Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-06-14
WARNINGS PERIL.
By Capt. Chas. King, Of the U. S. Army.
Copyright by Lippincott.

| ~.
| When LETTERS came driving into bar
racks on his return from town, his
first care, as became the trained
| groom, was for his horses, and he was
rubbing them down and bedding their
stalls for the night when the sergeant
of the battery guard, lantern in hand,
| appeared at the door. 1t was not yet
tattoo, but by this time the darkness
was intense, the heavens were hid,
and the wind was moaning about the
stables and gun-shed and whistling
away over the dismal expanse of fat,
| wet, ditch-tangled fields towards the
swamp. But the cockney's spirits
| were blithe as the clouds were black.
AS was usual when he or any other
servitor was in attendance on Warning,
the reward had been munificent. He
had lunched at Cassidy's at the lieu
tenants expense while that officer and
his friends were similarly occupied at
| the more exclusive Moreau's. He had
stabbed the team at the quartermas-
ter's while he had personally attended
| the matinee at the st. Charles, which
was more to his taste than Booth and
high tragedy. He had sauntered
| about the Tattersalls and smoked
| Warnings cigars and patronized the
| Jockeys gathered there for the spring
meeting on the Metairie, but promptly
on time was awaiting the return of
| the party from their drive and lolling
about the ladies' entrance to the St.
Charles hotel, when he became aware,
| as the lamps were being lighted and
the dusk of the evening gave place to
lively illumination, that two men
had passed and repassed the open por-
tails several times, and that they were
| eying him curiously, and chattering to
each other in French. One of them he
presently recognized as the little
frog eater" who occupied the old
| house on the levee, Lascelles, the hus-
band of the pretty French woman he
| and the lieutenant had dragged out of
the mud that very morning and had
| driven up to the old D'Hervilly place
| on Rampant street. Even as he was
| wondering how cabby got out of his
scrape and chuckling with satisfaction
over the scientific manner in which
Mr.. Warning had foored that worthy,
| Mr.. LETTERS was surprised to find him
| self most civilly accosted by old Las
| celles, who had been informed, he said,
by madame his wife, of the heroic
| services rendered her that morning
by M. LETTERS and M. 10 Capitaine.
He begged of the former the accept
ance of the small douceur which he
slipped into the Englishman's accus-
toned palm, and inquired when he
might hope to see the brave captain
| and disembarrass himself of his bur
den of gratitude.
"Here they come now" said LETTERS,
promptly pocketing the money and
springing forward to knuclxle his hat
brim and stand at the horses heads.
All grace and animation, Mr.. Warning
had assisted his friends to alight, had
| promised to join them in the ladies'
pa7lor in ten minutes, had sprung to
the seat again, signaling LETTERS to
tumble up behind, and then had driven
rapidly away through Carondelet street
to the broad avenue beyond. Here he
tossed the reins to LETTERS, disappeared
moment, and came back with little
Indian-made basket filled to overflow
| ing with exquisite double violets rich
with fragrance.
"Give this to Mrs. Cram for me, and
tell the captain I'll drop in to thank
him in a couple of hours, and Here,
Jeffers," he said, and LETTERS had
pocketed another greenbaclx, and had
driven briskly homeward, we'll content
with the result of his days labors, and
without having mentioned to Mr..
Warning the fact that Lascelles had
been at the hotel making inquiries for
him. A day so profitable and so pleas
ant LETTERS had not enjoyed since his
arrival at the barracks, and he was
humming away in high good humor,
all reckless of the rising storm, when
the gruff voice of Sergt. Schwartz dis
| turbed him:
"Chevvers, you will rebort at vonst
to Capt. Cram"
"Who says l will?" said LETTERS,
cheerfully, though bent on mischief,
but was awed into instant silence at
seeing that veteran step quickly back,
stand attention, and raise his hand in
salute, for there came Cram himself,
Pierce with him.
"Did Mr.. Warning come back with
you2" was the first question.
mo, sir; Hi left Mr.. Warink on
Canal street e said ed be back to
thank the capt'in in little while, sir,
and e. sent these for the capt'in's
lady"
Cram took the beautiful basket Of
violets with dubious hand, though his
| eyes kindled when he noted their pro-
fusion and fragrance. Nell loved vio-
let's, and it was like Warning to remem-
Der 80 beautifully her fondness for
| them.
what detained him? Did he send
no word?"
"'E said nothipk, and sent nothink
but the basket, sir. e said couple OF
hours, now think of it, sir. e was
, going back to the 'otel to dine with q
lady and gent"
For u moment Cram was silent. He
glanced at Pierce, as much as to say
Have you no question to ask? but the
: youngster held his peace. The senior
officer hated to inquire of his servant
into the details of the days doings
, He was more than half indignant al
Warning for having taken such advan
tage of even an implied permission al
= to drive off with his equipage ant
groom in so summary a way. OF course
Nell had said: Take 1t and go;" but
Nell could have had no idea of the use
30 which the wagon was to be put L
Warning left the garrison with the in
| %anfiOy ~ ,,s{por ha a0,,ipo 20 talr