Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-31

linen oil or US to whom he promised
commissions are duped?"
''Not at all-if you've raised the req
uisite number OF men. Have you done
itY
Then Hamilton lost his self posses
sion for the first time within my knowl.
edge.
'Uow many men have you raised 2"
continued the officer.
give" said Hamilton feebly.
"And you?" This to Cloyne.
-Four" sighed the handsome Irish.
man.
Then the lieutenant looked at me in.
quiringly.
"Tbree." I whispered. remembering
that one was dead and another re-
claimed by his parents.
"And you've consumed nearly q
month at this" said the officer. what
commissions do you suppose you are
entitled to-"
No ono answered, so the lieutenant
resumed his work.
Then we three Summerton men step.
ped aside at Hamiiton's 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 q word to any of the many
people be had known pleasantly for
years, would make him feel very much as
il suddenly arrested and sent to prison
Hamilton said he heartily wished him
self IN Cloynes condition. but unfortu.
nately there were many people to
whom he owed parting calls and some
With whom he had made enga gements
which he wouldn't break for anything
! began to say that feared that not to
see me gain would be the death Of my
father or mother or both, but l didn't
get through my speech very well. AS
for my brother Ned. when thought
Of that little fellow and all I might
have bee>a to him, but hadn't, and now
be wouldn't have a big brother again
<or years. l secretly promised heaven
to endure patiently any hardship OF
suffering Of war II l 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 go back home
we can az 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, IL
beg thousand pardons, but | know
you'N forgive me if you'd put yourself
in my place for a moment I'm an old
First militia man, and | know orders
must be oheyed."
First regiment, ehT said the lieu.
tenant rising from his desk, while
Cloyne ard | pinched each other with
delight at the impression which Ham.
ilton's announcement had evidently
made.
'Ycs, and I've enlisted for service,
not for money, for I'm quite we'll off
already. My two friends here and l
would like TO see our families and ac.
quainlanccs before we start"
photograph them to come at once"
said the lieutenant. $50 to the nearest
hotel and see 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
leutenants 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 doos, the
lieutenant leading. Just then felt
clutch at my shoulder and, turning,
saw Brainard, his face tear stained and
most woebegone. Hamilton Glanced to
see him, too, stopped, stared and ex-
claimed:
"Eh? What's thisw
This is surprise" said I. "IIe's
one OF us after all"
THANK heaven" exclaimed Hamll-
ton.
was so pleased at this remark thai
l wah hours in comprehending 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 II was
time to start. We at once TELEGRAPH
our families ard while awaiting them
made some hasty goodby visits to,