Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-28
FROM THE RANKS.
 By OAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Icop,rtgh,. lsal. by the J. B. Lippineott Col

fort during the still watches of the night. Even now, at 9 in the morning, no one seemed to be in possession of the exact circumstances. The officer of the day was engaged in an investigation, and all that appeared to be generally known was the bald statement that the sentry on No. , had fired at somebody or other about half after 3; that he had fired by order of the officer of the day, who was on his post at the time, and that now he flatly refused to talk about the matter
 Garrison curiosity, it is perhaps need less to say, was rather stimulated than lulled by this announcement An un- 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 lounging about her. This morning, however, not a soul appeared in front of the coloncl's quarters.
 Guard mounting at the fort was not held until 9 o'clock, contrary to the somewhat general custom at other posts ill 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 a leisurely breakfast before be- ginning office work of any kind, and neither the colonel nor his family cared to breakfast before s o'clock In view of the fact that Mrs. Maynard had borne that name but a 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 to much latitude of choice in such mat ters, 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 50. It must be conceded that she was over 10; also that this was her second entry into the bonds of matrimony.
 That no one should now appear on the cOlOncl's piazza was obviously disap- pOintment to several people. In some way or other most of the breakfast ta- 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 glistcning cans, had all served as sncwsmungers from kitchen to kitchen, and the story that came in with the rl, r,E 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 ill statuesque pose as the band trOOpc,l 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 uf popular conjecture. It was known that the colonel was holding a 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 a cor # n,-I ir,f fr,ll 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?'' qucricd the subaltern. Seems to me l have heard Captain Armitage say he was one of his best men"
 ''Ycs. He's been in the regiment as long aS 1 can remember. What on earth can the colonel want him for? Near as 1 can learn, he only fired by Chester s order
 And neither of them knows what he fired at
 It was perhaps 10 minutes before Pri vate Lcary came forth from the door ! way uf the coloncl's office. nodded tC the corporal, and raising their white glOved hands in salute to the group oi officers the two men tossed their rife. to the right shoulder and strode back tc the guard
 Another moment, and the colone | himself opened his door and appeared i'll the hallway. He stopped abruptly turned back and spoke few words il low tone, then hurried through tn, groups at the entrance, looking at nt man. avoiding their glances and givin: faint and impatient return to the sol | dicrly salutations that greeted him | The sweat was beaded on his forehead his lips were white and his face full O a trouble and dismay no man had eve seen there before He spoke to no one but walked rapidly homeward. entered and closed the gate and door behinC | him
 For a moment there was silence il the group Few men in the servic were better loved and honored than tn veteran soldier who commanded tn, -th infantry, and 1t was with genu inc concern that his officers saw him sC deeply and painfully affected, for af fected he certainly was Never befor, had his cheery voice denied them a cor dial Good morning. gentlemen Nev CT before had his blue eyes fiinched- H had been their comrade and commando in years of frontier service, and hi bachelor home had been the rendezyou of all genial spirits when in garrison They had missed him sorely when h went abroad on long leave the previou year and were almost indignant whe
 they received the news that he had me
 his fate in Italy and would return maI
 ried- ''She" was the widow of
 wealthy New Yorker who had bee ] dead some three years only, and thOug
 over 10 did not look her years to mascu