The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-09-05
CHAPTER XII.
THE

No-n MAN EfI-lN -CHIEFn.
One, 'wo, three hours I waited. No
one knew, or would tell me, when the
general might return, and though T
was allowed to walk up and down the
a of the old farm house then used
as army headquarters, or even in the
road before h house, I realized that
1 was not out Of sight of one sentry or
another during all that time. Twas not
strange, since the credentials I brought
were nothlng more than my word, and
no one about headquarters knew INV
lame Noon passed and by good for.
tune l 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.
W a marvel how that one woman
could say hat she chose to me, and.
by such a word or look as she gave me
when l left her, wipe out q hundred
times the things she had charged me
With but a few hours before. Could
such a think seriously with so
many moods and such sudden empers ?
Could she have been serious and true
IN both her moods that night and this
morning? I had seen her but twice
yet L knew her so we'll, so well. In
that time she had shown me more of
Womanliness, of beauty, OF sweetness.
OF lmpetuous temper, of weak feminine
helplessness, and strong will and anger
than l had known in any dozen women
before. Twas enough to turn the
head of any man, this breaking out in
new expressions moment by moment,
battling beyond measure, ~yetscompell7
ing me to forget all injustice by a
single last word.
I could not get away from her nov,
, when I expected at any moment ia
face the one man a soldier wishes to
be ready for, to impress favourably.
). 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 its open
door, it's 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 way 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 unmistakabIe
figure leading them. They passed me
and entered the house without asword
only returning salutes. None among
them did I know, except the straight
figure Of General Knox, whom Il had
seen at the Robinson house on that
fateful morning.
Shortly, however, Twas summoned to
enter. and found a large low apartment
occupied by the commander-in-chief
who was talking quietly with his OFF,
GERS.
Nay, Knox, it is a question Of prin-
ciple, not Of the Individual. He ma
be. indeed, I know he is q gentleman
and a fine officer, but the question deals
with the whole discipline Of the army,
not with the. case of a single:man."'
TT is a. terrible duty" replied the
other, sadly shaking his head as he
| gazed out efthe window:
The general saw me and said to the
others:
Gentlemen. I have some. private
business with this young man" And
they went silently out OF the room.
Lieutenant Balfort," said Washing
ton, turning tt me without hesitation
you have obeyed quickly. 1t is corr
rect military disicirline.''
Il have been here ten hours, your
/ excellency.': s$ S5 ~ SE
Il know said he. Il was, hoHeveT
otherwise occupied. Lieutenant" he
continued, Sin such times as these
judgements must be made quickly, and
they must be correct and uniinching.s
EEEE4 ~ ~ EltlN -