San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-27

the main interest seemed to center on |
Lieut.. Hearn, and fingers could be seen
pointed, and voices heard announcing,
That's him." as he stood tall and erect
in front of the troophe was commanding
in old Blauvelt's absence.
With flourish of trumpets and three re-
sounding ruf1es the band swept out from
the right front land then all eyes were sud-
denly greeted by an unaccustomed sight
On the troops, long schooled in military
etiquette, the effect was not at the time
apparent-neither by word nor sign was
there indication that anything unusual
had occurred; but in the populace, long
accustomed TO individual visits to the
fort and to observation of its military re-
quirements, Keep off the grass" and
by no means intrude upon the space re-
served for military exercises, the sensa-
ton was immediate. Elbowing his way
through the crowd standing at the edge
OF the parade ground, with cigar tip
tilted in his mouth, his light spring over
coat thrown back, with the same cool
elaboration that characterized all his
| movements, the representative of The
Palladium sauntered forth upon the
| sacred precincts, and never hesitating
| until he had almost reached the COM
handing officer, presently came to
| species of parade rest" Of his own, half
sitting ON the backs of his hands, which
were supported on the knob of his mas
sive cane, and there coolly surveyed the
proceedings from the very spot reserved
for the adjutant, one yard to the rear
and three to the left of the commanding
officer.
Some of the soldiers in ranks, unable
to repress their merriment at the sight
of so unusual breach of etiquette,
could not refrain from tittering. The
voices of the file closers could almost be
heard in stern, low toned reproach.
"Stop that laughing, Murphy" Quiet,
there, Duffyr' Morris himself could see
that something unusual was going on,
but, totally unconscious that his own
official precincts were the scene of the
solecism, never changed his position,
but stood there statuesque, soldierly and
precise, all unconscious of his self APP
| pointed staff officer slouching behind
him. AS for Mr.. A brams, happy in the
conviction that the people could not but
o--.-I AZ oos A. a.
look on and envy the proud prominence
Of the representative of the press, he APP
peared to have no other care than that
of the criticism due the public of the
martial exercises now taking place.
That it was probably the coloners inten-
ton to make a speech of some kind to
his men Mr.. Abrams did not doubt, and
that The Palladium should have every
word of it he fully intended.
The band by this time was hammering
half way down the line, and the officer
of the day. coming suddenly in the north
west gate from visit to the guard, be-
came aware that something was exciting
the merriment of the few men on the
verandas of the cavalry quarters, and
then caught sight of this strange figure
/ out on the parade. He looked hurriedly
about in search of the colonel's orderly,
but Brooks, as we have seen, had al
ready gone on his mission to the station,
| Not soul was there to whom he could
intrust the duty, yet he knew he could
| not allow such a breach of military pro-
| priety to occur right under his eyes.
| There seemed no help for it; he had to
go himself; and, by no means liking his
duty, Capt. Cross, of the infantry, has
tened out on the parade, and with the
| eyes of both lines upon him, though the
heads of the troops remained scrupu-
lousy fixed to the front, he stepped up
to Mr.. Abrams, tapped him on the
shoulder, and civilly said:
81 beg your pardon, sir, but no one is
allowed on the parade ground. 1 shall
have to trouble you to fall back to the
roadway"
Mr.. Abrams looked angrily around.
What! Be compelled to quit his position?
| to fall back in humiliation before all
those people and meekly take his station
among them, and actually to have to
confess that, after all, a newspaper man
wasn't the monarch of all he surveyed?
| Never!
I'm here in the interest of the journal
I represent, and have full authority
from the commanding general to inspect
anything at this post" was his instant
answer, accompanied by shrug of his
shoulders and an ugly scowl.
II cannot help that" was Cross's cool
yet civil reply. You can see just as
well from the edge of the parade, and
here you will be in the way"
II can't see it clear back tnere, and j
mean to stay where Can see and hear.
If there's anything don't understand
wish to be where Col. Morris can ex-
plain" D.