Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-02-26

lOr SWEEP spirits OF nltre.
In their anxiety to please the somewhat
imperious master they brought remedies
enough to have treated whole company
of men with influenza.
Mrs. Barring and Aimee ministered pa
tiently and gently to their Wheeling pa
tient, until-fortunatey for all parties
concerned-he fell asleep among his blan
kets and was at peace; at peace, except
for the portentous snore that shook his
frame.
Very early in the morning, before it
was light, the ayah crept at the door of
the bedroom with the tea tray.
81 am afraid your master is no better !;
his breathing is very thick" said Mrs.
Barring in answer to the ayah's inquiring
look "howeyer, he must go on parade. I
hope his uniform is laid out ready, and
tell the butler to see that the horse is sad
died in good lime"
Mrs. Barring returned to the bedside
and found her husband awake He was
already firing off his feu de joie on proc
lamation morning in volley of sneezes.
"Ohl confouud this cold Get me out
some old, soft silk haudkerchiefs. ] feel
as if my head would burst" he cried as
soon as he could speak.
Dressing this morning was no easy mat
ter. Never had "A man a worse or more
weeping cold, Every now and again a
fit Of sueezing held him speechless in its
grip. 1t was with the greatest difficulty
that he got himself into his uniform,
drank his tea and buckled on his sword.
He was convinced in spite of all his vie
could say to the contrary, that he was
late. He hustled out Of the house, mount
ed his charger aud galloped to the parade
ground.
The English troops were drawn up in
line on the opposite side, and on their left
the native regiments were in posilion.-
All was ready for the eagle eye Of the
general.
Col. Barring pulled up as he reached
the ground The general had not yet ar
rived 1t was relief and a respite, for
it would give him time to blow that
much affected nose of his once more
The morning air was sharp, for the sun
was only just touching the horizon, and
-confound it all here was another fit
of sneezing coming on
Where was his handkerchief? Now,
where had he put it in the hustle Of dress.
ing? He felt in the cuff of each sleeve
1t was not there. He stuck his fingers in
the breast Of his tunic; Of course it was
not there. He looked around at his horse.
keeper. No. he did not remember hay
ing given it to him to hold.
Horror of horrorsl he had come with
out it, What was he to do?
The knowledge that he had no hand
kerchief seemed to increase his cold, bad
as it already was The sneezing became
more frequent, and dash it all, his nose
began to run!
What would the general say? Never
did there exist a sharper eye for appear
ance than his. The slightest speck would
be detected, and the scarlet uniform
would show every spot.
1t was most distressing, absurd though
it may seem. Each moment the value OF
handkerchiefs arose in his eyes. There
is no telling what sum he would not have
given for one at that moment. His eyes
were affected now, and the landscape was
blurred by his infuenza-bred tears.
lie was riding slowly past the 10Th n
|. TO get to his men ; he would have tc
pass all the Seapoys, and be saw Colone
Smythe at the head of the regiment with
two or three of his officers. lie rode uI
to him.
"Can you lend me such a thing as {
handkerchief? he asked in most concil
iatory tones. 81 have come without mine
and | have got the most internal cold il
my head"
Col. Smylne looked little surprised a
such a strange request.
Il have only one, my dear fellow; anC
as | have a slight cold also, l reall!
daren't part with it. Have you one, Ma
jor?' he said turning to fellow officer
Very sorry; haven't one to spare.
Col. BariDg's dislike to the staff corpi
was well known, and none Of the mer
asked felt inclined to make a sacrifice OF
his behalf. And it would have been 4
sacrifice to have parted with ones only
handkerchief Oh such a cold morning.
Another and yet another officer va
asked, but with no better success.