Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-28

| while still young and beautiful, had died abroad It was hinted that the res ignation of flashing lieutenant of the regiment, which was synchronous with her departure for foreign shores, was demanded by his brother officers, but it was useless asking Captain Chester. He could not tell. and-wasn't it odd?- here was Chester again, the only man | in the colonel's confidence in an hour of evident trouble.
 By Jovel Whats gone wrong with the chief?'' was the first exclamation from one of the older officers "I never saw him look so broken"
 As no explanation suggested itself, they began edging in toward the office. The door stood open, a handbell banged, 0 clerk darted in from the sergeant ma jor's rooms, and Captain Chester was revealed seated at the colonel's desk. This in itself was sufficient to induce several officers to stroll in and look in quiringly around. Captain Chester, merely nodding, went on with some writing at which he was engaged. After a moments awkward silence and uneasy glancing at one another the party seemed to arrive at the con- | SAuSAOu tliat II tts tO Sp0<hh- hS band had ceased, and the new guard had marched away behind its pealing bugles. Lieutenant Hall winked at his comrades, strolled hesitatingly over to the desk, balanced unsteadily on one leg, and with his hands sticking in his trousers pockets. and his forage cap swinging from protruding thumb and forefinger, cleared his throat, and with marked lack of confidence accosted his absorbed superior:
 "Colonel gone home?''
 Didn't you see him:' was the un- compromising reply, and the captain did not deign to raise his head or eyes. ''Well-er-yes. I suppose I did, " said Mir Hall, shifting uncomfortably to his other leg and prodding the floor with the toe of his boot
 'Thcn that wasn't what you wanted to know, presume, said Captain Ches- ter, signing his name with n vicious dab of the pen and bringing his fist down with thump on the plotting pad, while | he wheeled around in his chair and looked squarely up into the perturbed features of the junior.
 'No, it wasn't" answered Mir. Hall in an injured tone. while an audible snicker at the door added to his sense of discomfort What I mainly wanted was to know if could go to town. That matter is easily arranged, Mir Hall All you have to do is to get out of that uncomfortable and unsoldierly position, stand in the attitude in which you are certainly more at home and in- finitely more picturesque, proffer your request in respectful words, and thero is no question as to the result.
 "Oh, your ill command, them" said Mir. Hall, slowly wriggling into the po- sitiOn of the soldier and flushing through his bronzed checks "I thought the colo mel might be only gone for a minute. ''The colonel may not be back for q week. but you be here for dress parade all the same, and-Mr Hallr' he call ed as the young officer was turning away. The latter faced about again.
 Was MT. Jerrold going with you to town?'
 'Yes, sir. He was to drive me in his dogcart, and it's over here now.''
 ''Mr. Jerrold cannot goat least not until have seen him"
 "Why, captain, he got the colonel's permission at breakfast this morning. :"
 That is true, no doubt, Mir. Hall :" And the captain dropped his sharp and captious manner, and his voice fell as ] though in sympathy with the cloud that settled on his face. ''I cannot explain matters just now. There are reasons why the permission is withdrawn for the time being. The adjutant will nOti- fy him" And Captain Chester turned to his desk again as the new officer of | the day, guardbook ill hand, entered to make his report.
 ''The usual orders, captain," said Chester as he took the book from his hand and looked over the list of prison CTS Then, in bold and rapid strokes, he wrote across the page the customary certificate of the old officer of the day, winding up with this remark:
 He also inspected guard and visited ] sentries between 3 and 3:35 a. m. The firing at 3:30 a. m- was by his order. '' l Meantime those officers who had en- tered and who had no immediate duty to perform were standing or seated around the room, but all observing pro- found silence. For moment or two nc sound was heard but the scratching ot the captains pen. Then, with some em. barrassment and hesitancy. he laid il down and glanced around him.
 Has any one here anything to ask any business to transact"
 Two or three mentioned some routin, matters that required the action of tn, post commander. but did so reluctantly, as though they preferred to await tn, orders of the colonel himself. Captain Wilton indeed spoke his sentiments:
 "I wanted to see Colonel Maynard about getting two men of my company relieved from extra duty, but as he ism here fancy I had better wait
 Not at all Who are your men Have it done at once, MT. Adjutant and supply their places from my com pany if need be Now, is there anything else?''
 The group was apparently ''nonplus ed," as the adjutant afterward put it by such unlocked for complacence or the part of the usually crotchety senio
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