The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-15


shoulder, and civilly said:
u 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, newspaper man
wasn't the monarch of all he surveyed?
Never!
I'm here in the interest of the journal
L represent, and | have full authority
from the commanding general to inspect
anything at this post" was his instant
answer, accompanied by a shrug of his
shoulders and an ugly scowl.
Il cannot help that" was Cross cool
yet civil reply. you can see just as
well from the edge Of the parade, and
here you will be in the way"
Il can't see it clear back there, and
mean to stay where I can see and hear.
Ii there's anything l don't understand [
wish to be where Col. Morris can ex-
plain"
Thanks to the banging of the band, all
this was inaudible 10 the colonel, who
remained in blissful ignorance of the
couoquy taking place so near him.
You cannot stay here, SIR" was the
firm, low toned answer II will take
pains to explain everything to you after
you retire some twenty yards, but [
trust you will not make it necessary for
me to be more imperative. Come, sir!"
And SO, with the worst possible grace,
MI. Abrams had to give ground, and,
accompanied by the officer of the day.
fail back to the general throng To
cover his modification as much as DOS
slble, Cross, in d smiling and courteous
manner, went on to explain the purpose
and details Of the parade But Abrams
Only turned angrily away. Twice he
essayed to stop and face about, but
Cross was getting his blood up by this
time, and determinedly marched along
to the very edge Of the tittering line of
toWnspeople, and there, rliSing his an.
SAID with the utmost civility:
And now, sir, if can DO of the faint
est assistance in making this ceremony
clear to you, command me You viii
observe that the adiutant is coming out
to occupy the very position you were in"
But Mr.. Abrams vas in the suIlss, as
was to be expected, and. still more
wrathfully turned his back. refusing to
listen, so that Cross promptly left him
to his own devices. The representative
OF The Palladium had sense enough not
to attempt to resume his place, but he
had lost interest in the performance ST.
mUltancously with his own loss of pres
tige among the crowd, aud so, after a
moments wavering. he turned about
and shouldcrel his cullen way toward
his bugSy, only stopping long enough to
inquire OF civilian the name Of the Of
ficer.
Gross, Ell? Capt. Cross. Sure of
that, arc You? -All7rig lt, Ill fix him."
he growled between his SET teeth as he
strobe away
When q few moments later the long
line of officers h<el in front OF the
colonel and l;tised their hands in stimuli
taneous salute he responded with some
thing less than his customary graceful
elaboration and inquired:
What on earth was going on there
that there was so much giggline in
ranks: 1t was mainly in front of you,
Mr.. Martin. Havoyou been attempting
any witticisnls, sir:'
Not that. I can now recall. colonel"
responded Martin, with lis usual drawl.
Possibly the appearance Of our Chicago
friend in the role Of adjutant was what
prompted their merrinent. If you in
vited him to accompany you trust you
will excuse 1t.
Whom DO you mean, and what do
you mean"
why, Mr.. Abrams took post on your
left and rear, sir, until Cross invited him
elsewhere. I'm sorry for Cross: he has
a wife and family; and yonder goes the
gentleman, bound for the TELEGRAPH
office no doubt. What won't The Pal
ladium say now"
You don't mean he was right here by
me during parade::" said Norris, growing
very red.
Certainly, sir" spoke Capt. Brodie.
"You could have smelled his cigar if the
the wind hadn't been blowing from the
stables"
But the appearance of the wagonetta
whirling into garrison with the tall form
OF Col. Lawler, q dust colored figure
from the crown Of his felt hat down to
his very boots, put an end to further re-
marks. Morris FASTENED to meet his
guest, merely nodding response to Lanes
courteous invitation to bring him to din
ner.
CHAPTER X.
Capt Lanes quarters. as has been
said, were charmingly furnished, and
adorned with attractive pictures and
bric-a-brac. The dining room was
small, as dining rooms generally are in
army GarrisonG, Tut by dint Of moving
ont the stove, which until now had cum
bered one corner, and then crowding the
s1dehoard into its place, sufficient room
mad been gained to admit of extending
the table diagonally and seating four
teen people thereat, and now, with the
curtains drawn, but the soft evening
breeze playing through the open case
ment and the broad hallway, in the soft.
yet brilliant light of dozens of wax
candles set in sconces on the walls or in
heavy candelabra on the damask covered
board, merry party had gathered for
one of the lovely dinners for which
Mrs. Lane was already famous.