Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-14

remember he did not get his promotion
to the Eleventh until nearly year after
he left the Point. At least that is what
Mr. McDonough says" And Mr.. Nc
Donough, being the owner of the crossed
rifles, the daInsel bushes becomingly.
''Oh, l remember" answered Mrs.
Morris. MIR. Hearn told us he had
been stationed here for one winter; but
he didn't seem to like it much then"
Wasn't Mr.. Hearn little wild in
those days." inquired Mrs. Brodie. lit
seems TO me l have heard as much from
some of the townspeople. You've no
idea what gossips they are. Why, I've
learned ever so much about your prede-
cessors, the til, that l never dreamed
of before they left. A good deal about
Mr.. Hearn, too" And the lady looked
tentatively at Mrs. Lane, as though in
viting further question. But glancing
an instant from that young matron's
flushing face she finds Miss Marshall's
big dark eyes fixed upon her with q
scrucinizing, penetrating expression that
in some way disheartens her. Il beg
pard on though" she hastens to say; Il
blink have heard Mr.. Hearn and Capt.
Lane were particular friends. Of course
Ill this happened long ago, and he has
probably outlived his youthful propensi-
lies
Il never heard of Mr.. Hearn as any
thing but most dutiful and excellent
oficer," said Mrs. Lane quietly Capt.
Lane is very fond of him"
Certainly, if he had been dissipated
nan, or a gambler, or-anything else"
says Mrs. Morris, with proper spirit,
my husband would have been apt to
know it; but
'Oh, it wasn't that" interposed Mrs.
Brodie. And just at this instant three or
four officers came cantering up the slope,
taking advantage of brief rest to pay
their devoirs to the fair spectators.
Miss Marshall noted that, as this
group approached, the buggy with its
Objectionable occupants drove slowly
away in the direction of the fort. Half
an hour later, as they were bowling rap
idly homeward over the hard prairie
road, they came upon the infantry bat
talon, also skirmishing. Everybody
out the guard seemed out at drill, and
the post was practically deserted. En-
tering the garrison limits Cassius, the
colored coachman, guided his bays down
The slope between the guard house and
The post traders store and then up the
incline to the southwest gate, preferring
Lhis road to going along the garrison in
front of the barracks of the men. The
ladies were chatting blithely, but both
Miss Marshall and Miss Wharton noted
that the buggy with the gray horse was
halted at the store railing, and at the
| door stood the two men in civilian dress
and a third in the undress uniform of
the cavalry.
| AL three stared intently at the occu-
pants of the barouche with that singular
expression of mingled impudence and
familiarity which is so marked char
acteristic of the street loafers always
hanging about the corners of certain
thoroughfares of our western cities,
where the police are not yet instructed
in those rules of civilization which re-
quire such parties to be moving on. AS
the ladies were whirled by Mr. Schon-
berg was seen to wink expressively, and
the soldier. dark faced, beetle browed
fellow, with his hands in his pockets,
looked after them and grinned
''How annoyed Mr.. Hearn would be, y
said Miss Wharton, IF he could have
seen that performance"
What do you mean, Lucy? Those
horrid men again." asked her sister; who
being on the back seat with Mrs. Lane
had not seen the soldiers face after they
passed him by.
The men are imrertinent, certainly
one expects nothing better of that elias.
of people, but all the soldiers are so re
spectful and courteous to our ladies, gen
orally, it is a pleasure to meet them
Haven't you noticed how different they
are from-well, from that one, Mis-
Marshall?"
Yes, indeed, not only here, but in tn,
old artillery barracks where l once visit
ed. | am sure Mrs, Curtis, my cousin
knew the name of every man in the TIVE
batteries, and always had a pleasant
word for them when we met. They al
ways took off their caps, though some o
the old sergants, to be sure, saluted jus
as they would to an officer. This maj
was contrast to the general rule"
Perhaps he is not of our regiment,
suggested Mrs. Lane. ''and does no
know the ladies'"
''Unlucllily he is of ours" said Mrs
Wharton. THAT is Welsh, of G troop
and he was Capt. Blauvelt's striker.
Mr.. Wharton says he is a bad character
and that there was something very
strange about the way the captain KEEP
him by him all the time he was here
Why isn't he at drill, l wonder?"
Possibly he's on guard" said Mrs
Lane. 1.-The guard house is only
stones throw away"
Hes never far from the guard house,
laughed Mrs. Wharton. as she spran.
from the carriage at the Lanes gate
But he's not ON guard today, unless h
has taken off his belts. There! the,
have gone into the bar. How l wis
the colonel would close that placer
Half an hour later, all in glow afte
their rapid drill, four or FIVE young OF