Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-19
CHAPTER II.
KING
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CHAPTER II.
Military matters at the great cavalry
ana artillery post on the Pawnee were
not altogether harmonious during the
Iail ana winter following Eric Lang
IONS departure. There were some
things ana many soldiers Captain Ma
thah's money could not buy, and a
ruder shock and harsher awakening to
ms true position this plutocrat battery
man could not well have had than
came 10 MIN IN that scene at the sta
uoh. he had gone thither to meet and
escort to MS quarters two prominent
ana wealthy railway officials from the
listaht east, one OF them relative of
MS wire. He had counted on their
coming to make profound impression
IN the big garrison, and his arrange
menus Tor their entertainment included
TWO Gays OF quail shooting, a riding
party, some special drills and three or
!our eiaporate dinners, with dancing
70 roilow IN the evening. His first im-
preston on catching sight of the crowd
Ut the statlon was one OF complacency,
'ne onicers ana men were gathered
there 1e 10 get an early glimpse or his dis
tinguished guests. 1t never occurred
to him that Langdon would be going
away on that train, still less that any
number of the garrison should 60 to
bid him farewell and godspeed. He
figured that Langdon would have to
hang about the post day or two set
ting up his affairs. He had made in
quiries as to the amount in which
Langdon was indebted to the mess and
to the establishment still maintained
at the edge of the reservation by the
descendants of an old time post trader.
When, therefore, he stepped from his
stylish carriage rs the footman sprane
down and opened the door, he was
startled and shocked by the apparition
of Langdon himself and stunned
speeches. by that bitter denunciation.
CHANGING about him, lie saw some half
a hundred soldiers, with sprinkling
Of civilians, and not one face that re.
flected anything but sympathy for
Langdon and dislike for himself. The
rush of the incoming trn,n released him
from the humiliation of his position, as
the men swarmed about Langdon, en-
ger to clasp his hand, while the cap
tain, friendless and alone, FASTENED to
the rear sleeper to meet the magnates.
To lead them to his carriage he was
compelled to return through a thronp
Of his own men Just as the train began
to move, and a stentor of sergeant
shouted, "Three cheers for Lieutenant
Langdon, the best officer of Battery
DR. whereat, with lusty lungs and
swinging caps, the soldiers shouted
again and again until the train slipped
away round the bend under the bluff,
md not one of their number Ind SO
much us look, much less a salute, for
the captain. It was no time to resort
to discipline then. 'I'll fix 'em for this
when get ZEN back to barracks" he
swore to himself, but the sorest heart
ed, bitterest man to return that morn
ing from the railway to the post was
he who rolled homeward in his cush-
ionsS chariot, with liveried retainers
on the box and untold wealth beside
him.
II chafed him. too, that Woodrow.
May and other young officers should
gallop past him on the homeward way
without SO much rs peep at his i'm
posing companions or a touch Of the
cap to him. The magnates were vast.
" interested in the dashing riding of
the party and in Nays beautiful thor
oughbred and asked questions concern
ing them which only added to Nathan's
keen sense of humiliation and defeat,
He couldn't reach May, for that young
gentleman was Melyille's adiutant and
kept his mount in his own little stable
In rear Of the bachelor quarters. But