nervously and partially turned
their heads, as though eager to look be
hind them and see what was wrong
whereat stern voices could be heard in
subdued but potent censure: Keep your
eyes to the front, there, Sullivan Stand
fast there. center of Third companyr
Tie guard, too, paraded in front of its
quarters some distance behind the line
was manifestly disturbed, and the voice
Of the sergeant could be heard giving
hurried orders. Every man in the bat
talion seemed at the same instant to ar
rive at one OF two conclusions-prisone
| esca ping, or fire over at the stables-anC
all eyes were fixed on the imperturbabl,
form of the commanding officer, a:
| though waiting the signal from him C
break and go TO the rescue. But there
the colonel stood, placid, calm, and ap
| parently utterly unconscious of the dis
tant yet nearing clamor. The adjutanr
hesitated moment before proceeding
further, and glanced appealingly at hi.
| CHIEF; whereupon there came from tn,
blue and gold and yellow statue out or
the parade, in half reproachful tones
The quiet order, 60 ont" and the ad iu
tant recalled to his senses and with evi
dent expression of his sentiments to tn,
effect that if others could stand it ht
coul1 brusquely turned his head to
warts the band and growled. "Soun,
off" The boom and crash of drum anC
cymbal and the blare of brazen throat
drowned for a moment the sound of tn
turmoil without. The next thing tn
battllion heard or saw was a riderles
horse tearing full tilt out on the parad
and sweeping in big circle from tn
right of the line down towards the poin
where the colonel stood.
Following him came a pair Of Chey
enne scouts, their ponies scampering il
pursuit, but veering off the green as thei
riders realized that they were intrudinI
on The ceremony of the day. Relieved
of his pursuers, the fugitive speedily set
tied down into a lunging trot, and Will
roaming name and tail, with head an,
ears erect, with falling bride rein anC
tapping stirrups, he circled rapidly tn
open space between the colonel and tn
line Of battle, then came trotting bacl
along the front, as though searching il
the stolid rank OF bearded faces for tn
friends he knew. Officer after Office
he passed in review until he came Z,
Stryler's troop, posted on the right O
the cavalry, and there, with a neigh O
recognition, he fearlessly trotted up t.
the captains outstretched hand. Anothe
minute and two men fell out and made
temporary gap in the rank; through thi
a sergeant file closer extended his whit,
glove. relieved the captain of bis charg,
and led the painting steed away.