Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-29
copyright. 1899. by F. 7ennyson Neely.l

Lie WON ne mere untll after he'S been
there, and he's in for a rasping over this
mornings inspection. Just look at the
report, Sergeant major send me Col.
Colts report" he called aloud, tossing
his head back as he spoke. "Come in,
Parson, come out of the wet And,
eager enough to read a famous inspec-
tors criticisms of the appearance of the
regiment, the officer addressed us Par
son showed briskly into the tent.
The young soldier who had opened
the tent flap few minutes before came
forward with folded paper which,
in silence, he handed the adjutant and
turned back to his desk. Mr.. Gordon
took the paper, but his eyes followed
the soldier. Then he called, somewhat
sharply:
"Morton!"
The young fellow stopped at the d.
vSding crack between the two tent
floors and slowly faced the three Off
GERS. He was slender, well built, erect.
His uniform fitted him trinity and was
worn with easy grace, his hands and
feet were small and slender, his eyes
and hair dark and fine, his features del
icate and clear cut, his complexion a
trifle blistered and beaten by the harsh
winds that whistled in every day from
the sea, and, as he turned, all three Off
GERS were struck by it's extreme pallor.
You're sick again, Norton" said the
adjutant, somewhat sternly. 81
thought 1 told you to see DR.. Heffer-
nan. Have you done SOP"
"I-wasn't sick enough" faltered the
young soldier. II was all right min
ute or two-or rather this morning,
sir. It'll be over presently. Perhaps
it was the smell of the oil that did it
the stove is close to my desk"
But Gordon continued to look at him
doubtfully.
"Move your desk across the tent for
the present, anyhow" said he, land I'll
speak to the doctor myself. With all
this newspaper hullabaloo about our
neglect of the sick" continued he, turn
ing to his friends, "if man changes
color at sight of smash-up he must
be turned over to the Red Cross at once.
What is it, orderly?" he finished, sud-
denly, as the tent flaps parted and a
soldier in complete uniform, girt with
his belt of glistening cartridges, stood
at salute, some visiting cards in his
gloved hand.
Lieut.. Gray here, sir?" was the COM
prehensive answer. Then, catching
sight of the young officer, who stepped
quickly forward, he held forth the
cards.
1.-THE adjutant generals compli-
ments, sir, and he'd be glad if the lieu
tenant would come over at once"
Gray took the cards, curiously stud
led them and then read aloud, one after
the other, and placing the topmost I'M
derneath the other two as soon as read.
MIR. L1sPENARD PRIME"
MISS PRIME"
miss AMY LAWRENCE"
1t was the last name that lay upper
most at the end and the Parson
noted it.
THAT'S the pretty cousin, Billy"
quoth he. "Case of the last shall be
first, don't you see? Scoot now, you
lucky boy, and tell us all about it later"
But Gray was still gazing dreamily
at the cards.
"Pm sure never met any of them
before in my life," said he. "There
must be some mistake. Yet-that
name sounds familiar-somehow," and
"that" was the only name now in sight.
"Tm off," he suddenly announced, and
vanished.
There was sound of light, quick
footsteps on the flooring of the rear.
ward tent at the same time. The SER
geant major glanced up from his writ
ing; looked at vacant desk, then at
the clock, then, inquiringly, at his regi-
mental deity-the adjutant. 1t was
just the hour of the day at which all
manner of papers were coming down
from division and brigade headquar-
tiers to be duly stamped, noted and
stacked up for the colonel's action.
This was the young clerk Morton's
especial function, but Morton had left
the Office and was gone.