The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-09-21


the matter.
Garrison curiosity, it is perhaps need.
less to say, was rather stimulated than
lulled by this announcement. An I'M
usual number of officers were chatting
about headquarters when Colonel May
nard came over to his Office Several
ladies, too, who had hitherto shown but
languid interest in the morning music
of the band, had taken the trouble to
stroll down to the old quadrangle, os-
tensibly to see guard mounting. Mrs
Maynard was almost always on her
piazza at this time, and her lovely
daughter was almost sure to be at the
gate with two or three young fellows
Longing about her. This morning,
however, not q soul appeared in front
of the colonel's quarters
Guard mounting at the fort was not
held until 0 o'clock, contrary to the
somewhat general custom at other posts
in our scattered army. Colonel May
nard had ideas Of his own upon the sub
ject, and it was his theory that every
thing worked more smoothly if he had
finished leisurely breakfast before be-
ginning office work of any kind, and
neither the colonel nor his family cared
to breakfast before o'clock. In view of
the fact that Mrs. Maynard had borne
that name but very short time, and
that her knowledge of army life dated
only from the month of May, the garri-
son was disposed to consider her entitled
10 1a@ 10 &c Oh -.
tiers, even while it did say that she was
old enough to be above bridelike senti-
ment. The women folk at the fort were
of opinion that Mrs. Maynard was so.
1t must be conceded that she was over
40; also that this was her second entry
into the bonds of matrimony.
That no one should now appear ON the
colonel's piazza was obviously disap-
pointment to several people. In some
way or other most of the breakfast ia
bles at the post had been enlivened by
accounts of the mysterious shooting
The soldiers going the rounds with the
police cart" the butcher and grocer
and baker from town, the old milk woman
with her glistening cans, had all served
as newsmongers from kitchen to kitchen,
and the story that came in with the
coffee to the lady Of the house had lost
nothing in bulk or bravery. The groups
Of officers chatting and smoking in front
Of headquarters gained accessions every
moment, while the ladies seemed more
absorbed in chat and condolences than in
the sweet music of the band.
What fairly exasperated some men
was the fact that the old officer Of the
day was not out on the parade where he
belonged. Only the new incumbent was
standing there in statuesque pose as the
band trooped along the line, and the fact
that the colonel had sent out word that
the ceremony would proceed without
Captain Chester only served to add fuel
to the flame Of popular conjecture. 1t
was known that the colonel was holding
consultation with closed doors with the
old officer Of the day, and never before
since he came to the regiment had the
colonel been known to look so pale and
strange as when he glanced out for just
one moment and called his orderly. The
soldier sprang up, saluted, received his
message, and, with every eye following
him, sped off toward the old stone
guardhouse In three minutes he was on
his way back, accompanied by q cor
poral and private Of the guard in full
dress uniform.
"That's Leary, the man who fired the
shot" said Captain Wilton to his senior
lieutenant, who stood by his side.
Belongs to B company, doesn't he?"
queried the subaltern. "Seems to me
have heard Captain Armitage say he
was one Of his best men. i"
eyes. He's been in the regiment rs
long as can remember. What on earth
can the colonel want him for? Near as
I can learn, he only fired by Chester's
order
"And neither Of them knows what he
fired at 4"
1t was perhaps 10 minutes before Pri-
vate Leary came forth from the door
way Of the colonel's Office, nodded to
the corporal, and raising their white
gloved hands in salute to the group of
officers the two men tossed their rifles
to the right shoulder and strobe back to
the guard
Another moment, and the colonel
himself opened his door and appeared
i'll the halfway. He stopped abruptly,
turned back and spoke few words in
low tone, then hurried through the
groups at the entrance, looking at no
man, avoiding their glances and giving
faint and impatient return to the sol
dierly salutations that greeted him.
The sweat was beaded on his forehead,
his lips were white and his face full Of
a trouble and dismay no man had ever
seen there before. He spoke to no one,
but walked rapidly homeward, entered
and closed the gate and door behind
him.
For moment there was silence in
the group. Few men in the service
were better loved and honored than the
veteran soldier who commanded the
-th infantry, and it was with genu.
fne concern that his officers saw him 50
deeply and painfully affected, for af.
fected he certainly was. Never before