Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-15
FROM THE RANKS.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1894, by the ]. B. Lippincott Ce
CHAPTER Xxx

They were having a family conclave
at Sablon. The furlough granted Ser
geant Mcleod on account Of wound re-
ceived in action with hostile Indians
would soon expire, and the question
was, Should he ask an extension, apply
for a discharge or 60 back and rejoin
his troop? It was matter on which
there was much diversity of opinion.
Mrs. Maynard should naturally be per-
mitted first choice, and to her wish
there was every reason for according
deep and tender consideration. No
words can tell of the rapture of that re-
union with her long lost son. 1t was a
scene over which the colonel could new
er ponder without deep emotion. The
telegrams and letters by which he care
fully prepared her for Frederick's COM
ing were all insufficient. She knew we'll
that her boy must have greatly changed
and matured, but when this tall, bronz-
ed, bearded, stalwart man sprang from
the old red omnibus and threw his one
serviceable arm around her trembling
form the mother was utterly overcome.
Alice left them alone together a full
hour before even she intruded, and lit
tie by little, as the days went by and
Mrs Maynard realized that it was really
her Fred who was whistling about the
cottage or booming trooper songs in his
great basso profundo and glorying in his
regiment and the cavalry life he had led,
a wonderful content and joy shone in
her handsome face. 1t was not until the
colonel announced that it was about
time for them to think Of going back to
Sibley that the cloud came Fred said
he couldn't 60
In faot, the colonel himself had been
worrying little over it. AS Fred Rem
wick, the tall, distinguished young man
in civilian costume, he would be well
come anywhere; but, though his garb
was that of the sovereign citizen so long
as his furlough lasted, there were but
two weeks more Of it left, and officially
he was nothing more nor less than Ser
geant Mcleod, Troop B, -th cavalry,
and there was no precedent for a colo
nel's entertaining as an honored guest
and social equal one Of the enlisted men
of the army. He rather hoped that Fred
would yield to his mothers entreaties
and apply for discharge. His wound
and the latent trouble with his heart
would probably render it an easy mat
ter to obtain, and yet he was ashamed
oF 4, fo,r tho foo1inO
Then there was Alice. It was hardly
to be supposed that so very high bred q
young woman would relish the idea Of
being seen around Fort Sibley on the
arm of her brother, the sergeant; but,
wonderful to relate, Miss Alice took a
radically different view of the whole
situation. So far from wishing Fred
out Of the army, she importuned him
day after day until he got out his best
uniform, with its resplendent chevrons
and stripes Of vivid yellow and the yell
low helmet cords, though they were but
humble worsted, and when he came
forth in that dress, with the bronze med
al on his left breast and the sharpshoot-
ers silver Cross, his tall, athletic figure
showing to such advantage, his dark,
southern, manly features so enhanced
by contrast with his yellow facings, she
clapped her hands with cry of delight
and sprang into his one available arm
and threw her own about his neck and
kissed him again and again.
Even mamma had to admit he looked
astonishingly well, but Alice declared
she would never thereafter be reconcil-
ed to seeing him in anything but cav
airy uniform. The colonel found her
not at all of her mothers way of think
ing. She saw no reason why Fred should
leave the service. Other sergeants had
won their commissions every year. Why
not he? Even if it were some time in
coming, was there shame or degradation
in being a cavalry sergeant? Not bit
of it! Fred himself was loath to quit
He was getting little homesick, too
homesick for the boundless life and
space and air of the broad frontier,
homesick for the rapid movement and
vigorous hours in the saddle and Oh the
scout. His arm was healing, and such q
delight of a letter had come from his
captain, telling him that the adjutant
had just been to see him about the new
staff of the regiment The gallant SER
geant major, a young Prussian of mark
ed ability, had been killed early i'll the
campaign. The vacancy must soon be
filled, and the colonel and the adjutant
both thought at once of Sergeant Nc
Leod. II won't stand in your way, ser
geant," wrote his troop commander,
"but you know that old Ryan is to be
discharged at the end of his sixth en-
listment, the 10th of next month. There
is no man l would sooner see in his
place as first sergeant of my troop than
yourself, and I hate to lose you. But,
as it will be for the gain and the good
of the whole regiment, you ought to
accept the adjutant's offer. All the men
rejoice to hear you are recovering so
fast, and all will be glad to see Sergeant
Mcleod back again. "
Even Mrs. Maynard could not but
see the pride and comfort this letter
gave her son. Her own longing was to
have him established in some business
in the east, but he said frankly he had
no taste for it and would only pine for
the old life in the saddle There We're