The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-03-31
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his denance-or his envoy ana represent
alive, Captain Petty; there were lots.
of little things that ruff1ed the dignity
of the veteran autocrat, especially the
somewhat peremptory tone of the dis
patch from the war department., and the
general felt himself wronged by his SUI
periors.
Strain. too. suffered in his own esti.
mate, and Petty was Tuning with pelt
up wrath and hate against that cool.
supercilious, contemptuous upstart Ct
an engineer. Who in blazes was he, fnv
how? What was his family? What ! is
social status? demanded Petty to hiaa
self, even though he knew that tic.
We're matters whereof our demo- Sd
military system took no thought wu:
ever. 1t is the proud boast of the
lean army that neither wealth nor nua
nor ancestry can count in the long III.
for the stars. In these glad days
peace and rational prosperity the otii,,
is speedily taught that promotion is ,s
result ofonly one of two things-palleat
waiting or political influence
And so it resulted that when Walter
Loring steamed away southwark on the
long run for the States he left behind
an unsettled fight, three or four ag
grieved of1icials-aggrieved because Of
him or his affairs andstheir mismanage-
ment of both-and one inveterate enc
my. He had plenty of time to think it
all over after he was fairly at sea, but
none before. He and Dennis needed ev-
cry moment to get his belongings aboard
and his business closed. He called upon
the general as directed and stood in re-.
spectful silence while the choleric war
rior paced up and down the room and
explained his position. He wished Mr..
Loring to understand that while he
felt that the young officer had behaved
with disrespect, at least with disregard
of his commanding general, the latter
was TOO magnanimous to stand in his
way, and had therefore determined the
evening previous to release him from
arrest and from further duty that he
might lose no time in ''joining" his
new station, even went so far as to say
he bad found much, very much, to COM
mend in the young gentleman and his
performance of duty in Arizona, and,
but for the unfortunate entanglements
that had resulted, would have taken
pleasure in making public announce
ment of the fact.
He could not but deprecate the con-
duct of Mr.. Loring friends in Wash
ington, and might find it necessary to
appeal to the president for justice.
Meantime, however, he desired Mr..
Loring to know that no personal cunsid-
Grafton had actuated his conduct. He
had done what he believed to be his
duty, and then, like the orator, the gen.
eral paused for reply.
Mr.. Lcring stood in civilian dress
and soldier attitude, hat in hand, an
attentive listener, never interposing a
word or hazarding aremark. When the
general stopped, the lieutenant remain
ed silent and standing. The general
looked perturbed, halted and glared, as
much as to say, why the devil don {
you speak?' a thing Loring never did
when ne had nothing to say The chief
found it necessary to begin anew, but
broke off presently. "You understand,
do you not!"
Eyes. sir, said Loring.
Then suppose-you re very busy
have many things to do?''
Only one. Sir. :"
"Well, l WON'T detain you. IL
wish you we'll, Mr.. Loring, and-and-
bon voyagei" And the general strove to
smile.
"Thank you. general. Anything else,
STRIP
The general stood and could think of
nothing 81 believe not, - he replied,
'unless-bowever, never mind; won't
detain you. H."
coed day, sir, said Loring, and
marched quickly away to the room of
the aid-de-camp. Petty was not there.
An embarrassed lieutenant arose and
smiled vaguely.
Petty isn't about anywhere this
morning. Hs was out late last night.
L expect him every moment"
You needn't. He won't come. Tell
him waited until 3d."
Then Loring shut the door and left.
He had mary an hour later in which to
think over his final interview with the
aid. A most unwelcome duty was that
second call to Petty. He would rather
be kicked than go to Loring and say he
was released from arrest and free to go.
Perhaps he thought the kick forthcom-
Ing it he went. But Loring treated
him with the same contemptuous cool
ness as he had earlier in the night. Nor
did Loring seem either elated or sur
prised.
dash the manr' said Petty. "I'd
give months pay to tell him some
thing that would stir himl'
Petty could easily have done that had
he seen fit to mention that the general
had received visit from the lady SUI
perior with young girl from the con-
vent of the good gray sisters. But that
was a mysterious affair that even the
general had seen fit to say nothing fur
Their about, even to Loring. who was
most concerned. It was a matter that
gentle and gracious woman herself new