Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-04


parade and presented the colonels COM
pliments to the occupants, the ladies of
the postmaster's and leading bankers
households, inviting them to bring their
friends and come and sit on his piazza.
Mr.. Abrams. of Chicago, who was at
the moment the center of knot of men,
young and old. quilted their society. and
with his customary deliberation saun-
tered over, opened the colonel's gate and
with careless ease of manner accosted
that official. Fine evening colonel"
and then lowered himself into the near
est chair just As the officer, with "A face
that flushed Enthusiastically. excused him
self. passed him by and fastened down
the steps to greet the entering ladies,
while the a1jutant. hurrying on to
where his sergeant major was awaiting
him at the edge of the greensward, sig
nailed the band, and the stirring notes of
"adjutants call" followed by the burst
of martial strains in swinging six-eight
time, heralded the coming of the troops
of the whole command.
Company after company. the cavalry
from the west, the infantry from the
.
ing forth upon the level green carpet,
seemingly intermingling in confusion as
they neared the center, yet unerringly
and unhesitatingly marching onward,
until presently. with the solid blue and
white battalion in the center, and with
the yellow plumed helmets of the cav
airy parading afoot on both TANKS, the
long statuesque line stretched nearly
half way across the longest axis of the
| quadrangle. Company after company,
the white gloved hands clasped in front
! of each man as its commander ordered
Parade rest" and Col. Morris himself
who had with much deliberate dignity
Of manner marched out in front of the
center. now stood in solitary state with
folded arms and glanced quickly along
the motionlesS line, while back of him
some thirty yards, all along the edge of
I the parade, in buggies. carryalls, 'busses,
in long somber rank afoot, Central Cty
looked admiringly on. For moment
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 troop he was commanding
in old Blauvelt's absence.
With flourish of trumpets and three re-
sounding ruff1es the band swept out from
the right front, and 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; bnt in the populace. long
accustomed TO individual visits TO the
fort and 10 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-
non was immediate. Elbowing his wav
through the crowd standing at the edge
of the parade ground. with cigar tip
tilted III MS mouth, his light spring over
coat thrown back, with the same cool
deiberation 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 a
species OF parade rest of his own. half
sitting on the backs of his hands. which
We're supported on the knob of his mas
slve cane. and there coolly SURVEYED the
proceedings from the very spot reserved
for the adjutant, one yard TO the rear
and three 10 the left of the commanding
officer.
Some of the soldiers in ranks. unable
to repress their merrineut at tine. sight
of so unusual a 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. Duffy Morris himself could see
that something unusual was going on.
but, totally unconscious that his own
official precincts We're the scene of the
solecism. never changed his position.
but stood there statuesque. sollierly and
precise, all unconscious of his self ap-
pointed staff ofIicer slouching behind
him. As fc: M. Abrams. happy in the
conviction that the people could not but
ook on and envy the proud prominence
IF the representative of the press, he ap-
peared to have no other care than that
If the criticism due the public Of the
martial exercises now taking place.
That it was probably the colonel's inten-
hon to make 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 a 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 hurrie,ily
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 breach of military pro-
priety to occur right under his eyes.
There seemed no help for it: he had to