The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-09-25

old fellow, and Join rs. Captain, what shall
II BET Say, you all know Dick Cassidy
Of the Seventh. heard such q good rig
on him this morning. I got letter from
Tommy Craig, who's on duty at the war
department, dhe told me that Dick was
there trying to get one Of these blasted
college details. What dye suppose E.
cavalryman wants to leave his regiment
for, to take thing like THAR
Perhaps his health is impaired, Noel, !"
Baid Wharton, with humorous twinkle
In his handsome eyes. Even cavalry
men have been known to have to quit
their beloved profession on that account
and get something soft in the east for a
year or So"
The color mounted 10 Noel's cheeks,
but he gave no other ign Of understand
ing the shaft as aimed at him. Promptly
and loudly As ever he spoke out:
"Oh, Of course, II he's used up in ser
vice and has to go in to recuperate, all
well and good; but l always supposed
Cassidy was . stalwart In point Of health
and constitution. Who's going to the
doctors tonight? you, JackT'
Jsck-otherwise Lieut. John Tracy
shook his head as he whitfield at the Gig
arctic he had Just lighted and then
stretched forth his hand for the foaming
glass Of beer which the attendant
brought him, but vouchsafed no verbal
reply. Lee and Martin edged over to
where the two captains were playing
their inevitable game Of seven up. Two
Of the juniors-young second lieutenants
despite the extreme cordiAlity Of Noel's
invitation, begged to be excused, as they
did not care to drink anything-even a
lemonade; and no sooner had the party
finished their modest potation than there
was general move. Wallace and Hearn
went into the billiard room; Wharton
and Lee started in the direction Of their
quarters; and presently Mr.. Noel was
the only man in the clubroom without
an occupation Of some kind or acomrade
TO talk to.
Now, why should this have been the
case? NOel's whole manner was over
flowing with jollity and kindliness; his
eyes beamed and sparlIled as he looked
from one man to the other; he hailed
each in turn by his Christian name and
In tones Of most cordial friendship; he
chatted and laughed and had comical
anecdotes to tell the party; he was tall,
stylish, fine looking fellow, with express
sive dark eyes and wavy dark brown
hair: his mustache was the secret envy
of more than half Of his associates; his
figure was really elegant in its grace and
suppleness; his uniforms fitted him like
glove, and were invariably Of Hatfield's 8
choicest handiwork. Appearances were
with him in every sense Of the word; and
yet there was some reason why his soci-
ETY. was politely but positively Stunned
by several Of his brother officers and
Cultivated" by none.
1t was only few years after the great
war when Gordon Noel joined the Elev-
enth from civil life. He came Of an old
and influential family, and was welcom-
ed In the regiment as an acquisition. He
made friends rapidly, and was for two
or three years rs popular youngster as
there was in the service. Then the troop
to which he was attached was ordered to
the plains, via Leayenworth. 1t was u
long journey by boat. and by the time
they reached the old frontier city orders
and kilograms were awaiting them, one
Of which, apparently to Mr.. Noels great
surprise, detached him from his com
pany and directed him to report for tenn
porary duty at the war department in the
city Of Washington. He was there eight.
cen months, during which time his regi.
ment had some sharp battles with the
Cheyennes and Kiowas in Kansas and
the Indian Territory. Then a new sec
retary Of war gave ear to the oft repeated
appeals Of the colonel Of the Eleventh to
have Mr.. Noel and one or two other de-
tached gentlemen returned to duty with
their respective companies, and just as
they were moving to the Pacific coast
the Rbsentees reported for duty and went
along. At Vancouver and Walla Walla
Noel seemed to regain by his joviality
and good fellowship what he had lost in
the year and a half Of his absence, though
there were out and out soldiers in the
Eleventh who said that the man who
would stay on fancy duty" in Wash
ingtOn or anywhere else while his COM
rades were in the midst Of q stirring
campaign against hostile Indians couldn't
be Of the right sort.
Up In Oregon the Modoc troubles soon
began, and several troops were sent
southwark from their stations, scouting.
There were several little skirmishes be-
tween the various detachments and the
agile Indians, with no great loss on either
Elde; but when Capt. Jack" retired to
the natural fastness of the lava beds,
serious work began, and here Mr.. Noel
was found to be too i'll to take part in
the campaign, and was sent in to San
Francisco to recuperate. The short but
bloody war was brought to a close with
out his having taken part in any Of its
actions, but he rojoined after q delight
full convalescence in San Francisco
(where it was understood that he had
broken down only after riding night and
day and all alone some 800 miles through
the wilderness with orders to battalion
Of his regiment that was urgently needed
at the 'front.', and was able TO talk very
glibly Of what had occurred down in the
Klamath Lake country. Then came his
promotion to 4 first heutenancy, snd,, as
luck would have it, to troop stationed
OF the Preside.
For three months he was the gayest Of
the gay, the life of parties Of every kind
both in town and in garrison; he was In
exuberant health and spirits; he danced
night after night, and was the most pop
ular partner ever welcomed in the parlors
Of hospitable San Francisco. And then all
~ a n,.aan., Al.o.o s.n..,n Aidiun.i 81 a. n..A