News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-08-06

nose the enemy were Smelling us as
we evacuated the post and that he was
going to make an example OF the guilty
party. Sure enough, we had not been
in camp more than two hours when
the orderly sergeant Of our company
came to our tent and said:
"The colonel wants to see you two
at once"
We looked at each other and tried to
smile, but failed.
at seems to me-" said l, that our
share of the fight at the fence ought to
mitigate our punishment mean my
own punishment, for you did nothing
in that shell affair but tell about it,
like a fool. | suppose that even now
you'll try to make the colonel believe
that you had some share in it, so as to
shield me-"
II wish l could" replied Brainard
meekly. 81 wish | hadn't told of 1t
when the colonel was so mystitied
about the shots, but really it did seem
for the good of the service"
you're too good to live" said |.
Come along. l hope you'll come in
for some share of the punishment, you
unspeakable lunatic."
Nevertheless for corporal to be
summoned by his colonel has a sober
ing effect. so | fought down my feel
ings and tried to assume bold trent
as l dragged Brainard across the
parade ground.
"Pass them in, 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 in, gentlemen" said the colo
mel, with an odd smile which never
theless seemed not ugly. "Sit down."
Both of us dropped nervelessly on the
roloneps camp bed, the only seat Wis
| ible. The colonel was handling som'
| papers which promptly assumed WERE
court martial charges against us.
Il was greatly surprised and als'
| pleased" continued the colonel, still
handling the papers, Eat receiving to
| day commissions for both of you com
| missions as first lieutenants."
l looked at Brainard, and BrainarC
| looked at me, and | don't understand
why both of us did not drop dead witt
| establishment. The colonel went on:
81 had hoped to promote both of yoV
| in the coarse of time, after you haC
| reached sergeant's grade-Brainard
i because of your rescuing your part.
| from the enemy after capture and TO
| getting that dispatch through to tn
| left a few nights ago, and, Frost, be
cause I've learned that you spent 10
| of money i'll trying to get recruits TO
| the regiment at the time you entered
| it. I'm not the only influence with tn
| appointing power. Political and othe
strings are being pulled for scores o
my nOncommissioned officers, and som
of this sort of work seems to have bee
done for you boys"
mot for me, sir, that l know Of,
said Brainard quickly.
"Eh? Well, so much the more t
| your credit. Nevertheless it's true
| You're both commissioned to the Forty
third. 1t seems from a letter accompa
nying your commissions that the Forty
third Is in a bad way-good men, ba
officers-so bad that the command can
| be trusted to take the field. A lot o
the officers have been weeded out, an
| the governor wished to replace theI
with men from regiments that are l.
good shape and have seen hard service
The senator from your district strongl
recommended you, Frost, and Gale
your father up to Albany, and it seem
that your father took with him a hanG
some young woman who told an eA
traordnary story of your bravery an
! produced letter in evidence. l can
understand how |, your colonel, faile
to have learned the facts, but
Your cousin Mayw exclaimed BraiT
ard. Then he sprang to his feet an
hit me between the shoulders with
force which | could not have believe
was in his tiny frame. The colon6
looked surprised, and Brainard mul
INJURED 81 beg pardon" and collapsed i
confusion.
st seems, further" continued til
colonel, that the governor said b
wished he knew of some other troope
of equal courage and ability, upo
which the young lady said she coul
name one and straightway praised yol
Brainard, without stint and declare
that if you two could be sent togethe
you could end the war. | can't imagin
where the young lady obtained he
knowledge of the special requirement
of the service or how she came to knoV
so much about the soldierly qualities c
two of my corporals, but these commits
sions are the result"
eve can't accept them, SIR" sal
Brair"rd, "if they've been granted 0
such arsay and misrepresentation"
l didn't approve of Brainards I'VE
He had the right to decline for himsel
should he insist on being so foolish, BIT
l wanted my own commission, no ma
ter through what mistake it was issl
ed The colonel, too, was of my wa
of thinking, for he replied:
Nonsense! Never lose a 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 it." said Brainard. ~
-. Il