The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-27


It tras BnctrStCT.
Pallid and wan the first FAINT gleam OF
the coming day was stealing slowly into
the eastern skies. Far away down the
broad valley the mist was creeping from
the slow moving, silent stream. Peace
and slunber and solitude hoyered over
the wide acres where the tasseled corn
had waved In the summer breeze and
the bearded rye and bristling wheat had
ripeaed and bleached under the fervid
touch of the summer sun. In the barn
Yards and sheds the cattle still crouched.
browsing and huddling for warmth. In
tie orchards and among the naples and
beacles the bluebirds and Jays and he
lated robins still perched among the
autumn leaves, their heads tucked away
under shelteling wings. Under dew
laden hedgerows the mother bird nestled
her little brown brood. and Bob White
stiu dozed away tine dark hour that pre-
cedes the dawn. Ali over the placid,
Dopulous valley without the reservation
lines tie wings of night We're spread.
All through the streets Of the thriving
county town only the tread Of the watch
man walked the echoes, only the Slim-
mer Of his lamp was seen. The waning
moon. a dim, mist bedraggied crescent,
had ueeped up over tile shadowy forest
down the eastward valley and climbed
slowly toward a sheltering bank Of
cloud and there seemed 10 halt and hide.
Putting and painting. a long. long tram
had wound under the wooded blr1Is and
was kissing at the station platform AZ
the foot of the curying road that leu t.
the broad plateau Of the fort. And ROW
fights were dancing and cleaning every
where along the tram; men il cavalry
oyercoats and topboots were busily.
rapidly, silently leading horse after
horse up the wooden ramps, or chutes,
and into the dark depths OF the cattle
cars. Many a trooper stopped moment
after lashing his halter strap to the rail
and murmured a few carassing, reas-
surfing words to his wondering charger,
rafting him on neck or shoulder and
striving to explain TO him how il hap
pened that he was stirred ont from l.is
warm stable At this Hnsee,nly hour AID
marched into a prison pen on wheels be
hind those black, kissing monsters up
ahead. Silence and order and discipline
prevailed. Only when some excitable.
nervous steed baked and refused 10
climb the chute was slere unusual
sound. Then the sharp crack OF the
stable sergeant's whip ana stern ''dEp,
therer brought the brute 10 his senses,
and be plunged along M the wooden
ramp, his iron shod hOofs laundering on
the boards. his troopers arms nearly
wrenched from their sockets.
The division superintendent had been
batter than his word, for It was only
four o'clock when the train came kissing
Il. and in ten minutes, in long Ghosily
procession, Rolie's men were leading
their chargers, curveting and prancing
IL the keen air, down the winding road
TO the valley, the quartermaster'
wagons following with chest and box
and bale and bundles of tentage and
camp equipage In iit:een minutes more
the word went up TO send down the next
troop, and the train pulled forward fouT
car lengths. so rs 70 bring the next lot
Of horse cars opposite the platform and
chutes. while Thorpe's handsome sorrels
were led wondering from the dimly
lighted gangway; and 50. by few
minutes after FIVE, even the officers
chargers aud the spare horses Of tie first
battalion We're all aboard, aud some
where across the stream, Just as the
major Acknowledged the report. AL
aboard and secure. sir" IN Hazlett's
soldierly tones, a sprighty chau.icleeT.
whose ears had at last caught those
unified sounds Of hoof ana voice over
under the garrison bluffs, concluded il
time 20 challenge, and woke the echoes
with shTill cOck-a-dOodle-doo, whereat
there came a low chuckle Of delight
from Hazlett's men.
VERY good, sir. Now get aboard 81
your baggage as quick as yod can.
''All aboard now. sir
Then il .ch up 10 quarters for coffee
and hreakfast-the others are at theirs
now-and form under arms right after
ward"
Precious little sleep has there been
tins night-nO time among the men. no
inclination among the women. Wives
and daughters who had devoutly
thanked heaven that only the first bat
talon was TO go were sooa unleceiyed
and found that but ten hours respite
was to be theirs. All the night long the
note Ct preparation cCGld be heard IN
barracks and IL quarters. the colonel.
with his aGjulant and quartermaster.
hardly left the Office at all BerTien
hustled from barracks TO his home. from
there to stables. At two O'Clock. find-
ing al his OWE campaigning kit in per
feet readiness, and Winifred anl her
mother still hucdling over the parlcr
fire. he noted the pallor IL his daughter
face. the deep trouble in her pathetic
eyes, and. taking her Ia his arms. be
kissed her fondly again and again.
'-tio to ycur room Row. little daugh-
ter" lie said huskily; 'go. dear, and Try
10 sleep. ! VIII not leave without com
ing to say bye-bye. Just as l always did. -
She saivere2 aid Ind her face and clung
10 has neck. saying no word. shedding
no tear. Gently he unclaspcd her hands.
Yes, my child, 90 as bid you now: !
want TO speak with mother awhile. s.
And then reluctantly size turned. but
the one brief look into his eyes was SO
full Of woTdless sorrow that he was for
an instant unnamed. Ny little gil,
my little Winnie, don't look at yoar old
daddy that way.' he almost so55sd, rs
again he threw his arm around her. lead
ing her TO the stairs. I'VE won't be gone
long. We're all coming back. dear: and
we'll have lovely Christmas, and you
shall have the 5olliest kind of party,
pet. But be brave little woman now.
it'll all come right" She turned
with quick coavnlsive sob and threw
herself upon his breast, again twining
her soft arms about his neck. her beau