Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-02-05

and am glad he has promised that there
will be no more of this night business" !"
And yet, two days afterward, the
colonel sent for Corp. Brent to say that
the agreement was being violated. Three
soldiers had been seen running from the
southwest gate across the parade the
night before. The sentry had been
taken off on the strength of the arrange
ment; the Rife nine had won the game
amidst great enthusiasm, and there was
a liberal transfer Of treasury notes in
consequence. The infantry and many
of the cayalrymen were rejoicing in un-
accustomed wealth between pay days,
and applications for passes to visit town
had been Of unusual number The four
culprits had pleaded guilty to their Of
fense and been awarded some light fine.
The slough boys" fully appreciating
the colonels consideration in the matter,
as fully meant to stand by their promise
to Brent. 1t was with not little feeling,
therefore, that they received the news
that the compact was violated.
That Saturday evening, in some mys-
terious way, Corp. Mullen Of the guard
sprained his wrist just after tattoo, and
though Brent was not the next man on
the roster, with the adjutant's full con-
sent he appeared armed and equipped at
the guard house and reported for duty as
Mullen's successor in charge of the sec
ond relief. Examining the list of men
absent on pass, he made mental note Of
two in his own battalion and looked visi-
bly, disappointed when he scanned the
cavalry names. 1t had been ordered
that all men returning from pass should
report at the guard house, leave their pa
pers with the officer of the guard and
then return to their quarters, those of
the infantry battalion passing around
outside 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, ex-
cept that it made their walk longer by
some two hundred PAGES, there was no
discomfort in obeying the order. The
first batch of returning soldiers appeared
about half-past II, surrendered their
passes and went quietly away to their
barracks. Another squad appeared
about ten minutes later, but there was
still no sign of the two whose 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, a hundred yards away.
From here he noted the dispersal of
the little party that had been spending
the evening at the colonels; here he had
Strengthened up, and standing under the
lamp post rendered his soldierly salute
to Capt. and Mrs. Lane as they passed in
front of him, repeating it an instant
after when a young lady, with dark,
sparkling eyes, looked him quickly over
as she tripped by on the arm Of her es-
cort, and while the las-er held open the
gate Of The brick quarters at the corner,
almost within earsllot, she inquired:
"Who is that infantry corporal, Mr..
Hearn@
''That? Oh, you didn't get here in
time for the ball game. Miss Marshall,
0r you wouldn't have asked. That's
Corp. Brent, captain of the Rifle nine"
''Can't we persuade you to come in a
few minutes, Mr.. Hearn5' called Mrs.
Lane, in her sweet. cordial voice.
eyes, do come, Hearn, chimed in the
captain, ever ready to second his wife's
motion.
The lieutenant hesitated an instant
and glanced a. the girl who had just
.+o,-,,,,T r--i41.;,, +ba ,~a+a l,.+ ~ c1,a ca;d
nothing that seemed in any way press
ing he raised his forage cap, and pleas
antly declining bade them good night
and went briszly 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 quickly uD at sound Of the
creaklng shutter, rnen turned aside.
The next moment, before size could
fasten the blind, the sentry at the guard
house sung out, s'Number I, IL o'clock"
The coporal leaned his rifle against the
fence, quickly extinguished the lamp,
and all in front Of the quarters was dark
ness.
Down at the guard house she could
see the bleary light Of the oil lamp and
the dim form of thesentry 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 and wood yard, then nodded her
head approvingly at the soldierly ring in
the voice Of No. / as he sung out the
final ''all's well" Peering through the
shutters, she was wondering what had
become of the corporal, when the latch
Of their gate clicked; the rusty hinges
gave a sudden squeak; there was rattle
as Of a falling rife, muttered ejacula-
ton; 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
ise that no more violations should occur
in recognition of the colonel's having re-
leased the quartet Of roy5terers in time
for the great match game. and of the al
legged violation of this contract. She
was young woman Of quick perception:
Brent had evidently posted himself there
to capture the malefactors should they
appear.
Quarter of an hour passed without the
faintest sound from without. She heard
Capt. Lane extinguishing 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 promptly
laid aside her pen and diary and cor
daily bade 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, steaithily into the road. The
next moment there came the stern, low
toned challenge:
ssHalt, you menF'
There was an instant scurry and rush;
muttered oath; two shadowy forms
darted out by the gate, and at top speed
their flying footsteps could be dimly
heard 7-11shinsy tintaoe around TO the back