The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
placing the topmost underneath the other two
az BOOB us reau. D,
"MIes pRTMEU


the end and the parson noted 4, a..,
Case OF the last shall be first, don't you sect
Scoot now. you lucky boy and tell us all about
but Gray was still gazing dreamily at the
I'm sure I never. net any Of them before in
take. Yet-that name-sounds fam iliar- some-
how" and that was the only name now In
sight. I'm OF" he suddenly announced. and
There was sound Of light quick footsteps
same 'G tms Tho serssant.maor sanc &c up
| from his writing looked at vacant desk.
then at the clock. then. inquiripely. at his reg.
hour OF the DAY at which all manner Of papers
were coming down from division and brigade
stacked up for tho -colonel's action. This was
tho young clerk Morton's especial function.
but Morton had LETT the office and was gone
CHAPTER II.
The little party OF visitors in the Generals
personal tent made striking contrast to that
assemb led under the oificlai canvas. In the
latter. seated on camp stools and candle boxes
or braced against the tent poles were nearly a
lation Uniform. several in riding boots and
spurs some even wearing the heavy. frogged
who stood on the shady side Of forty. four OF the
number wearing on Their shoulders the silver
stars OF Generals OF Division or Brigade. and
| strands that told OF years Of service. One
man alone. the Commanding General. was
silence. In the gloom OF that late. fog
shrouhed afternoon a lantern or two would
begun while it was still light enough for the
chief to read the memoranda on his desk. and
array Of grave. thoushtfu faces some actually
sombre and severe in expression n smile would
have seemed out OF place. yet. all on sud
search ., ktndred sSmpathe!ic spirlts. and
ened into n grin of merriment and as
many heads were suddenly uplifted. for Just rs
period With the words: 1T " viii be no laughing
matter If can lay hold OF them" there burst
y, upon the surprised ears of the group peal OF
tho me rriest laughter imaEinabe-t ripping.
Joyous, musical laughter OF happy grlhood
mtngling with the hearty. wholesome. IL some
what boyish. outburst of joility of healthful
:, "Merciful rowcrs!r exclaimed the chief Il
must have been here twenty minutes"
Sixty i've, sir. by the watch" said satur;
is shs o tall pn% snT ans
department on the collar Of his sack coat.
Ihsy ought y; to go then was the placid
eyes. thin. almost ascctic. face. but there
twtched a quaint hunor, about the lines Of his
lips. That visit past the retiring age"
And then another peal Of merrment from the
aa!lTTinlnH tent put stop to conversation:
SELF heard The solemn -ooSing GothamlIo
who CANE win them must have slipped out "
said the chief thonghtIuily. Il sent for
him an hour ago. and he may be plotting
Mr.. Prime around camp. looking up the run
away H;o,,or o,so,. ,s,a, pn,u,so Cow
mander. with Shrug OF his shoulders.
Another case" answered the General. with
a sikh. 1T isn't always home, troubles that
d6S them to it, TIL by had
could make him holt aud enlist for the war;"
No one answered for moment. Then the
nj .nr hn ~ inly In hntt
eyes and the twitch at the lipcorners. bent for
ward placed his elbows on his knees. his fin;
gers tip to tip. gazcd dreamily at the floor. and
sentent.ousy said:
Girl"
thicksot man in the uniform Of a lSrgadIer.
never moving eve. head or hand. managed to
bring Il sizabe foot in heavy riding boot almost
who suddenly started and flushed to the tenn
pies. glanced quickly at the chief. and then as
quickly back to the floor. his blue eyes clouded
The Generals gray face had seemed to grow
grayer in the gloom. Again there came. like Il
rirpling echo, tho chorus OF merry laughter
from the adjoining tent only it seemed a triie
a joined %Spss f h@ar
sudden movement the General rose: Well. I've
kept YOU Long enough. he said. Let the three
regiments be got in readiness at once. but relax
NJ effort other matter Find the guilty
parties if a possble thing"
Of the number looked back half hesitatng. at
the entrance OF the tent. but the chief had
and seating himself. rested his gray head in the
hand nearest his visitors. 1t was as though he
so-the thin faced soldier with the twinkng
blue eyes-hung irresoIutey behind the chief a
moment as though ne had II III his mind to
speak. then turned and fairly tip-toed out.
leaving the camp commander to the society of
a single stat officer. aud to the gathering
Kindly say to Mr.. Prime. or his friends. that
WIN j9in then in momept said thf former
and the aide dc LEFT uOlSeoSRly
as his predecessor. the humorst Butwhen he
was gone and The Chief, sat Yanr alone ths
entrance. Shadowy forms fitted to and fro
ming to twinkle at brigade headquarters across
the wide roadway. An orderly sGratc he'd at the
pant sat we'll back in the gloomy interior and
could barely be distinguished. The waiting
soldier 6esltated moment: then entered and
turned and noiseessly stepped out. Tor. antici-
patIng his question. the General SPOKE:
NO light Just yet. orderly. III call youth a
moment. Just close tho tent.'
At his hand. he needed no light to find it.
lay u little packet that had been passed in to
him with the mail while the council was still
in session. 1t was st"nsy h wrapp tS t tight
point Of an eraser the General slit the fasten-
ings. tore of the wrapper; and fell rather than
iuLed and wrinklcd lay within. This he care
fully placed in u large-sized military letter
gummed flap. slowed it in the inner pocket OF
the ovcrcoat that hung ut the rear tent pole
reduced the wrapper and its superscrirton to
minute Fragments and dropped them into the
waste basket all as carefully and methodicaly
as though lifo knew neither hurry nor worry
then bowed his lined face in both hands a mo-
ment in utter silence and in unmi stak a BILE sad
ness. Presently his lips moved Can you
look down and see that | have kept my word.
ARnes?' he murmured. God help me to find
him and save him-yet"
Once again the laug liter the gay young voices,
rang from the othor tent. All over camp. far
and near. from the limits OF the park to the
very slope of the height at the north. tho even
log buges we're calling by thousands tho
thronging soldlery to mess or roll call. slowly
the General rose. drew on his overcoat and in
another moment, under the sloping visor Of
his forage cap. with eyes that twinkled behind
their glasses, with Il genial smile sotteninR
every feature. his nne sodierly face peered in
on the scene Of light. OF merriment and laugh
ter under the canvas roof of the only home he
knew in the world-the soldier home OF one
whose life had been spent following the flag
through bivouac. camp or garrison, through
many a march. battle and cam paign all over
the broad lands Of the United States until
now. at the hour when most men turned
for the placid joys of the hreside. the
love OF devoted and faithful wife, tho
homage and affection of children. the prattle
ami playful sports OF chiIdren's children
-riEo nbil ha l.