The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-07-05

order an officer Is transferred 20 dis
tant post the departure OF himself aud
family, If he be married. crcutes
break in the family circle which is as
sincerely incurred as would be the de-
parture for n far distant point of
member of a home circle in private life.
The remaining members of "A military
family suffer sense of bereavement
which can scarcely be conceived by
those not familiar with garrison life,
and the departure OF member is as
sincerely mourned as IL bound TO those
TO whom he bids an indefinite farewell
by ties of blood
A prospective addition to the militia
ry family is always a matter of much
comment. When the accession is to
be that of an officer of more or less
service I'm the field, his coming is
looked forward TO with great pleasure,
for in almost, If not quite. every in
stance he will be known to some OF
the officers at the post. I'm some OF the
labyriuthine movements of the great
army machine they have been thrown
together at different posts. then scpa-
rated 10y the official order and sent,
unmurmuring, to meet the exigencics
of the service at widely separated
points. When IL is announced at n
post that Capt. and Mrs. Sinclair
are to be stationed there. those who
have never met the expected arrivals
are enlightened as 20 their personal
appearance. traits Of character and So
cial attainments by those who have
been with them at other posts, and the
officer and his lady are received with as
warm recognition by those who have
never before seen them as by their
friends of old.
But IL is different when the an
nounccmcnt is made that newly Gre
ated officer will soon knock for admis-
sion into the garrison family. He will
come as stranger to all. Those Off
GERS who themselves in turn stepped
from the door of the academy at West
Point into the field Of active service as
the expected newcomer is about to do.
are well aware of the mild form of
torture which awaits them. They
know that Mr.. Graduate will burst
upon their vision clad in nattv attire
which the purifying breezes have not
yet had time to purge of the odor of
the tailor shop. lie will not have been
in the garrison a day ere his trunks
will have been emptied of their con-
tents, and the love trophies they con-
tain exhibited to the seemingly patient
group who sit meekly listening TO the
pretty young man as he boasts of his
conquests in the rosy field of love
They will smile serenely as his velvety
tongue purls on, and the time-dimmed
canvas of their own memory bright
ems and presents for their edification
the day when they, too, came gliding
into the service arena in the same state
of innocent insanity. They will not
tell him so in words, but will mentally
say to him:
"A sad case, a very sad case, my dear
boy, but you will get over 1t. Just a
little campaigning, little of the hard
ship incident to border military life
will wear the academy glitter from
you, and you will develop in time into
a man of more sturdy mold whose as
pirations will crave something more
substantial than the melody Of soft
ly sung love ditty or the giggling smile
OF a simpering schoolgirl. Those
withered bouquets bearing the distin-
gushing names Of Rose and Blanche
and Agnes and Katie and other fair
uniform worshipers now so precious to
you, will soon find Judgment In the
coal scuttle; those daintily perfumed
notes will go upward in the smoke OF
the CRATE; the oft-kissed photos will lie
neglected in your trunk in the store.
room, and the memory of the dear but
tertlies who cared little for you, but
who loved TO flutter around your gray
uniform and hurl chances of defiance at
pouting rivals, will be but as hazy
dream, which you will not in your ma
turer sense care for memory to produce
In too strong coloring. You will not
be so fastidious In dressing for the sad
die and the field as you were in dress
Ing for the ballroom, or TO keep an APP
pointment with the latest plump
quail who had fallen a victim to your
military air and brass buttons. Enjoy
your trophies while you may, my boy,
for stern duty will soon bid you shake
off the aspect of the beau and don the
more earnest air of the soldier"
Lieut.. Vandever came, and was at
once located in bachelor quarters and |
listed for duty. Capt. and Mrs. Colby, |
as the oldest in point of residence
at the post, announced a reception in |
honor of the new officer, and on the
evering designated the parlor of the |
Colby quarters was we'll filed with |
officers and ladies' Lieut.. Vandever |
was introduced to all, and was cordial |
ly welcomed into the society of the
garrison. He proved to be quite |
handsome young gentleman, and had /
brought with him a smile which had |
no doubt played sad havoc with maid
emily hearts at the alma mater on the .
historic Hudson, yet beneath the sur
face there seemed to Turk an imperious, !
tyranuical, if not cruel nature, which !
the smiling face could not entirely con-
ceal He was studiously polite in his
demeanor toward the ladies and en-
deavored to be hail fellow well
met" among the gentlemen, but sort
Of repellant glance which at times shot
from his eyes went far toward smoth-
erinQ the warmth with which hotI,