The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-21

ried. "Sho" was the widow of
wealthy New Yorkco who had been
dead some three years only, and though
over 40 did not look her years to mascu-
line eyes when she reached the fort in
May
After knowing her week the garri-
son had decided to a man that the colo
mel had done wisely. Mrs. Maynard was
charming, courteous, handsome and ac-
complished. Only among the women
were there still few who resented their
colonel's capture, and some Of these, OBJ
ivious Of the fact that they had tempt
ed him with relations of their own, We're
sententious and severe i'll their con-
domination Of second marriage for the
colonel, too, was indulging in second
experiment. OF his first only one man
in the regiment besides the commander
could tell anything and he, to the just
indignation of almost everybody, would
not discuss the subject. 1t was rumored
that in the old days when Maynard was
senior captain and Chester junior sub
altern in their former regiment the two
had very little in common. 1t was
known that the first Mrs. Maynard,
while still young and beautiful, had
died abroad. Ii was limited that the res
ignation Of a dashing 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 i'll an hour of
evident trouble
by Jove! What's gone wrong with
the chief" was the first exclamation
from one of the older officers. II never
saw him look 50 brsken."
As no explanation suggested itself,
they began edging in toward the Office.
The door stood open, a handbell banged,
a clerk darted in from the sergeant ma
jor's rooms, and Captain Chester was
revealed seated at the colonol'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 ut which he was engaged.
After a moments awkward silence
and uneasy glancing at one another
the party seemed to arrive at the con-
clusion that it was time to speak. The
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
forefnger, cleared his throat, and with
marked lack of confidence accosted his
absorbed superior:
Colonel gone homer"
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, l suppose l did, !"
said Mr.. Hall, shifting uncomfortably
to his other leg and prodding the floor
with the toe of his boot
"Then that wasn't what you wanted
oknow, presume, " said Captain Ches-
ter, signing his name with vicious dab
of the pen and bringing his fist down
with thump OH the blotting pad, while
he wheeled around in his chair and
looked squarely up into the perturbed
features of the junior.
"No, it wasn't" answered Mr.. Hall
in an injured tone, while an audible
snicker at the door added to his sense of
discomfort. "What | mainly wanted
was to know if could go to town.
''That matter is easily arranged, Mr..
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 homo and i'll
finitely more picturesque, proffer your
request in respectful words, and there
is no question as to the result.
"Oh, you're in command, them" said
Mr.. Hall, slowly wriggling into the po-
sition of the soldier and flushing through
his bronzed cheeks II thought the colo
mel might be only gone for a minute. "
"The colonel may not be back for a
week, but you be here for dress parade
all the same and-Mr. Hall~ he call.
ed as the young officer was turning
away. The latter faced about again.
"Was Mr.. Jerrold going with you tC
town."
eyes, sir. He was to drive me in his
dogcart, and it's over here now"
"Mr. Jerrold cannot goat least moi
until have seen him."
"Why, captain, he got the colonel's
permission at breakfast this morning. y
"That is true, no doubt, Mr.. Hall. y
And the captain dropped his sharp and
captious manner, and his voice fell as
though III sympathy with tho cloud that
settled on his face. 81 cannot explain
matters just now. There are reasons
why the permission is withdrawn foi
the time being. The adiutant will mott
iy him." And Captain Chester turned
to his desk again as the new officer Of
the day, guardbook in hand, entered tc
make his report.
"The usual orders, captain" said
Chester as he took the book from his
hand and looked over the list of prison
ers. 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
Eentries between 3 and 1886 a. IN. Tho
firing at $3.50 a. III. was by his order. y
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 M
sound was heard but the scratching ot
the captains pen. Then, with some EN-
barrassment and hesitanoy, he laid il
down and glanced around him.
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