Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-10
CHAPTER I.


and volunteer, were "lined up" alon
the sentry posts and silently, eagerl,
watching and waiting. For a weel
rumor had been rife that orders for
move were coming, and the brigade
hailed it with delight. For montl
shivering at night in dripping, drench
ing fogs drifting in from the Pacific, OF
drilling for hours each day on the bleal
slopes of the Preside heights, they hat
been praying for something to breal
the monotony of the routine. They
were envious of the comrades who hac
been shipped to Manila, emulous OF
those who had stormed Santiago, and
would have welcomed with unreason-
ing enthusiasm any mandate that bore
promise of change OF scene-or duty.
The afternoon was raw and chilly: the
wet wind blew salt and strong from the
westward sea, and the mist rolled in,
thick and tleecy, hiding from view the
familiar landmarks of the ighborhood
and forcing display of lamplights in
the row of gaudy saloons across the
street that bounded the camp ground
toward the setting sun, though that in
visible luminary was still an hour high
and afternoon drill only just over.
Company after company in their cam
paign hats and flannel shirts, in worn
blue trousers and brown canvas leg
gings, the men had come swinging in
from the broad drveways of the beau
tiful park to the south and, as they
passed the tents of the commanding
general, even though they kept their
heads erect and noses to the front, their
wary eyes glanced quickly at the un-
usual array of saddled horses, of car
r1ages and Concord wagons halted along
the curbstone, and noted the number
OF officers grouped about the gate.
Ponchos and overcoat capes were much
IN evidence on every side as the men
broke ranks, scattered to their tents
10 stow away their dripping arms and
pelts, and then came streaming out to
stare, unrebuked, at headquarters. Ii
was still early in the war days, and,
among the volunteers and, indeed. |
among regiments Of the regulars whose
ranks were sprinkled with college men
who had rubbed shoulders but a few
months earlier with certain subalterns.
the military line of demarcation was a
dead letter when 1.-THE boys" were out
Of sight and hearing of their seniors,
and so it happened that when young
officer came hurrying down the path
way that led from the tents of the gen.
eral to those of the field officers of the
tenth California, he was hailed by more
imam one group OF regulars along whose
llhes he passed, and, as rule, the query
took the terse, soldierly form of whats
up, Billy"
The Lieutenant nodded affably to sew
eral OF his fellows of the football field.
but his hand crept out from underneath
the shrouding cape, palm down, sig
mailing caution. "Orders-some kind"
he answered in tones just loud enough
to be heard by those nearest him. Seen
the old man anywhere? The general
wants him. and. never hating for re-
ply, the youngster hurried on.
lie was bright, CHEEKY, brave-eyed
ad OF 20 who six months earlier was
through the sciences at the
great university on the heights beyond
he glorious bay, never dreaming of
leaGiier battle than that in which his ,,
ret eleven grappled with the striped
cam OF rival college. All on a sud-
len, to the amaze OF the elders of the g
'reat republic, the tenets and tradi- n
IONS of the past were thrown to the T.
Winds and the Hermit Nation" leaned
he seas and flew at the strongholds of T.
ne Spanish colonies. Volunteers sprang s
p by the hundred thousand and a re- +
uctant congress accorded neager
EDITION to the regular army. Many t.
ollege athlete joined the ranks, while
limited few, gifted with relatives who S
ad both push and pull" were per- "
'itted to pass not very eXacting ex- Il
and join the permanent es- /,
Enlistment assecond lieutenants forth i
18th. Counting those commissioned d,
the regular artillery and infantry, II
lere must have been dozen in the b
lronging camps back of the great city, p
nd of these dozen, Billy Sray-"Bellig- al
'ent Billy as a tutor dubbed him b.
hen the war and Billy broke out to- OF
ether, the latter to the extent of a q
ur-days' absence from all collegiate In
lty-was easily the gem of the lot at
ne OF the brightest minds" in his IL
ass, he was one of the LATEST; one of
e quickest and most agile when W.
oused, he was one of the torpids as =. .-
rule. One of the kind who should w.
I've gone in for honors," as the fac ~, ~,
ty said, he came nearer going out for -.
vilment. The only son of retired y.
lionel of the army who had made Cali W
rnia his home, Billy had spent years a. a.
camp and field and saddle ard knew -.
q west as he could never hope to know ~
aswell. The only natural soldier of
class when. sorely against the will ~;
most, they entered the student bat W.
lion, he promptly won the highest H., Ivy
evrons that could be given in the ~,
phomore year, and, almost rs prompt w.
lost them for 'lates" and absences. ~,
hen the varsity was challenged by o ,.;
ighboring institute TO a competitive W"
III the scouts" of the former report.
that the crack company of the San as
dros had the snappiest captain they tn,
ar saw, and that, with far better ma NH
lal to choose from, and more of it. co,
varsity wouldn't stand ghost of spt
wv in the eyes of the professional =.
lges unless Billy would brace up" cor
take hold" Billy was willing as ant
rkis, but the faculty said it would Cal
premium on laxity to make Billy jur
'arsity captain, even though the pres ant
incumbents were ready, any of orc
m, TO resign in his favor. "Prex" "