Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-01
Copyright, 1890 by T. 1ennyson Neelyl

ui'S said, he came nearer noInr OUT Iot
Wy iihlent' The only son of n retired
colonel Of the army who had made cali.
!ofllla MS home, Billy had spent wears
"a camp and field and saddle and knew
inc west as he could never hone 10 knox
ilasWeII. The only natural soldier OF
ms CLASS when, sorely against the will
OF most, they entered the student hat.
'ailoh' ne promptly won the highest
cheVfons that could be given in the
sophomore year, and, almost as prompt.
~, lost them for 'lates" and absences
When the varsity was CHALLENGED bv .
helgh boring institute to q connective
urn me scouts" of the former report.
ga mat the crack company of the San
fedros had the snappest captain hey
ever saw, and that. with far better ma
'eflal TO choose from. and more of if.
the varsity wouldn't stand ghost Of a
snow IN the eyes of the professional
Judges unless Billy would brace up''
and take hold" Billy was willing as
Barkis, but the faculty said II would
put premium on laxity 10 make Billy
varsity captain, even though the pres
ent lncumbents were ready, amy OF
them, TO resign in his favor. "PreX''
sald no ~ no uncertain terms: the chal-
lenge was declined, whereat the rival
institute croWCd Justify and the thing
got into the papers. AS result select
company Of student volunteers was
formed; It's members agreed to drill an
hour daily in addition to the prescribed
work, provided Billy would take hold
, IN earnest, and this was the company
that, under his command, swept the
boards six weeks later and left San
Pedro's contingent an amazed and dis
gusted crowd. Then Billy went TO
metaphorical pieces again until the war
clouds overspread the land; then like
his fathers son he girded up his lons,
went IN for commission and won.
And here he was Sub in Uncle Sans
stalWart infantry with three classmates
serving under him in the ranks and half
a dozen more, either as Junior officers
or enlisted men, in the camps Of the
volunteers. He was a handsome boy.
healthy, hearty boy, and, as boys 90,
rather a good boy-a boy in whom his
mother would have found. had She not
long since been lifted above the cares
OF this world, much of comfort and
more to condone, but a boy, neverthe-
less, who had given his old dra2oon Of
dad many an anxious hour. Nov.
just as he neared the legal dividing line
between youth and years of discretion.
Billy Gray had joined the third bat
talon of his regiment, full of pluck,
hope and health, full Of ambition to
make name for himself in profession
he loved as, except his father, he GER
tainly loved nothing else. and utterly
soothing the idea that there might come
into his life a being for the sake of
whose smile he could almost lay down
his sword, for he had vet TO meet Amy
Lawrence.
WHO are the women folks up at
headquarters. Billy?" asked youth OF
bis own years and rank, peering eagerly
through the drifting mist at the dim,
ghostly outlines of the generals camp
Didn't get to see EN-. Where's the
olG mantle colonel?" was the reply.
"Chief wants him toot de sweet
Whats wanted" called a voice from
the biggest Of the neighboring tents.
and a close-cropped head was thrust
out between the front tent flaps. THAT
you, Billl? Who wants the colonel 2
lie and the brig rode over to the Pre-
sidio an hour ago amt got back Come
in; I've started a fire in our oil stove =