Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-06


the bride, as suggested by the major"
said the general.
"And split the tail and knot it, as the
general explained, boys" said the ma
jor.
Toney left the two old veterans, and
as he entered the bachelors quarters he
was muttering maledictions on the "old
buffers" who had spoiled all his plans.
The sudden disappearance of ToneJ
and the boys left the two old gentlemen
alone on the parade, and the whole gar
rison was enjoying their dilemma. The
general helnmed and hawed moment
and said:
''By the way, major, about that horse
order; you know these young lieuten-
ants have an idea that they can use am
balances and government animals when
ever they choose, and am determined
to teach them lesson. OF course did
not intend the order to hold in your
case; some consideration must be shown
to long and valuable service, sir, and
want you to understand this matter"
Major Stuffy extended his hand warm
ly to the general and said:
II am glad you mentioned it, general;
but of course | understood the matter
perfectly. These young snips are too
presumptuous anyway, and think they
are entitled to all the consideration due
old officers"
One of these ''young snips' was strug
Cling to pay up the bills contracted
when his daughter was married, and
another was necessarily engaged in short
division in the effort to provide for the
wants of his four boys.
The two veterans strolled away to-
gether in the direction of the clubroom,
followed by several officers from the
row, who were interested in the recon-
ciliation. AS the major threw open the
door and followed the general in he
smiled benignantly ON the old habitues
and said. ''Come, gentleman, join us in
a bottle of wine" OF course the invita-
ton was accepted, for since the major
had quit going on little "frolics," as he
called them, in Difference to the temper
ance ideas of the young snips, all recog-
nized this as some special occasion. The
major busted himself seeing that Clubs
neglected no one, and talked in the most
amiable way about the magnificent
weather and fine post the general had
built up.
'"This reminds me of old days in Texas,
gentlemen, when the dragoons"- he
was saying when his Loynl Legion but
ton fell off and rolled into a convenient
knothole under the billiard table. Be-
fore he recovered from his efforts to
secure the rolling button the general,
with the air of Sir Roger de Coverley,
removed his own little emblem and said:
"Major, let me present you with this
as memento of this most pleasant oc-
casion."
While the major was still overcome
by this graceful move the general wished
them all a pleasant time and escaped to
his quarters. The news spread around
that the major was having birthday,
and even Toney Rucker put away his
wrath when the orderly came to ask his
presence at the club room.
Tubs was kept busy during the
afternoon attending to the spiritual
needs of the ever increasing party, for
with each new arrival the major would
say, "What a fine gentleman the gen.
eral is; it was the neatest thing you ever
saw, sirl Why, he actually took this
button from his own breast and pre-
sented it to me, by gadl and we will
drink to his health, gentlemen"
That evening, as the major and Toney,
arm in arm, wended their winey way to
their quarters they passed young Daw-
die on the walk with the captains wife's
sister, making hay while the field was
clear. The garrison wore genial smile
for several days over the episode in their
lives, and even the old repeaters in the
guardhouse actually stopped hauling
cordwood long enough to let the cart
mule have horse laugh.--Argonaut.