Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-08
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
The little party Of visitors in the gen
erals personal tent made striking
contrast to that assembled under the
official canvas. In the latter, seated
on camp stools and candle boxes OF
braced against the tent poles, were near
lv a dozen officers, all in the somber
dark blue regulation uniform, several
in riding boots and spurs, some even
wearing the heavy, frogged oyercoat;
all but two, juniors of the staff, men
who stood on the shady side of 40,
four of the number wearing on their
shoulders the silver stars Of generals
of division or brigade, and among their
thinning crops of hair the silver
strands that told of years Of service.
One man alone, the commanding gen
cral, was speaking; all the others lis
tened in respectful silence. In the
gloom Of that late, fog-shrouded after
noon a lantern or two would have been
welcome, but the conference had be-
gun while it was still light enough for
the chief to read the memoranda on his
desk, and now he was talking without
notes. In the array of grave, thought
full faces, some actually somber and
severe in expression, a smile would have
seemed out Of place, yet, all on a sud-
den, grim features relaxed, deep-set
eyes tWinklcd and glanced quickly
about in search Of kindred sympathetic
spirits and more than half the bearded
faces broadencd into q grin Of merri-
ment, and as many heads were sudden
Is upliftcd, for just as the gray-haired
chief ended an impressive period with
the words: ut will be no laughing
matter if ] can lay hold Of them,' there
burst upon the surprised ears Of the
group a peal Of the merriest laughter
imagiuablc-the ripping, joyous, mu-
steal laughter of happy girlhood ming
ling with the hearty, wholesome, if
somewhat boyish, outburst of iollity
of hcalthful youth.
Nlerciful powers" exclaimed the
chief Il had forgotten all about those
people They must have been here 20
minutes
"Sixty-fye, >ir by tile watch said a
notwithstanding soldier tall and stall
wart, ana wearing the shield Of the adj
jutant generals department on the col
lar Of his sack coat
They ought to go, then" was the
placid suggestion of a third officer, a
man with keen eyes, thin, almost ascetic
face, but there twitched quaint
humor about the lines of his lips.
That visits past the retiring age"
And then another peal of merriment
from the adjoining tent put a stop to
conversation.
They don't lack for entertainers"
hazarded staff officer as soon as he
could make himself heard. THE sol
emn-looking Gothamite who came with
them must have slipped out"
1T seems he knows Col. Armstrong"
said the chief, thoughtfully. Il sent for
him an hour ago, and lie may be pilot
ing Mr.. Prime around camp, looking up
The runaway"
Another case?" asked brigade COM
mander, with a shrug of his shoulders.
Another case" answered the gener-
al, with a sigh. ut isn't always home
troubles that drive them to it. This
boy had everything a doting father
could give him. What on earth could
make. him bolt and enlist for the war;"
No one answered for Q moment. Then
the officer with tlre humorous twinkle
about the eyes and the twitch at the
lip corners bent forward, placed his
elbows on his knees, lis fingers tip TO
tip, gazed dreamily Al the floor, and
sententiously said;
Girl"
Whcreupon his next neighbor,
stocky, thickset man in the uniform of
a brigadier, never moving eye, head or
hand, managed to bring stable foot
in heavy riding boot almost savagely
upon the slim gaiter of the humorist,
who suddenly started and flushed to the
temples, glanced quickly at the chief,
and then as quickly back TO the floor,
his blue eyes clouded in genuine dis
trcss.
The generals gray face had seemed
to grow grayer in the gloom. Again
there came, like a ripping echo, the
chorus Of merry laughter from the adj
joining tent, only il seemed trifle sub
dued, possibly as though one or two Of
the merry-makers had joined less
heartily With sudden movement the
general rose. "Wcll, I've kept you long
enough" he said. Let the three regi-
ments be got in readiness at once, but
relax no effort in-that other matter.
Find the guilty parties if a possible
thing"
And then the group dissolved. One
or two of the number looked back, half
hestatinr. at the entrance of the tent.