The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-08-26

CAUGHT BY A VEIL.

The next day Miss Morton called and
together the young ladies set out for
the camp of the soldiers. They had
not proceeded two blocks when they
heard the clatter of horse at full
speed behind them. They had not once
mentioned the adjutant, but Miss
Stella, without looking back, speaking
as though in continuance of CONVEX
sation about "he," said:
HE is coming now. There never be-
fore was in Minersvale any one who
rode as he does. He rides as if he
had all the necks in the world to break
and would be whipped if he didn't
break every one of them before the
week is out. He is just awfully reck-
less in the saddle"
AS the adjutant approached the young
ladies he saw veil blow from Miss
Stella's hat and settle upon the
ground. Without dismounting he
caught the filmy fabric from the earth.
When he reached the ladies he check
ed his horse and dismounted to return
the veil to the owner who expressed
surprise that she had not observed it's
loss and then very prettily thanked the
soldier for returning it to her. AS she
readjusted the veil she said:
1--WE are on our way to your camp.
Do you-do the soldiers parade this
EVENING""
Yes, we have dress parade every
evening and battalion drill twice every
day. 1t will be an hour yet till pa
rade If you will permit me the honor
of walking with you to camp l shall
be delighted and will take great pleas
ure in showing you through our camp
that you may see how soldiers live.
At the front is the place to see how
they die. Happily that horror is sell
dom imposed upon ladies'"
ut is terrible to think that to de-
fend your country you must risk your
life"
81 never think of calling myself de-
fender of my country up here. 1t
humiliates me to be here in my native
state while war goes on in the enemy
country. 1t seems to me such dis
grace to the country that its armies at
the front must be decimated to supply
an armed power to enforce law, pre-
serve order and protect the loyal in
the north. Thank God, the enemy at
home Is not a native element! But,
excuse me. ladies, l have just been
engaged in controversy with score
OF foreign-born loafers and naturalized
enemies. They irritated me SO much
that my irritation causes me to forget
myself. May l have the honor Of
walking with you to camp?"
I'VE would be grateful and happy to
be permitted to take a good peep into
the soldiers homes"
The adjutant called a passing SOL
der to whom he delivered his horse to
he returned to camp, and then Miss
Stella said:
This is Bell Morton. my best friend.
| am Stella Zenith. her best friend.
Now, sir, who are your"
Homer Burton Jaquese, second lieu
tenant Of Company E, Ninety first
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and ready to
become at once your mutual best
friend"
In camp the adjutant exhibited to the
ladies all the details of the soldiers
camp life. He escorted them to the
quartermaster's department, the COM
missary department, showing the
stores of each; what the soldiers had
to live upon; how it was issued,
cooked and served; how the men slept;
the character and arrangement of
their beds(?); the nature of their pass
times and amusemeDts; explained the
minutiae of guard mount, guard duty,
reliefs, drills, inspection, police Of
camp-which Is the cleaning of camp
and sanitary measures. Explained the
care Of equipments and supplies;
showed them the carbines and pistols;
how to charge, discharge and handle
them; gave an illustration of the sabre
exercise; took them to the stables(?)
and showed how the horses were kept
and provendered, saddled and unsad-
died; bridled and unbridled; how
to mount and dismount; how to
turn a horse to the right and
to the left; how to start him, to check
him, to stop him and to back him.
Everywhere he carefully gave them a
clear Insight into the smallest details