The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-12
A CHAT WITH THE COLONEL.


fight had occurred, for It seemed TO me
that Il should have put Phil Hamilton's
possible chance out OF his mind But. as
soon as we reached camp the few SICK
list men and shirkers who had remained
behind began TO croak a story supposed
10 have filtered from the cooneIs tent
through several Intermediates that the
colonel had been In rage about the
explosions OF my relics In our old camp
that, had made him suppose the enemy
was shelling us as we evacuated the post
and that he was going 20 make an ex-
ample OF the guilty party. Sure enough
we had not been In camp more than two
hours when the orderly sergeant or our
company came to our tent and said:
''The colonel wants 10 see you two at
once"
We looked az each other and tried to
smile. but failed.
"It seems TO me-" said ]. that our
share OF the fight at the fence ought to
mitigate our punishment-I mean by own
punishment, for you did nothing I'm that
shell affair, but tell about IL, like fool
I suppose that even now youll try TO
make the colonel believe that you had
some share In it. so as to shield me.
II wish / could" replied Brainard
meekly II wish / hadn't told of II when
the colonel was so mystified about the
shots, but really IL did seem TO for good
of the service"
YOU'RE too good TO live" said l.
"Come alorg l hope you'n come I'm for
some share of the punishment, you UNI
speakable lunatic."
Nevertheless for n corporal 10 be sum-
moned by HIS colonel has "A SOLDERING ef-
feet so, / fought down my feelings ana
tried TO assume a bold front as dragged
Brainard across the parade ground.
Pass them by. sentry" said the colo
mel from the open front OF his tent as we
drew near. We stopped at the tent flaps,
saluted and stood at attention"
Come I'm, gentlemen" said the colonel,
with an odd smile, which nevertheless
seemed not ugly. ''Sit down"
Both OF us dropped nervously on the
colonel's camp bed. the only seat visi-
BILE The colonel was handling some pa
pers which | promptly assumed were
court-martial charges against us.
II was greatly surprised and also
pleased" continued the colonel. still
handling the papers, ''at receiving today
commissions for both OF you-commis-
sions as first lieutenants."
looked NJ Brainard, and Brainard look
ed at me- and / don't understand why
both OF ns did not drop dead with aston
ishment. The colonel went on:
q l had hoped to promote both of you
in the course OF time, after you had reach
ed sergeant's grade-Brainard. because of
your rescuing party from the enemy af-
ter capture and for getting that dispatch
through to the left few nights ago. and.
Frost, because I've learned that you spent
lot OF money I'm trying TO get recruits
for the regiment at the time you entered
II. I'm not the only influence with ap-
pointing power. Political and other strings
are being pulled for scores OF my nom
commissioned officers. and some OF this
sort of work seems TO have been done for
you boys"
mot for me, sir, that | know of" said
Brainard quickly.
"Eh? Well, so much the more to your
credit Nevertheless tbs true. You're
both commissioned TO the Forty-third IL
seems from letter accompanying your
commissions that the Forty-third is IN
a bad way-good men, bad officers-so
bad that the command can't be trusted to
take the field. A lot of the officers have
been weeded out and the governor wished
TO replace them with men from regiments
that are In good shape and have seen
hard service. The senator from district
strongly recommended you, Frost, and
called your father up to Albany. and II
scenes that your father took with him
a handsome young woman who told of an
extraordinary story OF your bravery and
produced a letter Of evidence can't un-
derstand how J. your colonel, failed to
have learned the facts. but
Your cousin Mayl' exclaimed Brain
. ard. Then he sprang to his feet and
hit me between the shoulders with a
force which l could not have believed
was in his tiny frame The colonel
looked surprised. and Brainard murmur.
ed, II beg pardon" and collapsed In con-
fusion.
1T seems. further" continued the colo.
mel, that the governor said he wished
young lady said she could name one
he knew OF some other trooper OF equal
courage and ability, upon which the
and straightaway praised you Brainard
without stint and declared that II you
two could be sent together you could end
the war / can't imagine where the
young lady obtained her knowledge OF tho
OF the special requirements OF the service
or how she came 10 know so much about
the soldierly qualities OF two OF my cor.
porals. but these commissions are the re.
suit"
I'VE can't accept them, sir" said
Brainard. III they've been granted or
such hearsay and misrepresentation"
/ didn't approve OF Bralnard's we
He had the right 20 decline for himself
should he insist on being so foolish. but
] wanted my own commission. no mat
ter through what mistake IL was issued
The colonel, too, was OF my way OF think
'Nonsensel Never lose n chance {,
reach higher rank. especially TO NOV,
your insignia OF rank from your sleev,
TO your shoulder"
But. sir, there are other men NOR,
deserving of a." said Brainard I'D fee
ashamed 90 wear shoulder straps II Nc
Twyny must go on with only n sergeant
stripes. You ought 20 see him fghtr
"Eh? McTwyny? That freckled Irisl
tiger that's a sergeant In your troop
Oh he couldn't help fighting n he triedv
But there's brains behind his fight
ing. sir III you'd seen and heard
There's brains behind all real tight
Ing. corporal-er-lieutena Don't eve
forget 1t, or your enemy will get tn
better OF you"
But there's such a lot behind Nc
Twyny's SIR" persisted Brainard
Think OF the odds that were agains
him He had only IS men with whom q
fight what looked like n brigade--cer
talnly a thousand-and he talked an,
acted like a general instead OF n mer
sergeant"
when where7 How do you know
asked the colonel. with n aulzzical smil
apparently at Brainard's assuming q
know how n general would act.
This afternoon. Way of 90 the rgh