The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-28

was my home. I looked forward with
pleasure to the connection and would
willingly have given half a years pay
to attend the wedding.
That night l talked the matter over
with Capt. Mac, a jolly good fellow
from Pennsylvania, who had commit
ted matrimony simultaneously with his
outgoing from West Point, and had
now three or four infantiIe Indian
fighters to maintain.
1T won't go, Forbes, my boy" Cap
said Ticking the ash from. his cigar
with his stumpy little finger "It would
be impossible for you to get off if you
were going to get spliced yourself Tell
| the young folks to take US in for q
wedding trip. We will do what we
can to make it pleasant for them. Mrs
Mac will lend hand, not to mention
the boys, WhO-noW that their grand
mother has gone ,East-are pining for
new feminine hearts to conquer. And
If We should have brush with the red
raScalS 1t would only lend additional
excitement to their visit
This was a long speech from Can't
Mac, who was decidedly a man of few
words. [ knew he felt sorry for my
disappointment and that his kind heart
prompted him, for he was the best fell
low in the world and awful good to US
youngsters. So l returned to my quar-
tiers and wrote to my mother that it
was impossible for me to get off. beg
glng her to soften the disappointment
as much as she could to Elsie, and to
get as handsome a present for the
young foIks for me as her good taste
and judgment could select.
The letter written, 1 dismissed the
matter from my mind as well as I
could dismiss subject which was be-
ing constantly recalled by fresh an
peals from first one and then the other
or the contracting parties But inside
a weeks time l had enough on nv
hands to Danish all else from my mind.
Inc long looked for Indian outbreak
came. Our brush with them was short
and sharp. We came back with three
of the leaders in the rebellion against
the government, a few wounded and
myself with a sprained knee. 1t was
simply painful mishap and one which
did not relish, as it hampered nv
movements and did not cover me with
| glory-which, in my youthful estima-
ton at least, a wound would have
done.
The mishap, however procured mo
the much desired leave of absence.
With great good nature I stood all the
chaf1lng of my friends, who pretended
TO look upon my sprained knee as an
act OF diplomacy on my part while I
Hl1Qe lily preparations Tor the trip
IF you telegraph them to POSTPONE
the wedding for ten days, Forbes. .
said Cap, you can be best man after
ALL" 81 'et
Don't do it, Lieut.. Forbes" inter-
posed Mrs. Mac, with evident horrer.
If you do you will be sorry
Whereupon, 1 am loath to admit. her
husband stententiously remarked
Fudge"
1, however, acted upon his advice,
and telegraphed George Cook to post
pore his wedding. The journey was
long, tedious and far from pleasant.
the usual March snow storm blocking
travel to some extent. When at last
L arrived at Cincinnati it was dreary
enough. A drizzling rain was falling
which somehow affected my spirits,
When / reached my home, which was
in Dayton street, I was astonished to
lind the house in total darkness appar-
| emily closed UP. This was far from a
cheerful homecoming. and, as / had
telegraphed them all, along the line.
not what ! had expected
vigorous pull at the bell, however.
brought strange servant to the door
and at the sound of my inqui1ing voice
&c