Evening star., 1900-12-22

along the 'front.' the only knowledge of
what might be going on at home the occa-
sional coming of mail with letters and
papers; their only participation in the move
on Corinth the hours of listening to the
dull-distant booming Of the guns. Drills,
save by squad or company in the manual.
In which the army of the Ohio was long
since letter perfect, were impossible Life
under such circumstanc becomes stagna
ton. 1t was tedium to those VINO had let
ters and papers from home; it was torment
10 MIN VINO Tor two mortal weeks had
nothing.
"A spell seemed thrown over Norman
i1olt SAD life in the early days that fol-
lowed Shiloh. The battle itself was well
nign done by the time they reached the
tennessee and were thrown in on the left
hank just at the last despairing charge OF
tian tne men in gray. 1t was all over in a few
DIVISIONS, drilled. disciplined and sea
soned mad crushed the hopes Of the con-
federate leaders, already shattered by the
rally or the blue br.gades late the previous
day and by the death Of their heroic COM
mander, Sidney Johnston. What there was
OF the fight for the Ohio lads they took
with placid ease, the Emmets alone of the
wnoie regiment showing disposition to
preak the une and pitch in for "Donny-
brook after Their gallant captain fell. The
stern schooling they had had in Kentucky
and on the march through Tennessee had
brought them to the front 'it as fiddles"
But now came the reaction. With nothing
to do but gamble and guard duty the best
OF men go stale, and the EmmetS were not
the best For their new commanding officer
they had no respect. He had lost the ele-
ments OF his popularity. The first sergeant
whom he had appointed was obnoxious to
the company for that If no other reason,
and the byeS' proceeded to make life a
burden to him. In the furtherance Of his
determination to be useful, to get ahead,
to accomplish something, Norman had Of
tered MS aid In making out the company
papers, but with odd constraint of manner
the new first sergeant replied that he mad
all the help he needed. Yet when one day
the adjutant himself came over to Mr. NAL
loy.s tent and swore roundly because the
morning report was again all wrong it was
Holt who Strengthened it out at the SER
geants request I'D be glad if you
would give me lift the latter had said,
only l-dont want the Lieutenant to know"
In dozen ways Norman was made to feel
that with jealous vigilance Malloy was
keeping him in the background, standing
between MIN and every possibility of pre-
Ierment Yet on all occasions Holt showed
every outward semblance of sodierly re-
spect scrupulously saluting or standing at
attention in the presence Of the lieutenant
thing few others Of the men now ever
thought of doing. The Emmets got to
struggling all over the country in search
OF Illicit stills or sutler shops. They were
perpetually being arrested by patrols. The
division and brigade commanders rasped
the colonel and the colonel rasped Malloy.
Il can't help it, said the last named officer
The men are taking 1t out Of me for max
u
their own Mcks. Besides. I'm handicapped
as no other company is"
How so?" demanded the colonel
You know well enough: sir" was the
answer. THE man they elected first lieu
tenant is one Of their own set. 1 dare say
he's at the bottom OF half their devilment,
If indeed he isn't worse. He's making maps
pos Tbtns thas for @osa s s a%s y9u
The colonel llookedSaipzstartled. He stud
led the young officer sAface a while. as
though still half in dodbt. my knuckles
ache yet" said he. from the rap they got
on Holts accountsas to that Belleview
business. You must be sure of your ground
before accusing him again."
That's why ! don't interfere with him.
would put him on his guard But now that
Buell. befriends him,,-tt n making him inde-
pendent. not to say insubordinate. Pres
snaiy he'll grow sy less esntous Give him
And the story that Holt was making
maps and writing had foundation HIS
sore heart turned in repulsion from the
incessant gaming and &equent drink. He
welcomed every chance to go on scout or
patrol. He welcomed guard and picket
service and. in the kosIrse Of ten DAYS had d
lesrned more about the roads, streams and
bridges and abandoned farms within Ave
miles Of camp than any officer in his regi-
mont. He made rough field notes. plotted
maps. kept q diary and would have writ
ten letter after letter had he had any one
to write to. or, saving that, any safe place
in which to store his pages. There is no
security in the soldier knapsack. and that
was all allowed him. He had written twice
to Theodore. who had never rejoined the
company. but was reported as on detached
service In the Office of the assistant adit-
tent general, headquarters department Of
the Ohio. influence had got the lad q
"soft billet" while his comrades were afleld
No answer came. He had written to Kate
Ray long letter, telling her his own
story Of the night scout to Belleview and
begging her for news Of those he loved
swer came. Not once had Mfs. Lane writ
ten, despite Aoe promise. For oyar three