News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-06-04

|
Three" I whispered. remembering
that one was dead and another re-
claimed by his parents.
"And you've consumed nearly a
month at this" said the officer. What
commissions do you suppose you are
entitled to-"
No one answered, so the lieutenant
resumed his work.
Then we three Summerton men step
ped aside at Hamiltons suggestion for
consultation, but we at once began to
moan and grumble instead of consult
ing. Cloyne said he had no one in
particular to say goodby to; neverthe-
less to go off as we were about to, with
out saying word to any of the many
people he had known pleasantly for
years, would make him feel very much as
If suddenly arrested and sent to prison.
| Hamilton said he heartily wished him
self in Cloyne's condition, but unfortu-
nately there were many people to
whom he owed parting calls and some
with whom he had made engagements
which he wouldn't break for anything.
] began to say that feared that not to
see me again would be the death of my
! father or mother or both, but | didn't
get through my speech very well. AS
| for my brother Ned, when / thought
| Of that little fellow and all ! might
have been to him, but hadn't, and now
he wouldn't have a big brother again
foe years, secretly promised heaven
to endure patiently any hardship or
| suffering Of war If might be spared
to make amends to that small boy.
Suddenly Hamilton exclaimed:
"This won't do. We're wasting pre-.
cious time. If we can't so back home
we can at least telegraph our friends
to come down and say goodby to us,
Let me labor with the great mogul once
more"
Lieutenant" said Hamilton, whom
| Cloyne and followed to the desk, -
beg a thousand pardons, but I know
you'll forgive me If you'd put yourself
in my place for a moment. I'm an old
First militia man, and l know orders
must be obeyed." .-.e.,>a=-7,e4.ae-r
"First regiment, ehy' said the lieu.
tenant, rising from his desk, while
Cloyne and | pinched each other with
delight at the impression which Ham
ilton's announcement had evidently
made. .-,-,'. ..s4-
eyes, and I've enlisted for service,
not for money, for I'm quite we'll off
already. My two friends here and
would 1iEn n fan1i1inc nd on
quaintances before we start"
Telegraph them to come at once"
said the lieutenant eco to the nearest
hotel and SEQ them there. You wouldn't
like to meet them before this crowd
I'll pass you through the guards"
We must have been a happy trio to
look at just then as Hamilton took the
lieutenants hand and murmured:
"God bless you"
81 hope he WILL" said the officer, "for
everybody else is cursing me today,
though I'm merely doing my duty"
We all moved through the door, the
lieutenant leading. Just then | felt
clutch at my shoulder and, turning.
saw Brainard, his face tear stained and
most woebegone. Hamilton CHANGED to
see him, too, stopped, stared and ex-
claimed:
"Eh? What's this?"
"This is a SURPRISE" said l. Hes
one of us after ALL"
"Thank heavenw exclaimed Hamil-
ton.
was so pleased at this remark thar
| was hours In comprehendng the en-
tire meaning of it, which was that
there was a woman in the case. Mean
while Hamilton named the hotel to
which we would go and where the lieu
tenant could notify us when 1t was
time to start. We at once telegraphed
our families and while awaiting them
made some hasty goodby visits to
friends in the city. Two hours later
we felt as criminals condemned to
death must feel during the final visit
of their friends. My father bless his
dear, thoughtful marlborough down
the entire family and the dog besides.
Had it not been for that dogs efforts
to explore the hotel and Ned's efforts
to bring him back there would have
been little relief from the gloom of
which all of us were full. Brainard's
mother seemed to suffer worst of all
She had gone through the agony of CIV
ing her son away OILY to get him back
again forever, sho supposed. Now he
was a soldier once more, and at scafte-
ly an hours notice she was to lose him
My own misery was doubled by her
sorrow, for was not | to blame for his
being in uniform?
My cousin May tried to put some
cheer into the party and as she always
laughed heartily at the slightest provo
cation it was impossible not to be af-
fected by her spirits. She made CHEEKY
though modest replies to some gallant
speeches which Hamilton addressed to
her, and she told Mrs. Brainard to
think how much more Charley's quick
wits would be to the nation than the
guns of dozen common men. She
scarcely spoke a word to Charley him
self, however, and he looked at her
only slyly, for, as he told me after
ward, he had caught glimpse of him
self in a hotel mirror and felt like