The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-01

cret in the war department. some
times think that when I'm retired for age
I'll waive the half-pay L am entitled to
and write book entitled. The War De-
partment Turned Inside Out" Some
think that intrigue died with Catherine
de Medici; from what | saw in the war
department l judge she was mercy a
novice"
Just then an orderly appeared and sa-
luted, then handed an official envelope to
the Lieutenant. 1t was stretching red
tape pretty far, even for the garrison at
San Anton. where it is known the starch
of the army is stiffest. Lieut.. Harris
tore open the envelope and read You
are directed 10 report at the garrison Of
fee before Col. Willard at s o'clock this
evening this date" 1t was signed by che
Coloners private secerary.
THE beginning of hostiliues." he said
was a wan smile. II think l know what
it means-perhaps you can guess, Bessie;
but let us not mention it ufitil 1t really
happens. Come into the arbor again,
where we can talk more freely. I imag-
inc my footsteps viii be logged by spies
since / have opened my batteries and de-
clared war last night. Perhaps the
Colonel imagined that l would not see
you after he forbade il last night. Fortu
nately, disobedience in this matter does
noe come within reach of the code of mill
can go to for redress-and I believe he
fears you worse than he does the In
dams" The two entered the arbor and
were lost in the small talk, with which
lovers alone are interested.
When Col Willard received the mail he
looked it through carefully before he took
any of it under consideration. There
seemed 90 be one document that interested
him. 1t was franked by the War De-
blua
opened it at once, and then turning to his
secretary, dictated the letter, which we
have really already heard. He could
see through a crack in the canvas his
daughter and Lieut.. Harris engaged in
| conversation in the garden. He watched
| until he saw the order opened and read
he noted the smile which came over the
young mans face. and them savagely
biting his goatee. he proceeded to his rou-
| tine work.
For three administrations the Colonel
| had been a figure in the social life of
| Washington. He had married shortly af-
| ter his departure from West Point into
| one of those select dynasties whose roots
were planted along the shores of the Hud-
son long before the American Revolu-
| ton II had been the making of the
man. From that time ne had rested on
the softest pillow the War Department
X
| avoid the appearance of too great lar
| CESS, the Colonel was ordered in 20 active
| service and given the gilt-edged post at
| San Anton. When he first stood before
4he garrison at parade the impulse of
the troops to smile was smothered with
difficulty. They had heard of Col. Mil
lard; even the grooms knew that he had
been plaything in the army. But If
| hey had expected TO see any awkward
in, 1ril or iuCnaNtiOn fbpV mis-
| Iaken and they never knew the exora-
| bleness of a loose button or a poorly
| cleaned rife until the reign of Col Mil
| lard began. The man who had run the
| fire of official etiquette for three admins
trations becomes fussy in small things.
| Not Iong before the Coloners departure
| he had met with a severe loss by the
| death of his wife II was whispered in
| the Washington drawing rooms chat she
would have been the real colonel at San
Anton-anG perhaps Col. Willard had over
| heard it. There were also vague rumors
about an attachment, which had entered
| and broken the peace of the home long
before Mrs Willard had died. But then
| the official gossip of the capital is less
| liable than any other.
Six months after the Coloners departure
he fact leaked our, through the wife of
the Secretary of War; it was said, that
the real cause OF the Colonels departure
was due to another mysterious affair, be-
| tween himself and young Lieut.. Harris
of Ohio, whose influence in this admins
| tration. wherein The wishes of the Buck
| eye state prevailed, was powerful enough
to have an officer of superior rank re-
moved 1t was further noted in confirm
alton of this theory that the Coloners sue
c ssor came from Ohio. There was one
more story, which has a place in this
history. The mother of Lieut.. Harris was
widow of much beauty and great
wealth. She possessed fund OF influence
in official circles, and in her drawing
room at Washington one would find, per-
haps what was the nearest thing 70
salon of the French type in the time or
Nine de Stael. The Colonel was reign
ing favorite here, and the fact that his
presence was an event of almost daily
occurrence may have had something 10
do with his departure. At all events,
there was certainly no hint OF scandal,
although it was gravely suggested that
Young Lieut. Harris would like TO nave
h m removed, ard again that Mrs. harms
was tired and had put up The scheme as
he most delicate way of disposing of one
who had become bore. The remark that
we have heard from the young lieutenant
himself shows that he alone knew the
real reason.
Two minutes before o'clock that even
inc Col Willard entered the garrison
office seated himself at his desk, ana Sc
lected blue envelope from pigeon
hole Just as the garrison CLOCK was
striking Lieut. Harris stood before MN
and raised his hand in salute. This return
ed the colonel cleared his throat ana
said. IT have received by special post from
Washington the order from the war De-
nartment directing me to order your re-
naval 10 Fort Dawson, Montana This is
new garrison recently organized, at
spot where ii is feared there may some
nne be a god deal of trouble with the
Indians They need a good officer to put
thern i'm form, and can heartily commend
the wisdom of the War Department IN
making this choice. l have only to add
TJeut Harris, that the fact of our I'M
pleasant conversatio ton last evening, as it
is plain to see, has had nothing 10 DO VIVA
this matter. / only received the order this
afternoon. officers in the army ought to
he regarded as above such business, but,
he added with a sarcastic twist OF his
mouth. 1.-THE facts teach us they are not
always, so / feel compelled In self-prn-
lection to make this statement. You are
tn appear at Fort Dawson for duty on the
9eth inst" The exchange of salutes end
cd this conversation, which was entirely
in accord with the .stricteet military dis
cinline. and Lieut.. Harris retired without
a word
AS he appeared there was a fiuttering
Of skirts in the region of the arbor, toward
which he directed his steps,
Nsgnk