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

or enlisted men. in the camps OF the Volun-
| teers. He handsome boy, healthy,
hearty boy. and, as boys go, rather good
| hoy-a boy in whom his mother would have
found had she not long since been lifted
| above the cares of this world, much of COM
/ fort and more to condone, but boy, never
theless, who had given his old dragon of
| dad many anxious hour. Now. just as
| he neared the legal dividing line between
! youth and years of discretion. Billy GRAY
| had Joined the third battalion of his regi-
| ment. full of pluck hope and health. full of
ambition to make name for himself IN
profession he loved as, except his father, ne
certainly loved nothing else. and utterly
| scoffng the idea that there might come
/ into his life being for the sake of whose
| smile he could almost lay down his sword,
| for he had yet to meet Amy Lawrence.
| ''Who the womenfolks UP at head
| quarters. Billy" asked youth of his own
| years and rank peering eagerly through the
drifting mist at the dim, ghostly outlines of
! the generals camp
| Didn't get to see 'em. Where's the old
, mantle colonel?,' was the reply. "Chlef
vans him toot de sweet.
What. wanted?" called a voice from the
biggest of tn, neighboring tents, and
close-cropped head ~ts thrust out between
the front tent flaps nat you. bLily
Who wants the colonel? He snd the brig
rode over to the Preside an hour 2go.aln
got back Come in; I've started rs III
our oil stove" A puff of warm air blew
from the interior and confirmed the state
ment 1t was well along in summer and,
not dozen miles away to the east, men
We're strolling about with palm-leaf fans
and wilted collars. Here, close to the gray
shores of the mighty sea, blankets and
overcoats We're in demand. Hospitality the
older officer tugged at the lacings of the
military front door. swore between his set
teeth when the knots, swollen by the wet,
withStood his efforts, and then shouted:
'Sergean: major, send somebody here to
open this.
A light footstep sounded on the springy
board floor, nimble fingers worked a mo-
cords then he fan thrown
open and the adjutants office stood par
TALLY revealed. 1t was a big wall tent
backed up against another of the same
size and pattern. Half a dozen plain
chairs two rough board tables Uttered
with books, papers and smoking tobacco,
an oil stove and a cheap clothes rack, on
which we're hanging raincoats, ponchos and
a cape or two, comprised all the furniture
In stout frame Of unDlaned wood, caSed
in their oilskins and tightly rolled, stood
the colors of the famous regiment, and
back of them, well within the second tent,
where one clerk was just lighting a camp
lantern We're perched on rough tables a
brace of field desks with the regimental
books. The sergeant major, veteran of
years of service in the regulars, sat at one
of them. A young soldier, he who had I'M
fastened the tent flap to admit Lieutenant
Gray, was just returning to his seat at the
other. Two orderiies lounged bench
well beyond. and back of the sergeant
ajor's seat, and a bugler. with his hands
in his pockets. was smoking a short brier
root pipe at the opposite, or back doorway
Woe to the enlisted men who sought the
presence of the colonel or adjutant through
any other channel. The sergeant major
would drop on him with the force of a base
ball bat.
who all are over yahnduh at the
chief's?'' asked the adjutant, as soon as he
had his visitor well inside. and the soft
accent as we'll as the quaint phraseology
told that in the colonels confidential staff
officer a southerner spoke.
"Al the brigade and most regimental
commanders cept ours, | should say. and
they seem to be waiting for them Can't
We send?' was the answer, as the Junior
whipped off his campaign hat and sprinkled
the floor with the vigorous shakes he gave
the battered felt
Have sent" said his entertainer briefly,
he filed a pipe from the open tobacco
box and struck a safety match. Orderly
galloped after him ten minutes ago Blow
the brigade and battalion commanders.
What I asked you was who are the women
up there?'
mo; you didn't. You said, who all are
up yonder?' I'm a sub, and s'posed you
meant -soldiers-officers. What have /
to do with anybody in petticoats?"
and I'm a grizzled vet of dozen years
duty, crows feet and gray hairs a-comin',"
grinned the adjutant, pulling at long,
curly mustache and drawing himself up to
his full height of six feet. and when you
are as old as | am and half WISE Billy
you'll know that pretty girl is worth
ten times the thought our old frumps of
generals demand. My name amt Gordon
If I haven't a mind to waltz over there
through the mist and wind just to tell them
I've sent for Squeers. Then I'll get a look
at the girls"
i've got to go back said Billy. "and
you've no business to-with Mrs. Gordon
and an interesting family to consider.
What tent'd the ladies go to? | didn't see
EN-"
Mrs Gordon suh' said the adjutant,
with placid superiority, Considers it a re-
Election her when l fail to pay it
due homage. OF course you didn't the
ladies. The party was shown into the gen
erals own dOmicile. Couldn't YOU see how
many young fellows were posing in pictur-
esCue attitudes in front of it? Awe
Hank he suddenly shouted to an officer
tosh. Coin up to division headquarters?
Just tell the staff or the chief I've sent an
orderly gailoring after Squeers. He's half
way to the Preside now, hut it'll be an
hour before they get back" The silent
officer nodded and went on whereat Cor
don made a spring for the entrance and
hailed again.
Say. Hank. Who are the damsels?"
The answer came back through the fog:
People from the east-looking for a run
away. Old gent, pretty daughter. and
pretty daughters prettier cousin. Heard
the orders?'
Damn the orders, They don't touch US.
Where do they come FROM
Direct from Washington, they say
Three regiments to sail AT once. and
I nj hat