The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-20

Tr1ln mere. 1It htAfN IANN- -
and cars at the junction and ought 70
he able TO furnish what we need by day
break. Meantime you viii have to rouse
your men. pack up everything that Is
NOT To be taken, cook three days rations
and be ready to get the horses aboard
Go at it as quietly as possible. l want
nobody at the hop TO know of the orders.
Let the dance go on. Your men must
take all their blankets and the heaviest
clothing they have. Noone knows what
NAV be in store for us either in furs OF
fighting"
Again dead silence, broken only by
the rapid clicking of the telegraph IN
strument in the adjoining room and the
soft. melodious strains borne on the
wings of the whispering night wind.
Another waltz. and one which she had
promised him he should have the latter
half of, thought Brewster. Even now he
listened yearningly TO recognize the
strain. Aye, he might have known 1t!
her fayorite OF all. Loves Dreamland.
But the colonel was speaking again:
.Of course YOU will do well to weed out
auy sick or inefectives you may have.
n l. going TO be bitter campaign, and
after our Summer and fall under south
ern suns will be ali the tougher. Holden
Will 20 with your command, Berrlen,
and have sent for him. Here ars your
four troop commanders; so you may as
well give your instructions at once and
let them get TO work.
"You have heard the colonels orders,
gentlemen; do not knog Of anything l
have 10 add. Start out your first ser
ceants and the cooks at once, and let
the linen pack without unnecessary
noise. Twill give all further details as
soon as Colonel Farquhar and / have
had a few moments conference"
Again the telegraph operator with a
dispatch.
Il thought So said Farquhar. MUIR
raw, the division superintendent. was
with us in the Shenandoah and at Five
Forks. He wires that the train will be
here at five o'clock at the latest-two
engines, twenty freight or cattle cars,
two baggage cars, four passenger day
cars and Pullman Ii is eleven now.
If anything is wanted you'll find me
here"
Back again into the chill night air,
under the shining. starry vault, Berrlen
and his four troop leaders paused for
moment on the gravel walk.
..Hazlett, | suppose you will need 10
see Mrs. Hazlett home, and You, Thorpe.
Better go and rouse yotr sergeants first,
then come back to the hoproom; but,
mind you, not a word there. Rolfe, you
and Brewster are among the blessed to-
night; you have no wives to break the
news 10. will give your subalterns the
Tip to report to you just as soon as we
break up"
Three hands went TO the cap visor In
salute, three officers turned away. War
ren, the adjutant, came hurrying out.
"Oh, major, Colonel Farquhar begs
that you viii step in moment"
you had something to say, Brew
ster?" asked the major coldiy.
'Yes, sir, II hope TO hurry back in
time to escort Miss Berrien home"
mo, don't trouble yourself. I'll at
ITllU 10 lLal. 1Ou udNC ONlCA LleANNNAI
TO occupy YOU" And if ever a IA
theirs tone signifed that dismissal was
intended, and that further attentions
were forbidden, BerTien's did as he alb
ruptly turned, leaving Brewster stunned
and silent at the edge of the parade.
In ten minutes lights We're dancing
like will-o' -the-wisps about the galleries
Of the mems quarters. Quick, bound
ing footsteps could be heard, and the
low, brief orders of the sergeants as they
went fitting from door TO door. Then
half suppressed ordinations, an occa-
sional snothered yell of excitement or
delight from some enthusiastic Paddy
ever ready for frolc or fight, Then
a gradually swelling murmur Of voices,
the rapid scurry of booted feet, clat-
tering up and down the stairways, the
slamming and banging of barrack doors,
the dragging forth of heavy chests and
boxes, the clank Of dropped saber, and
then people at the hoproom, strolling out
on the broad veranda for fresh air or
Irritation, became aware of the unusual
| illumination over across the parade, and
| listening heard the sounds of. hustle and
preparation. And then lights began
to pop up among the windows of the
second battalion, where the news had
rapidly spread, and where dozens of
troopers tumbled out of their blankets
and into their boots forthwith and went
charging en- masse upon their own ser
geants to know what il meant that
.'them fellers in the first battalion had
had orders to be upand getting and none
had come for Us"
In less time than il takes TO tell it
the tidings spread from porch to hall
that something was up" and other
people, men and women, old officers and
young, matrons and maids, quit their
places in the Lancers and came stream
ing forth upon the gallery. Whats
| the matter" us it fire: | heard nc
alarm" The trumpets haven't sound
ed" ''Seel there's the orderly trumpete1
going across the parade now, running
TO the office" "Why, the Office is
| lighted too" where's Warren
.What does it mean?" These and doz-
ems of other verbal conjectures and sug,
gestions few from lip to lip. Men ex-
| cused themselves TO their fair partners,
seized their caps, scurried away down
the steps and sped over toward the
| lights at headquarters. 4 dozen OF
more suddenly disappeared in this way,
and then it was found that the colonel
and Berrien and Hazlett and Thorpe
and Brewster. too, were all missing. And
then Mrs. ThOrpe's voice was heard
waiiing ont upon the night air:
oh. Mrs. Berrien. Mrs. Berrien, ]
know what il means. saw the tele-
graph operator coming up the steps. Its
orders-orders for the field"
And then indeed
There was hurrying TO and fro
/ And gathering tears, and trcmblings Of dis
tress.
And checks all pale which but an hour ago
Blusked al the praise Of their own loyeliness-
| And the dance was forgotten, and the
musicians, astonished, found the lighted
hall rapidly emptying of the jewellers,
and women pressed. pallid and fearful,
into the dressing room, gathering up
their wraps with hasty hand and hurry
ing forth to take the arm of husband or
lover, as though claiming that right to
the very last. And then in some way
the word went around, "0nly one battal-
ion goes-only Berrien's," and those
whose lords were attached to the other
plueked mp heart and spirit for mo-
ment. and in the midst of it all, pale but
fearless, Mrs. Berrien stood waiting pa
tiently for Dicks return, and by her
side, even paler. but as brave and tear
less and patient. Winifred clung to her
mothers arm and would take no other