Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-01


dozen miles away to the east men were
strolling about with palm-leaf fans and
wilted collars. Here, close to the gray
shores of the mighty sea, blankets and
overcoats were in demand. Hospitality
the older officer tugged at the lacings
of the military front door, swore be
tween his set teeth when the knots,
swollen by the wet, withstood his eff
forts, and then shouted
Sergeant major, send somebody here
to open this
A light footstep sounded on the
springy board floor, nimble fingers
worked a moment at the cords, then
the flap was thrown open and the adj
jutant's office stood partially revealed.
1t was a big wall tent backed up against
another of the same size and pattern.
Half dozen plain chairs, two rough
board tables Uttered with books, pa
pers and smoking tobacco, an oil stove
and a cheap clothes rack on which were
hanging raineoats, ponchos and a cape
or two, comprised all the furniture. In
a stout frame of unplaned wood, cased
in their oilskins and tightly rolled,
stood the national ard state colors Of
the famous regiment; and back Of them.
well within the second tent, where one
clerk was just lighting a camp lantern,
were perched on rough tables a brace of
field desks with the regimental books.
fHha n r,f
of service in the regulars, sat at one of
them. a young soldier, he who had un-
fastened the tent flap to admit Lieut..
Gray, was just returning to his seat
at the other Two orderlies lounged on
a bench we'll beyond and back of the
sergeant majors seat, and bugler,
with his hands in his pockets, was smok-
ing briar-root pipe at the opposite
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 baseball bat.
WHO all are over yonder at the
chief's?' asked the adjutant, as soon
as he had his visitors we'll inside, and
the soft accent as well as the quaint
phraseology told that in the colonel's
confidential staff officer d southerner
spoke.
"All 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 Wig
orous shakes he gave the battered felt.
Have sent" said his entertainer
briefly, as he filled a pipe from the open
tobacco box and struck a safety match.
"Orderly galloped after him ten min
utes ago. Blow the brigade and bat
talon commanders! What ! asked you
was who are the women up there?"
NO, YOU didn't. You said who all
are up yonder? I'm sub, and s'posed
you meant men - soldiers = officers.
What have to do with any body in pet
ticoats?"
And I'm a grizzled vet of dozen
years duty, crows feet and gray hairs
a-comin'' grinned the adjutant, pull
ing at long curly mustache and draw
ING himself up to his full height of six
feet, land when you're as old as | am
and half as wise, Billy. you'll know that
a pretty girl is worth ten times the
thought our old frumps Of generals de-
mand. My name amt Gordon if
haven't a mind to waltz over there
through the mist and the wind just to
tell them I've sent for Squeers. Then
Ill get look at the girls
I've got to 90 back, said Billy, and
you've no business to with Mrs. Cor
don and an interesting family to con
slider. What tent'd the ladies 90 to?
didn't see en-
Mrs. Gordon, sub, said the adjutant,
with placid superiority, considers it a
reflection on her sex when | fail 10 pay
it due homage. OF course. you didn't
see the ladies. The party was shown
into Tie generals own domcile.
Couldn't you see how many young fell
lows were posing in picturesque atti-
tudes in front Of it? Awe, Hank" he
NIRNNiliN ~IlOhit't " tlli OillNNl SAl lhlii
past the tent in dripping mac kintosh.
Coin up 10 division headquarters?
Just tell the staff or the chief I've sent
an orderly galloping after Squeers.
Hes half way to the Preside now, but
it'll be an hour before they can get
back" The silent officer nodded and
went on. Whereat Gordon made 4 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
runaway. Old gent, pretty daughter,
and pretty daughters pretty cousin.
Heard the orders"
Damn the orders! They don't touch
US. Where do they come FROM"
Direct from Washington, they say.
Three regiments 10 sail al once. and"
oh, know all that" shouted Cor
don impatiently. 1T was all over camp
an hour ago. Where do they-th the
girls-come from? What's their
Nance"
Wasn't presented" Was the sulky re-
ply. Let Il lot Of stuffy old women
show up in search Of long-iost sons and
those fellows at headquarters unload
them on us in less than no time. but a
brace of pretty girls Why, they
double the gate guards SO that no out
slider can SO much as see them. Billy,
here. knows EN-. Ask him.
Bythis time the youngster had ranged
up alongside the adiutant and was
laughingly enjoying the latest arrivals
TRADE at the expense of the headquar
ters' staff, but at his closing words
Lieut. Billy's grin of amusement sud
den left his face, giving way to a look
Of blank amaze.
Il know EN-. l haven't been east Of
the Big Muddy since was kid
They asked for you, Just the same,
just after you started. Least one of EN-
did-for What's-his-name the chief
military legal adviser, came out bare
headed and called after YOU, but YOU