Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-10-30
MONTANA BILL.

1t was evident that something Of un-
common interest had been arranged for
the meeting that evening at the head
quarters of the Salvation Army in San
Francisco. Throughout the large attend
ing crowd the spirit Of expectancy NOV
ed uneasily, but with muffied wings,
its energy stirred not only by divers va
grant rumors on the street, but also by
many flowers and foliage plants which
hampered the stage.
After some preliminary religious ex-
ercises conducted by the brigadier, a
man with a clean face, clear eye and
a coaxing voice, that gentleman made
the following speech:
"You doubtless all read at the time
of its publication telegram from Butte.
Mon, announcing the distressing ex-
perience of our brave little sister, Cadet
Annie Smith, who was SO great favor
ite with us here before she was assigned
to duty at Butte.
There was an amused twinkle in the
brigadier's eyes, but in the audience
there was spreading litter.
''Well," resumed the brigadier, "our
noble little sister, with the help of God,
passed safely through the ordeal, as
most of you are aware, but as it is
part of our plan to confess publicly our
errors and shortcomings l will ask Ca
det Smith to give you the true and full
account of what happened to her at
Butte"
A faint clapping of hands, vocifer
GUS "God bless Cadet Smith % here and
there and removal of some of the re-
straints which muffled the wings of the
spirit of expectancy greeted the ascent
to the platform of a small, 1.-the young
figure arrayed in the somber blue and
quaint poke bonnet of the army. Her
face was a glowing crimson as she faced
the audience, but her eyes were bright
and her glance was firm, and the vigor
Of a strong and sturdy soul lent GER
tain grace of freedom to her pose.
''After I had served several months
selling War Crys in San Francisco"
she began with a steady voice, which
had acquired that plaintive quality SO
cause, 81 was sent to Butte, where
there was small corps of workers.
They had become discouraged. and it
was thought that my experience would
help them little. | didn' t know that
Butte was SO different from San Fran
cisco, and the members of the corps
there didn't know it either, because
lol 1rarI-ol al
That is why they didn't tell me some
things that I wish had known more
about.
"I started out the first day with about
900 War Crys. They looked surprised
at the corps headquarters when 1 asked
for so many, but thought could sell
them.
"Of course 1 went into the hardest
part of town, and after I had visited
one or two saloons and failed to sell a
copy I went into another one. A good
many men were gambling. had never
seen anything but card playing in San
Francisco, but they had wheels Of for
tune and great many other things to
gamble with. Several men were drink
ing at the bar. went among them all
and asked them to buy the paper, but
they simply stared at me in wonder.
The games began to stop, and then a
big, fine looking man with broad
brimmed hat came up to me and said
and he said-he said, Hello, little Par
son Sally, what do you want?' He said
it just like that. He was SO big and his
voice was so deep-and-and he was
SOL
"Out with it, cadetp' cried half
dozen voices in the audience as the girl
broke down, stammering and blushing.
Handsome p she added desperately,
as though the saying of the word was a
cross between martyrdom and the con-
fession Of a mortal sin. Great applause
and laughter followed this declaration,
with all occasional "God bless Cadet
Annie'' This SO overwhelmed the girl
that her lips trembled and tears sprang
to her eyes, and she cast despairing,
appealing glance toward one particular
spot before her in the audience where
she had not had the courage to look he
fore. That Single look was sufficient to
rive the bonds of decorum which had
| held a giant i'll restraint, and the upris-
| ing of towering frame sent the briga-
| diers programme and discipline tum-
| bling into chaos The tall man approach
| ed and mounted the platform with the
stride of grenadier, while Cadet An
| ME gazed at him with a dismay which
was still inefficient to quench the light
! of the stars that shone all the brighter
in her eyes now that her cheeks had
paled. Simultaneously startled hush
fell upon the audience, for, although the
familiar uniform of the Salvation Army
sat upon the mans splendid frame, he
was o stranger to all, and there was q
commanding air about him that stllled
all sounds.
He stalked to the girls side and stooc
there, facing the big crowd like hor
at bay in defense of his lair.
And an uncommonly handsome man NJ
was, with swarthy face, jet black wav!
hair worn long, and formidable blacl
mustache and imperial. These two mad
a strange picture as they stood side b.
side. she so small and seemingly 81
frail, he SO tall and muscular and com
petent; she looking up at him, he lg
noring her and sweeping the hall VIII
nlanca half of defiance. half OF being