The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-10
there for superannuated old codger
like myself.

like myself.
| wish l could have wound up my
military career as poor old Cantle did.
He died like gentleman. This thing
of marching to slow music never did
suit me. How did Cantle die? No,
| cont mind telling you. HowliDg
old night, isn't3 Light fresh cigar,
won't you2
Cantle was captain in the -th.
Horse. Splendid fellow he was too.
Away ready for little toddy or
, arch. Six feet or more. A pure
Saxon blood. Reckless and generous
to fault. A stanch friend and dan
gerous foe. Equally keen for a garrl-
son hop or brush with Indians. A
good liver and inordinately fond OF a
Welsh rarebit about midnight. In fact
he rarely went to bed without one when
he was in garrison, and had it not been
for that toothsome dish l probably
would have nothing to tell you about
poor old Cantle.
We were stationed together at
remote Western post in 1873. Life
was dull. No news. Too cold for
much drill, and the Indians quiet be-
cau2e they had qeen whipped back on
their reservation. A party of US were
in the officers room at the suffers
store, and we had been throwing dice
for drinks. Garrison life at that time
was particularly stupid, and we had
to do something, you know. Cantle
proposed another throw. but We had
had enough.
Then, gentlemen, said he, let's
throw to see who will die first.
Most of the party declined the novel
proposal, though it was finally accepted
by the sutler and the post surgeon.
The three men threw the dice, and
Cantle lost. Several of US jumped up
and shook his hand good by.
All right, said he, I'll find out all
the good trails and grassy camps on
the other side of the Styx and be ready
TO guide you fellows as you arrive.
Another throw, and the doctor lost.
Again we arose and congratulated him
OF his near prospect of better life with
Cantle for a guide.
No use throwing again, said the
canny sutler. OF course as you two
gentlemen are to die first | must
of necessity 60 last. You needn't
bother about trails and camps for me,
Captain Cantle; | shall get a good
guidebook. l have one now, in fact.
The rear OF the post guard house
was just in front Of the suffers door
which at that instant blew open, and
there, back against the rear OF that
lookup and sitting upon his hunkies
bowling for dear life, was a big black
cur. Confound that dog, said the
doctor, did you ever hear such an un-
earthly howl? whose beast it it1 said,
some one. The sutler looked at him
and said. "Well, l have been right at
this post for somc 10 years, and l will
swear he does not belong in it or about
it never saw him before. The suffers
clerk and the party generally looked at
the animal, but no one could recognize
him. A well directed beer bottle soon
stopped the howl, however, and with a
yelp he vanished. Curse that dog,
again SAID the doctor, 1 don't like that
thing. | wonder where the brute came
| fromP
A new comma nding officer arrived
at the post that afternoon, and | had a
late supper at my quarters that night.
Cantle and the new commander were
both present, and Welsh rarebit was
the principal dish. You know that
with rarebit one never does want any
thing else TO eat Cantle ate three big
pieces. l saw his wife look unc asily at
him, and after the party had gone my
own wife took me to task for helping
him the third time, but l SAID: My
dear, Cantle is 2I years old, and he
was guest at my table. Do you think
l would have been justified in trying
to curtail his food, even though he is
inclined to apoplexy2
The next morning walked out at
revellle with the new commanding
officer to attend stable duty. The
reveille gun had been fired few min
utes before, and the corporal of the
guard with his squad was just leaving
the flag staff, which was at the officers
end of the parade ground and just in
front of Cantle's quarters. Suddenly
the commander stopped and turned
pale. Look at that, major, he SAID to
me, what in - does that mean
The corporal has left the flag, at hal
Staff The old colonel q mean the
new commauder was greatly excited
He shouted for the corporal, who re-
turned with his file of men at double
time, | can tell you. Corporal, sale
the colonel, why, sir, did you put tina
flag at half staff Who's dead, sir.
No wan, sir. is did that knows of
said the coporal, with frightened fact
and an awkward salute, but couldn
git 1t any higher, sir. 1t sthuck there
sir.
Then why In -, sir did you leav'
it at half staff7 Why, dldn't you pul
it down, you bIankety blank idiot
Down with it at once, sir, and keeI
, 1t down until you can get it up righ
t again.
/ As we walked off together the col
t onel looked uneasy and distracted
y Finally he said, I'll be shot if llk
y that flag incident, major. Somethin
h | internally odd about it. | can under