Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-06-12

quarters selected a suit, and away we
went, Brainard walking beside me.
When we reached the examiners office,
asked Brainard to wait outside few
moments while | could speak Il few
words with the surgeon, with whom |
thought | might have some influence.
Charley smiled sadly and leaned
against a decreasing, while | entered,
with my heart beating so violently that
| feared it might burst before the sur
geOn could examine 1t. At last came
the call:
Charles Brainard!
"Herew | shouted.
The surgeon looked at the list and
then at me, at which | began to
tremble guiltily and wondered how
soon | would be shot or hanged after
discovery. But the surgeon went on
with his examination, exactly as he
had done three weeks before, and then
he marked the list and gave 1t to the
sergeant with the words:
"All accepted"
The sergeant dug his Est into my
ribs as we passed out. His fist was
big, and he used it with thoughtless
vigor, but imagined there was much
more force in a similar familiarity
bestowed upon Bralnard as We rejoin-
ed him, and the old sergeant said:
"Come along"
Wont he even see me" asked Char
ley pitifully, as we marched toward
the mastering officers quarters.
Hes changed his mind about you"
l explained. "All you now need, to
be soldier once more. Is to take the
oath and be mustered in."
"Hurrahr shouted Charley, with a
glad look which | thought absolved me
at once Of whatever crime | had for his
sake committed. Lets run"
There was no chance to run, the two
offices being near each other. At the
mastering officers it was my turn to
stand outside, but got near enough to
look through the door, and | wished
all Summerton might be there with me
to see how handsome and manly n lit
tie, thin, fiat chcsted, round shouldered
fellow could look when his heart was
full of honest joy.
And how glorious it was to help Sc
lect a uniform for Brainard when he
returned to headquarters! True, his
trousers had to be turned up several
inches to clear the floor, and the collar
Of his jacket had to be turned down
until none of the yellow braid could
be seen, and the row Of buttons on the
front which should have reached Osly
his waist seemed to descend half way
to his knees. Still, he was a member
of the Thirty-eighth, duly sworn and
mustered and nothing but death or the
end Of the war could change the situa-
ton. How | did wish my brilliant plan
had occurred to me sooner, so that
Hamilton's father might have used his
influence with the governor in Brain
ards favor also!
After | got into my uniform again
we sat and talked and planned as hap
| PLY as If we were going into posses
| sion Of unexpected riches instead Of to
war and possible death The wicked
old sergeant stroIled to and fro in front
of us, smoking his pipe and eying US
strangely. Suddenly he stopped In
| front Of US and blurted out:
81 never struck a couple like you be-
| fore. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll
take you both out and get you drunk
at my own expense"
We declined, with thanks, explaining
that we expected to be quite busy for
| an hour or two. as we had to make
| some purchases and | had an engage
ment at noon with the major, whom
didn't like to disappoint.
ooh, no; Of course not" he replied,
! with n grim grin. 81 wouldn't keep
the major waiting for anything If
were you. But say"-here he drew
me aside and pressed something into
my hand-"you'll take back your $40
! anyhow"
tried to decline, but he said that II
l didn't take the money he'd light his
! pipe with it. He insisted that he al
ready had pay enough for his trouble,
and when replied that | couldn't see
! how, he called me n fool. He put lot
Of uncOmplimentary adjectlyes In front
| Of the fool" too.