Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-28
WHEELING REGISTER, SUNDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1890

up TO the standard Of the post command
or on the forthcoming inspection. The
old order of things was still in existence,
and benefcent administration had not
yet issued its ban against martial eXer
cses of any kind upon the Lords day.
First call for inspection in full dress had
"gone, as the soldiers say, as the colonel
appeared in the panoply of his profess
sion upon the front piazza, glanciIg
modified approval at the glstening sur
face of his top boots and the brilliant
polish of his spurs. Down at the front
gate his orderly stood, every item OF his
dress and equipment Il model of SOL
dierly trimneSs. Out in the centre OF
the parade little party of the guard
had just lowered the storm flag that had
been hoisted at dawn, and were running
up in its stead the great garrison stand
ard, whose folds of scarlet and white
tapped out lazily in response to the soft
breeze, now rising from the westward
bluffs.
Over at the barracks the men had
come pouring forth, the neat dark blue
and white of the infantry at the east
side contrasting favorably with the
glazing yellow trimmings of the cavalry
battalion, swarming along the walk
and streaming from the stairways and
galleries of their crowded quarters,
like so many full plumaged hornets.
On the verandas across the parade
helmeted officers and ladies in dainty
muslins began to appear, and along the
row TO his right and left the sheltered
porches were similarly occupied. But
the post commander stood alone.
Madame his better half had visitors.
Breakfast was not quite flushed. and
she was devoting herself to their en-
tertainment, knowing well that her
| liege lord was feeling in no mood for
such light duty.
Almost the first thing that the colonel
| heard on going downstairs this bright
! Sunday morning was an animated COLO
guy in the kitchen between the cook and
his man of all work, an old darkey who
had followed the family fortunes for
years. Jake had learned from the police
sergeant, while he was at work on the
colonel's boots and spurs. that Corporal
Brent had been ''Slugged' by somebody
the night before and was now lying un-
conscious in the hospital. There was
time only for very brief investigation
before his guests came down. Mr.. Wal
| lace was officer OF the guard, and in re-
Spouse TO the message brought by the
colonel's orderly had gone at once TO
quarters and made his report.
Somewhere about twenty minutes al
ter midnight the sentry on No. had
called Corp. Werner out, saying there
appeared TO be something wrong up by
the gate. Mr.. Wallace, knowing Brent
to have gone thither, sprang mp and
went outside and saw light being car
ried rapidly from Capt. Lanes quarters
ut the corner over toward the cavalry
barracks. IIurrying around in front, he
got there lust in time to see the captain
and the young lady who had recently
arrived, Miss Marshall, raising Corp.
Brent from the ground. He was bleed
ing from a Jagged cash over the left eye,
and was limp and SenseleSs. After hav-
ing him carried 10 the hospital and
arousing the stewart, it was found that
his face and eyes were covered with red
pepper. Not word as TO his aSsailant
could be learned. The last men TO reach
the garrison were Murphy and Seaman,
two scapegraces OF Company f.
But the sentry on No. 4 declared they
had come around by his post on the
south side. whereas Brent was lying al
most in front of the quarters OF troop,
inside the post. Then, again, Seaman
and Murphy were both sober, and
neither of them men who would be
likely TO assault so popular and re-
spected fellow as Brent. Indeed
both of them stoutly denied having
had anything to do with the case.
What was more, Miss Marshall had
said that she heard the alteration,
heard scuflie. and heard, though
she could not see. that the man ran to-
ward the cavalry brrrackS with the cor
pora in pursuit. Then came the sound
of shock or blow: then the fall. and
hurrying downstairs she had called Capt.
Lane, and lighting his little hurricane
lamp she had hastened out along the
road. the captain rapidly following
And there. at the foot of c troop stair
way. lay Brent, bleeding profusely.
1T was some of our men that did it,
sir" said Wallace regretfully, land I'd
give months pay to prove it on them.
I'd give more than that If | thought
could prove that my cavalrymen had
anything to do with ii"
Then the colonel had sent his orderly
to ask the doctor how Brent was coming
on, and the doctor replied that he was
still Unconscious and he really could not
tell how the case would end. 1t was
from this message the orderly had just
returned. Old Morris was greatly dis
turbed. He had proposed having re-
view OF the entire command. cavalry
dSmounted, and treating his guests to
stirring and martial sight, but when the
assembly sounded he had completely
changed his mind, and so informed his
wife. I'm all upset about this affair,
he said, "and impatient to begin an in
yeStigatiOn.'
III CnNTTNI-ED