The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16
LIFE At WEST POINT.
Revenge Of the Rejected Cndet-A wild
Goose Chnse-A Case of Trousers.

Filtration Walk at West Point. Two plebes. az
the freshmen are called at the Military Acad-
envy. were l~ounging at full length upon a
weather-stained and liohcn -covered ledge Of
rock which jutted boldly from the foliage on
the face OF the cliff and overhung the shore OF
the Hudson, The path wound along the edge
OF the water below them. and they ceased talk
Ing as they heard footsteps near by. for the
discovery Of plebes In Filtration Walk by upper
classmen would mean orgies at their expense
In camp that night. so they maintained COM
plete silence as an older cadet in snugly fitting
dresscoat and s~potless white trousers guided a
radiant maiden to n rustic bench In a niche
directly beneath thor rerch.
Miss Jones'" began the young man In a
voice thrilling with hope. 'you must have OBJ
served that you have become inexpressibly
dear to me. My graduation Ia now only a year
away; and yon will make me the harpiest Of
men II you will consent to become my beloved
wlie and share the little army home that will
NJ tMr; Prace." she REPLIED. in a tone Of great
ton. but I do not love YOU and feel that I never
can do So; ! VII always be your devoted sis
broken by Tie cadet. .
not concern Yourself too deeply on my account.
When q girl visits West Point who does not re-
ceive the usual amount, OF attention. It has
- ~ W ~ Nht W ll'it I" u
70 devote himself to her. and even to propose
e. her. This is the case in the present instance.
shall we return to the hotelr"
The two listeners lost the rest Of the CONVEX:
sation as the retreating, figures disappeared
rough: wasn't III p" ""
.h "Roqgh,s no namc for it. But wasn't that
about a class custom iii bet therein he be- a Vet We
pillow ct the hotel tonight. and they won't be
A solemn tap Of the drum rang through the
night air. A slight movement like a summer
breeze softly waving the leaves Of a grove ran
through the camp. Enormous shadows ap-
peared on some Of the glowing tents as the
occupants passed between the tent walls and
the candles.
A second tap. TIL movement became more
pronounced. and in several parts OF the camp
books were forcibly closed and tossed into
lockers. At the back OF the camp. where the
tents OF the cadet officers stood. chairs were
grated over the wooden tent floors ms the
police officers rose from their tables and their
home letters. A few Rhostlike figures dashed
through the company streets and dived into
tents here and there.
A third tap. Every light in the body OF the
encampment vanished as by magic. The
police officers passed briskly from tent to tent.
receiving from each the report, "All In. sir"
and hastened to report to the officer OF the day.
The corps OF cadets was a~sleep-oficially. The
sentinels on No. . and No. q left the beats
the" had paced through the day and slowly
walked up and down the color line. leaving
Nos. 3 and s to guard the long dark sides
Of the camp. where. to assist the two last
unfortunates in their dreary watches. n lamp
post had been placed at the middle OF each
beat. whose brilliant light effectually prevented
the sentinel from seeing from one end Of his
most IN tha pthar M mara purfant coraap oo,,IJ
be devised.
Ten minutes had not passed since taps be-
fore a figure in cts darted from q ID" COM
pany tent, while No. 8 was at the southern end
of his beat. and crossing Just north Of the lamp.
disappeared among the pieces and ~caissons Of
the artillery park.
All was bright and gay at Cranston's Hotel.
at Highland Falls. that night. The officers Of
the post. with their wives and sisters and
cousins-not to mention aunts-had turned out
in force for the grandest hop Of the season. The
air was full of music and sweet perfume. and
bright eyes danced as blithe!y as the satin
slippers. Along the verandas and among the
trees wandered couples momentarily wearied
Of the waltz, and further from the glare OF the
l HSatS a w little sropI Of girls nds,d Surr nat bIa, a tel tna
merrily, hugely enjoying what they evidently
they Slipped away vi to Keep p"a q raeemen for Tor
dances. they swore eternal secrecy, and
Here comes a Tao remarked the youth as
a tall Lieutenant OF cavalry. one Of the %instruc-
t siinsi nj ]f fisbtly; tS to Sis ar%. VIII The e of,e SaFt ~ss
smiling on his companion.
hon nS soy You :. h rerie ln w,ib come sa to se II Ts t that a
We'll. l can't say that" she replied.
I've never been to a hop where there we're no
Not tonight 2"
or course not; Why; I've just been talking
l to have mentioned thatp''
The Lieutenant's face had become grave,
He STOPPED in bis walk and eazed intently at
Not to me-" he said. You must pardon
me. but l must take you to your mother. for
my duty, requires me to return TO the post i'm
The group in, the shadows stood, thunder.
s SacEs ~ as ~ th So Tnlcer and his companion turned
'e "W eI .f isd he.Sa! said the youth with a touch
must beat the mile record :to-nisht.T and !
trust YOU will pardon the abruptness Of my
It was a good mile and more back to cam
sprana along the dsrk, road beneath the over y:
! "a" q The dist distance had been iett " Behind. when when
he heard the steps 81 a swiftly tro,ting horse
martial and dismissal, rose before him. The
ss niiain nSof he "a t ssy sasle in S.a the .l9 asHia AZ pssss
headed by his name, and at the foot OF the las,
St she psrI R"asfi s ne"q tie + tG ifmit Of T ffsG tbea ,sH'
urged him to renewed effort. and he gained
IT'S no use" he Gasped to himself. may
as we'll give in" And he stopped beside d
large boulder and crouched in it's shadow.
Aclosed carriage whiEled from the darkness
into a bit of moonlight that had penetrated the
foliage overhead, and the sight OF i nerved
him Tor one more desperate effort. With teeth
and hands clinched. he drew his feet wei
under him and waited for the carriage to pass
its motion still more rapid was the dash OF the
determined boy. He gained the road Just be.
hind the swaying vehicle. only two yards away
Foot by foot he closed the gap. He felt that he
with a desperate burst Of speed gained the
last foot and swung himself up behind his for.
mer purSuer,
AS the carriage drew IN in front Of camp the
Lieutenant prang out. and. giving the counter
sign to the challenging sentinel. hurried &c
the tent Of the officer in charge, The two on
GERS quietly. but quickly, Inspected camp
Every tent was examined. Every cadet was
accounted for. They looked into each others
eyes in amaZemrnt.
"If that girl sent you back here on a wild
goose chase. you'll never hear the end of II,
chucEled the officer in charge.