Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-06-10

post, who were as cordially disposed
towards the gay lieutenant as were the
| comrades of his own (colored) cloth.
This is the more remarkable because
he was never known to make the faint
est effort to conciliate anybody and
was utterly Indifferent to public
| opinion. 1t would have been fortune
1 far better than his deserts. but 49, the
soldiers of the battery were devoted TO
him. The servants, black or white,
would run at any time to do his capri
cious will. The garrison children
adored him. There was simply no
subject under discussion at the bar
racks in those days ON which
such utter variety of opinion ex-
listed as the real character Of Lieut..
Sam Warning. AS to his habits there
was none whatever. He was bon
vivant, a swell" lover of all that
was sweet and fair and good and
| gracious in life. Self-indulgent, said
everybody; selfish, said some; lazy,
said many, who watched him day
dreaming through the haze of cigar
smoke until a drive, a hop, ride or
an opera party would call him into
action. Slow, said the men, until they
saw him catch Mrs. Winslow's runa-
way horse just at that ugly turn in
the levee below the south tower.
Cold-hearted, said many of the women,
until Baby Brainard's fatal illness,
when he watched by the little suffer
er's side and brought her flowers and
luscious fruit from town, and would
sit at her mothers piano and play soft,
sweet melodies and sing in low, tremu-
lous tone until the wearied eyelids
closed and the sleep no potion could
bring to that fever-racked brain would
| come at last for him to whom child
| love was incense and music at once a
passion and prayer. Men who little
knew and less liked him thought his
enmity would be but light, and few
men knew him so we'll as to realize
that his friendship could be firm and
| true as steel.
And so the garrison was mixed in it's
mind as, to Mr.. Warning, and among
those who heard it said at the mess
that he meant at all hazards to keep
his engagement to breakfast in town
there were some who really wished he
might cut the sudde nly-ordered review
and thereby bring down upon his
Col. Braxton.
Il
the artillery barracks. Mr.. Pierce, as
off through the north gateway. The
battery had marched with dancing
plumes and clanking sabers out to the
stables and gun-shed. The horses of
Lieuts. Doyle and Ferry were waiting
for their riders underneath the gallery
of their quarters. Capt. Cram, in much
L TOT ~ NV h{u o1sIry 1,1pnr 1ovs
and guidon-bearer, all in full un form,
was riding slowly down the sunny side
of the garrison, and at sight Of him
Doyle and Ferry, who were 1eisure1y
\ pulling on their gauntlets in front of
their respective doors, hooked up their
sabers and came Gathering down their
stairway; but no Warning had appeared.
There, across the parade on the south
ern side, the bay colt, caparisoned in
Warnings unimpeachab1e horse-equip-
ments, was being led up and down in
the shade of the quarters, Mr.. Pierce's
boy Jim officiating as groom, while his
confrere Ananias, out of sight, was at
the moment on his knees fastening the
strap Of his masters riding-trousers
underneath the dainty gaiter boot, Mr.
Warning the while surveying the pro-
seeding over the rim of his coffee-cup
"Dar, sub. Now into de coat, quick
Yahnduh goes Capt. Cram"
| "Ananias, how often have told you
that, howsoever necessary 1t might be
for you to hurry, never do? It's un
becoming an officer and a gentleman
to hurry, SIR"
"But you's got to inspect yo' section
sub, befo' you can repote to Capt
Cram. Please hurry wild de sash, sub.
And, holding the belt extended with
both hands, Ananias stood eager tc
clasp it around Warnings slender
waist, but the lieutenant waved hin
away.
"Get thee behind me, imp Of Satan
Would you have me neglect one of the
foremost articles of an srtilleryman's
faith2 Never, siri If there were 6
wrinkle in that sash it would cut 6
chasm in my reputation, SIR" And, sc
saying, he stepped to the open door
way, threw the heavy tassel over ant
around the knob, kissed his hand
iauntily to his battery commander
now riding down the opposite side o:
the parade, backed deliberately away
the full length Of the sash across tho
room, then, humming a favorite snatch
from Faust" deliberately wound him
self into the bright crimson web, and
making a broat fat loop near the
farther end and without stopping hi
song, nodded coolly to Ananias to come
on with the belt. In the same cain
and deliberate fashion he finished hi
military toilet, set his shake well for
ward on his forehead, the chin-stral
hanging just below the under lip
pulled on the buff gauntlets, surveyed
himself critically and leisurely in the
glass, and then began slowly to de
scend the stairs.
"Wait-jus' one moment, please, sub,
implored Ananias. fastening aftel
him "Jus' happened to think of 1t
sub: Capt. Grams wearin' gloves di
mawnin'."
"Ahl So much the more chance t.
come back here in ten minutes. Whoa
coltikins; how are you this morning
sir? Think you could run away If
begged you to pretty hard9 You'll
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