Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-28

iutant'S full consent he appeared arm
ed and equipped at the guard house and
reported for duty as Mullen's successor
in charge of the second relief. Ex
aiming the list of men absent on pass
he made mental note of two In his own
battalion and looked visibly disap-
pointed when he scanned the cavalry
names. 1t had been ordered that all
men returning from pass should report
at the guard house, leave their papers
with the officer of the guard and then
return TO their quarters, those of the
infantry battalion passing around out
side the officers houses, those of the
cavalry entering their barracks by the
rear steps at once.
| Three days of sunshine and breeze
had dried the ground so that the paths
around the post were in perfect order,
and, except that it made their walk
| longer by some two hundred PAGES,
there was no discomfort in obeying the
order. The first batch Of soldiers APP
peared about half-paSt eleven, surren-
dered their passes and went quietly to
their barracks. Another squad appear
ed about ten minutes later, but there
I
names Brent had noted and whose pass
expired at midnight. 1t was then that
the young soldier, with the permission
of the officer of the guard, strobe
quickly over TO the southwest gate,
hundred yards away.
From here he noted the dispersal OF
the little party that had been spend
ing the evening at the ColonelS: here he
had Strengthened up, and standing un-
der the lamp-post rendered his sol
dierly salute to Captain and Mrs. Lane
as they passed in front of him, repeat
ing it an instant after when young
lady, with dark, sparkling eyes, looked
him quickly over as she tripped by on
the arm of her escort, and while the
latter held open the gate of the brick
quarters at the corner, almost within
earshot. she inquired:
WHO is that infantry corporal, Mr..
Hearn?"
THAT? Oh, you didn't get here in
time for the ball game, Miss Marshal,
or you wouldn't have asked. That's
Corporal Brent, Captain of the Rife
nine
Cant we persuade you to come in a
few minutes, Mr.. Hearn?" called Mrs.
Lane. i'm her sweet, cordial voice.
Eyes, do come, Hearn, chimed in the
captain, ever ready to second his wlfe'S
motion.
The lieutenant hcSitated an instant
and glanced at the girl who had just
stepped within the gate, but as she said
nothing that seemed in any way press
ing he raised his forage cap, and pleas
antly declining babe them good night
and went briskly away. Opening her
window five minutes later TO close the
outer blinds Miss Marshall glanced down
from above the piazza roof and saw the
corporal of the guard still standing there
under the lamp, apparently waiting.
He looked Quicklyup at the sound OF the
creaking shutter, then turned aside.
The next moment, before she could
faSten the blind, the sentry at the guard
house sung ont Number /, u o'clock.
The corporal leaned his rifle against the
fence. quickly eXtinguished the lamp,
and all in front of the quarters was
darkness.
Down at the guard house she could
see the beary light of the oil lamp and
the dim form of the sentry pacing to and
fro: she stood there by the window
Straining her ears for the watch call of
the distant sentrieS far over by the hay
stacks aud wood yard, then nodded her
head apprOvingly ut the Soldierly ring in
the voice of No. | rs he sung out the
final ais we'll" Pcering through the
shutters, she was wondering what had
become of the corporal, when the latch
of their gate clicked; the rusty hinges
gave Il sudden squeak; there was rat
tie as of falling rifle. muttered cjac-
ulation: she could just dimly make out
a Shadowy form STOPPING to pick up the
gun, and then cautiously reclOsing the
gate. Then, instead OF moving away,
there it stood, leaning against the fence.
Evidently Corp. Brent had business
there and had come TO stay. Instantly
she bethought her of the talk she had
heard among the officers about the colo
nel's order prohibiting the men from
crossing the parade, of the implied PROM
seS that no more violations should oc-
cur in recognition of the colonel'S hay
ing released the quartet of royStererS in
time for the great match game, and OF
the alleged violation of this contract.
She was young woman OF quick per-
ccption: Brent had evidently posted
himself there TO capture the malefactors
should they appear
Quarter of an hour passed without tie
fainteSt sound from without. She heard
. Capt. Lane extinguiShng the lamps in
the parlor below, and Mrs. Lane had
come tripping up to her door to say
good night, but seeing that her guest
was writing refrained from coming
farther, though Miss Marshall prompt
ly laid aside her pen and diary and cor
daily babe her enter. All was quiet
within and without, and she was just
about pulling down the shade when,
peeping through the blinds. she saw the
dark shadowy form at the fence move
quickly. Stealthily into the road. The
next moment there came the stern, low
toned challenge:
HALT. you men,.
There was an instant Scurry and rush;
muttered oath; two shadowy forms
darted out by the gate, and at top
spced their flying footsteps could be
dimly heard rushing tiptoe around to
the back of the garrison. But there
was no parSut. One man evidently
had stood his ground.
"Whcrc are you goiug?" was Brcnt'S
question. in the same low stern tone.
ITO my quarters, was the answer, in
accents that were plainly defiant. "Who
are you, and what business is it OF
yours"
II am the corporal of the guard, and
you are dsobcyng orders IN entering
the garrison. Face about and 20 with
lnc to the guard house.
you can't arrest me, by God. I'm
going right to my quarterS. I'm not
going to cross the parade
That will do. Face about" Brent's
voice was heard. You know perfectly
well that You diSobeyed orders in enter
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