The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-21
THE QUARTERS SERVANT.
,rsr \ CHAPTER IN THE LIFE or
AN OFtTCER'S WIFE.
-. GRAY Lock of Hair She Got at Fort
Apache-A Succession of Episodes with
SERVANTS That Surprised the Listener
a picnic IN an Indian Reservation.

--Aan- al Int ~ NAN &c
In, AZ a frontier post" began the wife Of a
.svalry officer. 1t was her turn to tell a story,
I'D so she presented the servant problem in a
,i,bt co new and appalling that the other
%onen. who iAttered themselves that they had
.or,ant troubles OF their own. could only look
upon her and marvel.
-" when YOU hear your quarters servant-I
.u spaaking Of the frontier post, Of course
grooming over her dishes in the kitchen of your
,doh,. the more or less musical demonstration
.on,inces yon that she is still there; otherwise.
Won NAV never know" continued the cavalry
officers wife.
:" But you might as we'll begin at the begin
ming suggested several Of her listeners.
We'll. IL this we're a continuous-session con-
gross. and adjourned meetings were to be held.
lmiGht -
Well. tell us Of your experiences with SER
want. at one post. then. was the suggestion.
Tn. cavalry officers wife screwed up her
forehead and started to count army posts on
her fingers.
We'll" she said. Fort Apache was a fair
sample. / only had nine gray hairs when we
were ordered TO Apache. and when 1 left there 1
had this whole lock. The monotony may have
had something to do with II. and then the in
cessant worry over Jim-all Of the boys used
often TO have to pack and track into the noun
tsins in the middle of the night, within half an
hour after officers call was sounded at the
ruardhouse-and then the winds. too. out there
bIeached ones hair sadly. But. nevertheless. l
rarely catch sight of this lock under a strong
light in the glass. that 1 don't think of Bridget.
and Yennie. and Francisco. and Mamie. and
TunG"-
Servants p inquired some Of the matrons.
"Yes-part Of my Fort Apache collection.
But this Is telling a story in the manner that
The men say we read a novel-trom the sequel.
Wherefore. attend:
Jim was on special duty at the War Depart
meut when he was ordered to join his troop at
Folt Apache. When he came home to me and
said ''Pache.' the picture Of desolation and
monotony conveyed BY that word was not half
40 grievous as that other first thought about
the quarters servant. OF course. 1 felt that
Bridget would not 60 along, Bridget had been
sent over to US from Governors Island by one
Of Jirn's married pals in the Rihers-he was
oriered West. and when ne broke UT his estab-
lishment Bridget. being unattached. was rather
glad 10 be transferred to US down here. Bridget
was a gem OF the prrest ray serene. lump
came into my throat at the thought OF leaving
her behind. But ! felt she wouldn't 60 to
,Parhe. / must have looked what l felt when
] went into the kitchen.
Bridget / said, it's all over. Marching
orders. Next week we nroceed . million miles
to the Southwest by the air line. You've been
q rood girl. and we'll. positively I couldn't
help but choke right at that point couldn't
See Bridget at all. After a minute I heard her
voice as from a great distance:
An what for do yeez be a-cryin' about, OF
don I know said she. 'shure an Dim a-Roin'
wild ye.'
They may talk about the tumultuous JOY OF
reprieved criminals.
Bridget! l screamed in sheer delight.
An why not p said she. 'Shure, don't OF
SCOT yeez:'
1t was too much. / simply couldn't stand
it. couldn't believe it true. So 1 went to my
room and tried to collect myself. When /
returned 10 the kitchen. half an hour later.
there was Bridget. still serene and determined
looking. '''
Bridget. do you mean. itY' I asked her to
Shure an OiG,. Missus.' she replied. Wan
Well. when I told jim that Bridget WAS
S@H'G Ga ei%rs enough Ms u u s hslsa FiRR e wen probably
b. at 'Pache for a whole month before she mar
place, in Soapsuds row. Still. a months a
Itold Jim that such an idea was absurd. In
the first place, Bridget was a great deal home
plac-, she even looked askance at the police
.hlll w 'AE !" lpu btdA " z III IldII-
fes'el friendly tendencies. Yet Jim's idea wor-
RED me n tribe. and l btgan TO libel the enlisted
hnirp OF the army for BridEetts benefit She
Or Island, hut l told her that soldiers in the
Eas' and. soldiers in the West were different
men entirely. 1t surely was shameful. the
sSTer~,ons cast upon the brave boys solely |
70 warn Bridget. and my conscience pricked me
Once out at Fort Apache. the thought of losing
Bridget was too dreadful for contemplation.
i'm Was right. ] %9nldnt tell him so for
49, lTNf i Ina rom Al p lN- il RIGHT AA UEAnf a |
biz wrong in the matter Of time in his predic-
tt,o9. for Bridget didn't marry until after We
She was simply wonderful as a servant froE
tir very day we reached the post. with her
iqlt measur; Of that noble Irish trait, OF adapt;
eh' US! For fully two months after We Joined. |
Is liget had but one word for the Corporals
81 the guarters. and that. Word was tGG'wnna"
Illrn the Sergeant came along that she didn't
r 6,Wan to: He was q big Irishmqn 9i ny
more exasIerating, j had always liked the
man-he was with my husband when Jim
Shon he first began TO cast Sleeps eyes at
p,l iGet: even earned a severe reouEe from
n'rht When Bridget and the Sergeant were
Fi't ne At the rear Of the quarters without say
lHc a word 10 each other. that the man might
rank. Bridget married the Irish Sergeant
ATE we had been al The post for three months.
R"" d ""q t. The 'E Weddi nss a%alSs 5jffrar6f sd Ih to 9 EiSe
her, away. and il was simply frightful. |
Wei, was without "A servant. i pitched in
hn.i did the work myself. ! wrote beseech-
,IG letters TO my two married sisters in New
J or. lnplQring them TO ship NE 10y first train
kind Of servant, ] stated in these suppli-
,dtlng letters that ! didn't care anything what
about nationality. nor whether the girl
nuldc ook. wash. iron. make a bed or anything
.ise-Id teach her. Ny sisters replied that
hey were camping at the Barge ONCE
lay and night, endeavorinR to kidnap any
lind # girl. but that when they Informed
pr Of miles that separated Fort Apache from
my where. much less its distance Of about no
niles from a railroad. the girls all eyed them
,qspici3usiy and Immediately put themselves
lnfer the protection of the Barge ONCE ON
,lals was rapidly getting worn to the bone,
ind II Jim. hadn't been suddenly ordered out
ltier a band Of Indians who had begun 10 dance
n sure 10 have been invalided and sent East.
was standing on the steps Of the quarters one
itternoon whenthe tri-weekly blackboard drove
~ Asnub-noSed. rosy-cheeked Swedish girl
.harSd the. seat with the driver, and her box
y1s behind with the mail bags, / endured a
'nasIn Of JOY. hut l wanted TO be certain.
John. ! managed to say to the driver.
She not for me 2
That's what she is, Num- said John,
\ nTE and nfNF "a "a mai mn haE hnE and /