Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-26

sssc ssses SHh S'auucu tOI parauo D lew
moments a.ter, 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 cycs-one dark and deep and dan.
gerous, the other clear and honest gray
were dilating over page after page OF
photographed beauty. There was no
need to puzzle over the identity Of the
originals; under each picture the Thought
ful colonel had carefully written the
namo and address. Absorbed In this
treat, they could barely afford time to
look up and smile their thanks ~ the
colonel passed, clanking forth at tho
sounding Of adjutant's call, and were too
completely engroesed In their delightful
occupation 10 notice what took place ut
parade.
The long, slender line had formed
the infantry companies on the right and
left Hanks, their neat and tasteful dress
OF blue and white contrasting favorably
with the gaudy yellow piumags Of the
four dismounted troops Of the cavalry.
Company after company had taken the
staturcsque pose OF "parade rest" and its
captain faced to the front again, tho ad.
jutant was just about moving to his post
on the prolongation Of the front rank.
and the colonel settling buck into the
conventional attitude Of tho command.
Ing officer, when from outside the rect
angular inclosure Of the parade ground
from somewhere beyond the mems
barracks--thcre came sudden outcry and
commotion. There were shouts, lndls.
tingulshable at first, but excited and
startling. Some Of the men In ranks
twitched nervously and partially turned
their heads. as though eager to look 10.
hipd them and Gee what was wrong;
whereat stern voices could be heard In
subdued but potent ccnsure: keep your
eyes to the front, there, Sullivani" "Stand
fast, there, center Of Third companyl'
The guard, too, paraded in front Of its
quarters some distance behind tho line,
was manifcstly disturbed, and the voice
OF the sergeant could bs heard giving
hurried orders Every man In the bat.
talon seemed ut tho same instant to ar-
rive mt one Of two conclusions prisoners
escaping, or fire over at the stablcs--nnd
all eyes were fixed OH tho imperturbable
form Of tho commanding officer, as
though waiting the signal from him to
break and go to the rescue. But there
the colonel stood, placid, calm, and APP
parently utterly unconscious Of the dis.
tant yet nearing clamor. Tho adjutant
hesitated u moment before proceeding
further. and glanced appcalingly at his
chief; whcreupon there came from the
bluo and gold and yellow statue out on
the parade, In half reprouchful tones,
the quiet order, "Go ont" and the adju-
tant, recalled to his senses and with evi.
dent expression Of his sentiments to the
effect that II others could stand It he
could, brusquely turned his head to.
wards tho band and growled, Sound
Off, Tho boom and crash of drum and
cymbal and the blare Of brazcn throats
drowned for moment tho sound OF the
turmoil without. The next thing tho
battalion heard or saw was riderless
horse tearing full tilt out on the parade
and sweeping In big circle from the
right of the line down towards tho point
where tho colonel stood.
Following him came pair OF Chcy.
enne scouts, their ponies scampering In
pursuit, but veering or the green "a their
riders realized that they were intruding
on the ceremony Of the day. Relieved
Of his pursuers, the fugitive speedily set
tied down into lunging trot. and with
streaming name and tail. with head and
ears erect, with falling bride rein and
tapping stirrups, he circlcd rapidly the
open space between the colonel and tho
line Of battle, then came trotting back
along the front, a. though searching In
the stolid rank OF bearded faces for tho
friends he knew. Officer after officer
he passed In review until he camo to
Strykers troop, posted on the right Of
the cavalry, and there, with neigh OF
recognition, lie fearlessly trotted up TO
the captains outstretched hand. Another
minute and two men fell out and made a
temporary gap In the rank; through this
sergeant file closer extended his white
glove, relieved the captain Of his charge
and led the painting stecd away.
The men retook their places; tho cap
tain again resumed his position In front
Of the center Of bis company. dropped
the point Of his saber TO the ground and
settled back into parade rest;" tho band
weNt on laundering down the line,
countermarched and came back to its
post on the right, making the welkin
ring with the triumphant strains of
Northern Route" the trumpets pealcd
the retreat" the adjutant stallsed his
three yards to the front, faced fercely
to the left and shouted his resonant or
ders down the line, three hundred mar
tial forms sprang TO attention, and tho
FURNISHED arms came to the carry"
with simultaneous crash, ranks were
opened with old time precision, the
parade presented" to the colonel with,
all duo formality, the manual was ex-
ecuted Just rs punctiliously rs though
nothing unusual had happened first Ser
gcants reported, orders were published,
parade formally dismissed; tho line Of
officers marched solidly to the front,
halted, and made fits simultaneous salute
to the colonel, who slowly raised and
lowered his white gioved hand In recog-
milton; and then, and not till then, was
any one allowed to speak of what was
uppermost In every mind--that Sergt.
Gwynne's horse had coLV In without
him, and that the animals right flank
was streaming with blood.
Ten minutes later Lieut.. Perry, In rid
ing dress, came hurrying down to the
colonel's quarters, where two or three
officers were now gathered at the gate.
The ladies had put aside the albums. and
with anxious faces were scanning the lit
tie group as though striving to gauge
from their gestures and expression the
extent Of the calamity or the possible de-
gree OF danger. But Mrs. Lawrence
looked fairly startled when her hus-
bands voice was heard for the first time
above the general hum Of censultation.