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

put lhe chief had turned again 10 the
Httered table before him. and, seating
himseif' rested his gray head in the
mana nearest his visitors. 1t was as
though he wished to conceal his face.
one OF the last to go-the thin-faced sol
oler with the twinhling blue eyes, hung
lrresolutely behind the chief moment
as though he had it in his mind to speak,
lhen turned and fairly tip-toed out,
leaving the camp commander to the So
clety of single staff officer and to the
gathering darkness.
Kindly say to Mr.. Prime. or his
trends, that | will join them ii a mo-
nlen'' SAID the former presently,
without 50 much as uplifting head Or
eye ana the aid-de-camp left as noise
lessly as his predecessor. the humorist.
But when he was gone and The Chief"
sat alone, the sound of merry chat and
laughter still drifted in with the mist
al The half-opened entrance. Shadowy
forms fitted to and fro between the Of
neral tent and the lights beginning to
twinkle at brigade headquarters across
the wide roadway. IN orderly
scratched at the tent flap. but got no an
swer. The lone occupant sat well back
IN the gloomy interior and could barely
DE distinguished. The waiting soldier
hesltated a moment, then entered and
stamped once upon the wooden floor,
1hen turned and noiselessly stepped
out, for, anticipating his question, the
general spoke:
no light just yet, orderly. III call
youth moment. Just close the tent"
AT his hand, he needed no light to find
1t, lay little packet that had been
passed i'll to him with the mail while
the council was still in session. 1t was
stoutly wrapped, tightly corded, and
profusely sealed, but with the sharp
point of an eraser the general slit the
fastenings, tore off the wrapper, and
felt rather than saw that bundle of
letters, rolled in tissue paper and tied
with ribbon, ribbon long since faded
and wrinkled, lay within. This he care
fully placed in largesized military
letter envelope, moistened and pressed
tight the gummed flap, slowed it in the
inner pocket Of the overcoat that hung
at the rear tent pole, reduced the wrap
per and its superscription 10 minute
fragments, and dropped them into the
waste-basket, all as carefully and meth
odically as though life knew neither
hurry nor worry; then bowed his lined
face in both hands a moment in utter ST.
lence and in unmistakable sadness.
Presently his lips moved: Can YOU
look down and see that | have kept my
word, Agnes?" he murmured. God
help me to find him and save him-yet."
Once again the laughter, the gay
young voices, rang from the other tent.
All over camp, far and near, from the
limits of the park to the very slope Of
the height at the north, the evening
bugles were calling by thousands the
thronging soldiery to mess or roll call.
Slowly the general rose, drew on his
overcoat, and in another moment, un-
der the sloping visor Of his forage cap,
with eyes that twinkled behind their
glasses, with genial smile softening
every feature, his fine soldierly face
peered in on the scene of light, of merri-
ment and laughter under the canvas
roof of, the only home he knew in the
world-the soldier home of one whose
life had been spent following the flag
through biyouac, camp or garrison.
through many march, battle and cam
paign all over the broad lands Of the
United States until now. al The hour
when most men turned foi the placid
Joys Of the fireside, he love Of devoted
ard faithful wife, the homage and af-
lection OF children, the prattc ard play
full sports of children's children-home-
less, wifeless, childless, he stood at the
border of the boundless sea, soldier
duty pointing the way to far distant,
unknown and undesired regions, con-
tent to follow that flag to the end of
the world if need be, and owning no
higher hope or ambition than to follow
and uphold it to the end Of his life.
There was nothing in such face as
his to put check to fun and merriment,
yet, all on sudden, the laughter died
away. Three young gallants in soldier
garb sprang to their feet and faced him
with appeal and explanation in their
speaking eyes, although only one of
their number found his tongue in time
to put the matter into words. There
were only two girls when the general
left that tent to meet his officers at four
o'clock and now there were four, and
the four were having fve-o'clock tea.
At least anyone would have said they
were four blithe girls, innocent of
graver responsibilities than social calls
and dinner or dance engagements, for
never looked four young women so free
from the cares Of this world than those