Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02

barely be distinguished. The waiting SOL
der hesitated a moment, then entered and
stamped once upon the wooden floor then
turned and noiseessly stepped out, for; an
ticipating his question, the general spoke:
mo light just yet, orderly. III call you
in a moment. Just close the tent"
At his hand-he needed no light to f1nu it
lay a little packet that had been passed in
to him with the mail while the council was
still in session. 1t stoutly wrapped,
tightly corded and profusely sealed, but
with the sharp point of an eraser the gem
eraI slit the fastenings, tore off the wrap
per, and felt, rather than saw, that bum
die of letters, rolled in tissue paper and tied
with ribbon, ribbon long since faded and
wrinkled, lay within. This he carefully
placed in a large-sized military letter en-
velope, moistened and pressed tight the
gummed flap slowed it in the inner pocket
of the overcoat that hung at the rear tent
pole, reduced the wrapper and its super
scription to minute fragments, and dropped
them into the waste basket, all as carefully
and methodically as though life knew
neither hurry nor worry; then bowed MS
lined face in both hands a moment in utter
silence and in unmistakable sadness Pres
emily his lips moved: can you look down
and see that have kept my word, Agnes?"
he murmured. God help me to find him
and save him-yet."
Once again the laughter. the gay young
voices, rang from the other tent. All over
camp, far and near, from the limits of the
park to the very slope of the height at the
thousands the throngtng soldiery 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 twinkIed behind their glasses,
with genial smile softening every feature.
his fine soldierly face peered IN on the
scene of light, of merriment and laughter
under the canvas roof of the only nome
he knew in the world-the soldier home of
one whose life had been spent following
the flag through bivouac. camp or garrl-
son, through many a march. battle and
campaign all over the broad lands OF the
United States, until now. at the hour when
most men turned for the placid joys OF the
fireside. the love of devoted and faithful
wife, the homage and affection of children,
the prattle and playful sports OF children's
children-homeless, wifeless ch1diess-he
stood at the border of the boundless sea,
soldier duty pointing the way to Tar dis
tant, unknown and undesired regions con-
tent to follow that flag to the end of the
world If need be, and owning no higher
hope or ambition than to uphold 1t to the
end of his life.
There was nothing in such face as his
to put a check to fun and merriment, yet,
all on a sudden, the laughter died away.
Three young gallants in soldier garb
sprang to their feet and faced him with
appeal and explanation in their speaking
eyes although only one Of their number
found his tongue in time to put the matter
into words. There were only two girls
when the general left that tent to meet his
officers at o'clock. and now there were
four, and the four were having 5'o'clock
tea At least any one would have said they