Daily camera., 1901-08-07
An Army Wife.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.


was forming at the band barracks, as
Merriam rccrosscd the parade. Each
musician wore attached to his headgear
bright little lamp, its reflector so ar
ranged as to throw the light full upon
the sheet of music in the rack of his
instrument. 1t was nearly time to form
the regiment, and though the band was
not to go, it meant to play the boys on
10 the cars" as the sergeant said. Whit
taker, longing for excitement of some
kind, had gone to Buxton and begged
permission to turn out his troop, mount
cd, and escort the rifles to the railway,
and Bux said mo" with cheerful and
customary alacrity. All the same all
the post was up and mostly out Of doors,
thronging about the edge Of the parade,
when adjutant's call sounded and the
two battalions came swinging out in
full marching order-'campaign hats,
blankets rolled. great coats folded, hav-
ersacks, canteens and crammed cart
ridge belts" There was but brief cere-
mony. The colonel whipped out his
sword and gave Column of fours," the
rifles of the first company leaned to the
right shoulder. the band burst forth
into its liveliest strain, and, taking the
lead, the baton-beating drum major at
its head, away they tramped for the
southeast gate, and all Fort Sedgwick
seemed to follow. The colonel spurred
his way and iolted out in front Of the
band, his adjutant at his heels. The
cadenced step and spirited music were
kept up until the hospital corps at the
rear Of column was clear to the gate.
then route step was ordered. and then
and parties the throng of escorts came
drifting back, by far the larger portion
,eering or to the right and taking the
pathway toward the barracks, while u
long string of women and children. with
a few attendant officials. kept the direct
road, nearly westward, that ran in
front of the main line of officers quar-
ters. Over al the guardhouse the little
handful of armed soldiers had stood
watching from afar the formation and
departure of the regiment, and now.
spreading their blankets. were settling
themselves for brief nap before re-
leving the sentries now slowly tramp
ing their posts. and Merriam, after one
long look at the distant row, vainly
seeking for the bright light that used 10
burn in her parlor window on previous
nights when he was on guard, turned
into the Office ot the guardhousc with
Gcayy heart and q weary sigh, and sat
himself down to look over the list OF
prisoners and the half finished report.
The midnight call OF the sentriss had
started as the rifers marched away, but,
between the music and the cheers,
seemed TO get no further than the po5rof
No. ?, and Corporal Mahoney had Ron,
20 see II three Gnd four were all right
Silence was gradually settling down
npon the moonlit garrison, although
voices Of women and children came
floating family across the dim parade,
and out under the spectral white flag
staff tiny sparks as OF cigars could oe
seen and io,g. gruff voices were heard
n consultation. \ moment or two more
md the sentry on No. was hidden To
call of hait-past Il. and barely had he
done so. and Merriam was straiuing his
ears for the answering cry of the outly-
ing posts, than a second time the sentry
let loose his voice and challenged sharp
Y: Who comes there?"
Commanding o:iceE and friends,
was the answer in Buxton's grow.
"u4.t. Corpril the Guard-cummand-
!ng officer and friends, answered No. i,
and Merriam spraug TO his feet, while
the corporal went bounding out 10 ex-
anime and receive the party.
Il want the officer Of the guard" said
Buxton, impatient of etiquette or for
mality as he bulged ahead. "oh, Mr..
Merriam, there must be a, least hun
tred OF our men gone tagging along
with the 'tOughboys' in hopes of
round OF drinks at the Junction. pToba-
bly,. l want a mounted patrol 10 go in
At once and head 'ern all back, otherwise
some of them will be carried away on
the train, sure as shooting. just give
your stable sentry orders TO let dozen
horses out. I'll send Mr.. Whitaker in
command; ne wanted 10 turn outand go
a. escort. Lots OF your men are in there,
l suppose, Capt. Grafton heconcluded,
as &c turned TO the silent officer at his
side.
HALF dozen, possibly, sir, though I
doubt it. Do you wish horses and men
from my troop? II not, sir, I'll retire"
yes. sir. DO. want three men and
horses from each troop-scod men, too
If l send squad from just one troop,
those runagates will be down on just
that one company and We'll DC in hot
water for whole year
Grafton silently touched his cap and
turned away. Far off to the southeast
there was the sound Of cheering. and the
band had struck up some rol!icking
Guickstep, whereat old Bux gritted his
teeth and swore anew. Damn those in
fernal idiots! Do you Know what'll be
the result of this? The regiment Will
get away on the train, and then that
band instead Of coming back will go to
Miguel's saloon, and there they'll start
a baile and have that whole greaser
population in there drinking mescal
and 'guardiente, and ripping and fight
ing until everybody's beastly drunk. /
won't have it, sir!" and he glared at the
officer of the guard as though he con-
sidered that silent official coconspira-
tor. II won't have it, say. wish Mr..
Whitaker to start at once and round
up the whole gang"
And with that he strobe portentously
away in the direction Of headquarters,
the orderly following with grin. Cor
poral Mahoney came in from his round,
reporting three and four all right and
everything secure.
"But there's one thing, sir: No. 2
can't begin to see the length OF his post,
nndwith SO omanyprivatehorsesin the lit
tie stables back of the row what's to pre-
vent them beggurs from town running
off half a dozen head? Once across the
mesa and into the Santa Clara country
there'd be no catching them"
eve must take the chances" said
Merriam, briefly. 1.-THE commanding