The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-10
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garrison flag at half staff is | 4
hsnslble. don't like it, ma
believe that some one of usN
meet his lamcnted mother inA
fore the day has passed.
laughed at the colonel's supers
ton, and we soon parted. \
That morning at 9 O'Clock Cantle
was to give breakfast to the new com.
manding officer. Fourteen ladies and
gentlemen were provided for, and they
comprised about all the officers and
their wives. At the last minute, and
not until after breakfas, had been an.
nounced, Lieutenant Drum came and
without his wife, whose unavoidable
absence he apologized for. We sat
down to an excellent breakfast. Cantle
was in fine form and superb spirits.
He was, as usual, the soul of his circle.
No one noticed that the absence OF the
lleutenant's wife had reduced the mum.
of our party to the fatal thirteen, nor
did we observe it until after all was
over. As the meal (Which had been a
particularly jolly one) was about fin
ished, loud knock on Cantle's front
door startled US somewhat. No door
bells out there, you know. Govern.
ment doesn't permit such luxuries at
the far Western posts. Cantle said:
1t is my first sergeant with the morn.
ing report for my signature, suppose.
Excuse me moment. ladies and gen.
tlamen, and don't permit me to dis
turb The meal. will reappear later.
Now, sir, said the grizzled major,
from that day to this We have never
been able to find out who knocked at
Cantle's door. 1t was not this sergeant,
and the most persistent inquiry through
out the post and neighborhood has
failed to disclose who it was was.
Cantle left his table. The meal went
on to finish. Mrs. Cantle finally
said: | wonder what detains the cap
tain? She went toward her room just
across the hall. In a moment we
heard shrek. We rushed 10 the
room, and there lay the poor feliew.
dead on his bed. Apoplexy, said the
doctor. the colonel called me aside
and said how about that flag at half
Staff Did l not tell you that one of US
would go todayl The post surgeon
said, well, the dice are true so far.
We buried Cantle in the post Gem.
eterv. l commanded the funeral
escort. On the road to the grave we
had to pass the rear of the guard
house, and there sat the same black
dog in exactly his former position and
bowling piteously. No. we never did
find out where that dog belonged. He
was never seen again.
The next morning l went out alone
to take look at Cantle's grave. The
coyotes had dug 1t open during the
night. I had it closed, however, and
said nothing about it. Yes, the doctor
died in his turn, He went IN less than
year after Cantle-young man, too
died with malignant fever in New
Mexico. The sutler was the only
infrm man of the three who threw
those fatal dice, and according to al
natural laws he should have died first,
but he still lives.
You will observe, sir, that the doc.
tor died within the year allowed by the
fatal 3 Cantle, poor old Cantle, died
like gentleman, sir; he did not even
disturb his breakfast party. And here
l am to be inspected and condemned
like wornout horse.
Phew! what blow that was 1t is
a terrible nigh, sir.
Show the Senator 10 number Is,
said the hotel clerk, and was called
| back to my reportorlal life.