Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-03-20

Crea.
Sergt. Wren had stopped short on
oyertaking the trooper, and with scant
ceremony addressed him in tones that all
could hear:
"Welsh, you're for guard tomorrow,
and you've got mighty little time in
which to get ready. Did the lieutenant
excuse you from parade?'
81 didn't ask him. Col. Lawler was
good enough for me-
"Col. Lawler left the post at o'clock
and couldn't have wanted you"
"All tho same / was acting under his
orders and nobody elses. Ii sou want
any other authority you can go to Col.
Morris; I'm busy now" And with his
hands in his pockets and jerk of the
head to his companion, Welsh whirled
about and led the way down the road
toward the store, Abrams slowly follow
ing in his wake, but looking back as
though curious to SEQ the sequel. The
first sergeant stood an instant flushing
and with wrathfrd eyes, but raised his
hand in respectful salute as tho young
troop commander came quietly along,
Miss Marshall leaning on his arm.
you warned him for guard, sergeant
said ltearn, answering Wren's salute.
Yes, sir, and he says Col. LAWYER ex-
cused him from parade"
Il reported the absence to Col. Nor
ris, ard he tells mo there may have been
some such understanding, sergeant. At
all events, as Col. Lawler has gone, lie
would give Welsh the benefit of the
doubt; go we have nothing further to do
with that natter
Wren ground his teeth as he briskly
strobe back to his quarters.
"What does the lootnant say" de-
manded Duffy, as he with half dozen
OF his comrades clustered about the Of
fee, eagerly watching the sergeant 5
face and his clinchins hands as he re-
turned.
Nothing. Don't ask questions now,
you mon. The lieutenant can't do any
thing to him; the colonel won't let
him"
The colonel won't, is it;" said Duffy,
with a wrarhful grim. "Be jabers, if l
were colonel Ia command my regiment,
and no damned newspaper man would
scare me OUT Of it. It's The Palladium
mat commands Fort Ryan tonight, ard
that Jlackguard Welsh is post adjutant
more shame TO us air.
"Silonce, there Duffy! No moro of
that talk ordered Wren, as he banged
TO the door OF his own little den, and the
knot Of troopers scattered away. "All
the same mutterel he to his faithful
second, Ser5t. Ross, Duffy only tells the
truth. and damn me il l ever thought
the day would come when my cid chief
would bnuckle down like that"
And if in garrison circles that night it
was predicted that something would be
the outcome Of the detail Of Welsh for
guard duty, no one was destined to dis
appointment. He appeared at the APP
pointed time, and was curiously scanned
by the other members of the troop, as.
carbina in hand, he came slowly and in
differently down the stairway just as
/ the trunpets began 70 sound the assem-
bly, Of the details. Unluckilv for every
I body who hoped to see Welsh brought
up with q round turn by the snappy
young adjutant, u dlizzling rain had set
in, and undress guard mounting in over
coats was the result. Wclsh's FORAGE
. cap and accOuterments might past mus
ter in 4 shower, but his full dress ri4
every man know to be wofully ont OF
shape, and such was the fellows uupop.
ula,ity among his comrades by this timt
that audible regrets We're expressed by
the mon that the weather had "cone
back On thorn"
"o,ep out, tberc," shouted Wren sharp
~ to tho dawdling soldier, as he gave
the command to fall in.
"Get a move on you, Misther Welsh, >
laughed Duffy from the upper gallery.
"Qr don't they ever shtcp out in the ox.
cellent family down cast? Sure, isn't he
a fine looking, intelligent young mau
Of ?5?'
"Twenty-fve? Faith, it's thirty-si,
in months he'd get if | was command
ing" muttored Kerrigan. GLOW are
your patriotic motives this morning, Mis-
ter American Blood with the-AsShumed
Nance"
"Sure his pame is Dennis" laughed
Duffy again, Quit your sneering, Ker
rigan. The young soldiers eyes arl
. bl'|''AS WIN pew u. lNtIilS5o uSftIi
don't you see?" And indeed most ma
Isnant scowl was that which Welsl
launched alOft at his Prosecutors, WHOSE
fun was cut short by the stern voice Of
Sergt. Ross ordering silence. And in an
other moment the detail OF c troop was
dancing away in double tino, with &
parting adjuration from Duffy not to &c
too fast; Its to aisy to set the blood
boiling in Welsh's veins, anyhow"
1t was in the ugiieet possible mood
that Welsh tossed up mis- carbine for the
inspection of the officer Of tho guard
He had expected to pose ~ a nero and
martyr. But whatever might DO The
mistaken sentiments aroused in the east
by the efforts Of paper that had ex
hausted local well springs of scandal and
sensation, here among those who knew
the facts, and, above all, knew him, h,
had gained only ridiculs and contempt
In all the garrison, now that Goss wa,
gone, there was not 4 soldier who haC
ever stood his friend. In his own trool
especially, where the rank and file were
devoted to their young lieutenant, there