Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-04-18

Facing the broad, bleak prairie, sepa-
rated from it only by a rough, implanted
picket fence and tlanked by uncouth
structures of pine, one Of which was used
as a storehouse for quartermaster's prop
erty, the other rs the post traders deposi-
tory for skins and furs, there stood the
frame cottage which Mr.. Hayne had chos-
en- as his home. IS has been said, it was
precisely like those built for the subal-
tern officers, So far as material, plan and
dimensions We're concerned. The local.
ty made the vast difference which really
existed. Theirs stood all in row, front
ing tho grassy level Of the parade, sur
rounded by verandas, bordering on
well kept gravel path and an equally
well graded drive. Clear, sparkling
water rippled in tiny acoQuias through
the front yards Of each, and so furnished
the moisture needed for the life Of the
various little shrubs and towering plants
The surroundings were at least '5ocia
be-" and there was companionship and
jollity, with an occasional Till to keep
things lively, The married officers, as Il
rule, had chosen their quarters farthest
from the entrance gate and nearest those
of the colonel commanding. The bache-
lore. except the two or three who were old
in the service and had ''rank' in lieu of
encumbrances, were all herded together
along the eastern end, a situation that
had disadvantages rs connected with du-
ties which required the frequent pres
ence Of the occupants al the court mar
tial rooms or at headquarters, and
that was corresp ondiugly far distant
from the barracks Of the soldiers. it
had its recommendations in being con-
venient to the card room and billiard
tables at 1.-THE store" and in embracing
within its limits one house which pos
sessed mysterious interest in the eyes Of
every woman and most of the men in
the garrison; it was said TO be haunted.
A sorely peIpleXed man was the post
ouartcrmastcr when the rumor came out
from the railway station that Mr.. Hayne
had arrived ami was coming to report
for duty. AS first lieutenant he would
have choice of quarters over every sec
ond lieutenant in the garrison. There
were ten of these young gentlemen, and
four OF the ten were married. Every
set of quarters had its occupants, and
Havne could move in nowhere, unless as
occupant of a room or two in the houst
of some comrade, without first compel
ling others TO move out. This proceed
ing would lead to vast discomfort, oc
CURING as it would in the dead of winter
and the youngsters We're naturally per
turbed in sprit-lhcir wives especially
so, What made the prospects infinitel,
worse was the fact that the cavalry
bachelors were already living three il :
house; the only spare rooms were in th'
quarters of the second lieutenants of the
infantry, and they were not on speaking
terms with Mr. Hayne. Everything
therefore, pointed to the probability o
his "dsplacins" junior, who would il
turn displace somebody else, and SO the.
would go tumoling like row Of brick
until the lowest and last was reached
Ali this would involve no end of worr,
for the quartermaster, who even unde
the most favorable circumstances is sur,
to be the least appreciated and mos
abused officer under the commandan
himself, and that worthy was simpl,
agasp with relief and Joy when he hear'
MI. Haynes astonishing announcement
that he would take the quarters out oil
''Prairie avenue"
1t was the tail, of the garrison all tina
day. The ladies', especially, had goo
deal 10 say, because many of the mel
seemed averse to expressing their views
quite the proper thing for Mr.. Hayn
TO do" wns the apparent opinion of th
majority OF tho young wives and motl
ers, AS a particularly kind and col
siderate thing it was not remarked b
one of them, though that view of tn
case went not entirely unrepresenteC
In choosing to live there Mr. llayr
separated himself from companionshil
That, said some of the commentators
men as well as women-he simply "a