Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-09-06
CHAPTER KIT.
THE

IllIL Soh Az bTsIN-lLN -C1tlfF,
One, two, three hours I waited. No
one knew, or would tell me, when the
general might return, and though I
was allowed to walk up and down the
hail of the old farm house then used
as army headquarters, or even in the
o before the house, / realized that
/ was not out of sight Of one sentry or
another during all that time. Twas not
strange, since the credentials I brought
were nothing more than my word, and
no Il about headquarters knew nv
name. Noon passed and by good for
tune | secured some food; and then the
afternoon wore on.
In this delay I went over again the
ride Roger had taken me, and harked
back to Mistress Philipse's treatment
Of me at the Gowan'S ferry house.
Twas a marvel how that one woman
could say what she chose to me, ana,
by such n word or look as she gave me
when l left her, wipe out a hundred
times the things she had charged me
with but & few hours before. Could
such n m thinlI seriously with SO
many moods and such sudden temper?
Could She have been serious and true
In both her moods that night and this
morning? | had seen her but twice
n yet | knew her so we'll. so well. In
that time she had shown me more OF
womanliness, Of beauty, of sweetness,
of impetuOus temper, Of weak feminine
helplessness, and strong will and anger
than | had known in any dozen women
before. Twas enough to turn the
head Of any man, this breaking out in
new expressions momen by moment.
battling beyond measure, yet compell-
ing me to forget all injustice by a
single last word.
l could not get away from her now
when | expected at any ome to
face the one man a soldier wishes to
be ready for, to impress fa~vourably:
and so in the afternoon sunlight could
bring my thoughts back to the chief
and what he might have for me to do,
only to see them sneaking back to that
old mansion by the ferry, with it's open
door, its dead, and it's single light still
burning to make it more desolute-to
the slight girlish figure travelling
southwark in the company of some
cOuntryman on her a to renew her
troubles, whatever they might be.
So was l surprised by a stir about
headquarters, and, turning saw a
squad of officers approaching on horse
back, with the great unmistakable
figure leading them. They passed me
II entered the house without a word.
only returning salutcs. None among
them did ] know, except the straight
figure Of General Knox, whom l had
seen at the Robinson house on that
fateful morning.
Shortly, however. / was summoned to
enter, and found a large low apartment
occupied by the commander-in-chie
who was talking quietly with his Off =
GERS.
Nay, Knox, it is a question of prin-
ciple, not of the individual. He may
be, indeed, l know he is a gentleman
n a fine officer, but the question deals
with the Whole discipline of the army,
not with the case Of a single man."
1T is a terrible duty" replied the
other, sadly. shaking his head as he
gazed out ofthe window.
The general saw me and said to the
others:
Gentlemen, l have some private
business with this young man" And
they went silently out of the room.
Lieutenant Balfort," said Washing
ton, turning to me without hesitation
you have obeyed quickly. 1t is cor
rect military discipline"
Il have been here ten hours, your
excellency."
Il know" said he. IT was, however
continued, in such times as these
judgements must be made quickly, and
they must be correct and u%nflinching.'
did not reply.
Il have sent for you,' continued the
general, " to give o a commission
of great Importance. l do not know
you. Can | trust your
looked him full in the eye, and met
n glance that made me shiver in spite
of myself.
You can, cir"
Il think l can"
hen after a moments pause: you
are not known to any one in this Hud-
son river country"
ITO no n except Colonel Living
stones command"
You are known to others"
ITO others?"
ITO a dozen British soldiers, five OF
whom are at large
Yes. that Is true, your excellenSS.'