Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-07-27
CHAPTER III.

fornia to take command of Fort Clark.
Maj. GermOn was a man of forty,
stout, florid and unmarried. He had
bullying gray eyes, bushy red side whis-
kers, and very deep voice, like chronic
hoarseness.
The men in the garrison shook their
heads when they saw the new command
ant Of Fort Clark; and the comment Of
the old soldiers was:
Hes more boss than soldier, more
driver than LEADER" and they made no
mistake in their estimate.
Maj. Germon seemed to look on the
enlisted men as inferior animals, and he
treated them as mule drivers do their
teams; to be sure, he did not lash them,
his manner might have been more endura-
bic if he had, but he accompanied every
reprimand with an epithet that no man
with spirit could endure and no man
could listen to calmly and retain self
respect.
The day after Maj. Germon's arrival
he said to Capt. Phelps;
Il do not wish to hurry you about get
ting other quarters; it will be a week
before my servant comes on from San
Francisco with my baggage"
Il do not clearly understand YOU" re-
piled Capt. Phelps, who could not be-
leye that the major meant to turn him
and his wife and baby out of the house
which they had done so much to make
homelike and attractive.
'You occupy my house, | believe" said
the major.
you have the power to take any quar-
tiers in the Fort that you choose" replied
the captain. COZ course | shall not OBJ
ject; there is but little choice between
them. But this being the first place to
which | took my wife, she is naturally
attached to it."
ooh, should be quite willing to let you
remain, Captain. / do not insist on this
because it is a right, but the truth of it
is, l expect to entertain considerably.
The chances are that we shall have the
society of more ladies near the Fort dur
ing the coming year"
Every well, sir" said the captain, swal-
lowing a lump in his throat. Il shall ar
range for other quarters at once"
This incident is given to illustrate the
character of Maj. Germon. He certainly
deserved the reputation he had won, as
strict disciplinarian.
Before Maj Germon left San Fran
cisco he received a letter from his cousin,
Mrs Howard Morton. He had once been
! very fond of her and would have married
her with her own consent had not her
father and mother protested in favor of
the wealthy old merchant
In this letter Mrs. Morton told the
major that her stepson, Colin, had en-
listed into the regular army, and been
sent to the Pacific coast, to what point
she could not say. She gave it as her
opinion that he was q bad, graceleSs fell
low, whom she never desired to see again.
The chances are" she said, that he
will never return, in which event, my
own boy, now two months old, and named
after you, Cousin Fred will be none the
loser"
The day after Maj. Germons arrival
at Fort Clark he wrote a long letter to
his cousin, Mrs. Morton, from which the
following extracts are made:
II have just had time to examine the
lists Mt this post, and to my surprise |
find that Colin Morton is here and n
member Of my own regiment Capt,
Phelps, who was in charge before | came,
seems to have taken quite a fancy to
young Morton. | find he has appointed
him orderly sergeant, position which
he is wholly unqualified for by DISPOSE
ton and training. | shall wait for few
DAYS and take occasion to rectify the cap
tain's error"
1t was impossible for Colin Morton to
remain orderly sergeant at the post with
out being thrown into constant contact
with the commanding officer. A meeting
with Maj. Germon was inevitable, and he
determined to treat him as a superior Off
Ger, and as if they had never met
did you send for me, sir?' asked Colin
Morton.
He stood, hat in hand at the door of
the majors office, and the major sat at
desk with his back to him.
Maj. Germon heard the question more
plainly than he did the scratching Of his
own pen, and he knew as well who was
at the door. but it did not suit him to an
swer at once. He had planned to humil
late the young man, and this made a
good beginning.
Surprising that the officer had not heard
him, Colin, after waiting for some min
utes, again asked:
Did you send for me, sir?'
Still no notice except a smothered i'm
precation and the nervous shutting of the
majors boots on the floor.
Colin, little nettled, was about to
put the question again when the major
wheeler suddenly, and, with anger in his
protruding eyes, he demanded.
why do YOU annoy me- STRIP
Your orderly told me to report here,
and l thought it best to announce my
arrival said Colin. looking him full in
the eyes, and showing that he could not
be intimidated by harsh words nor a
brutal bearing
Who are you, sir?" asked the major,
and he took off his eyeglasses, rubbed
them with his handkerchief, and put them
on with great quickness. But before he
could see for himself the reply was given: