Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-04

men and strikers who had remained
behind began to croak story sup
posed to have filtered from the colonels
tent through several Intermediates
that the colonel had been in rage
about the explosions of my relics in
our old camp, that had made him sup.
pose 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 tc
smile, but failed.
ut seems to me-" said l, that oui
share of the fight at the fence ought tc
mitigate our punshment-I mean my
own punishment, for you did nothing
in that shell affair but tell about it,
like a fool. I suppose that even now
you'll try to make the colonel believe
that you had some share in it, so as to
shield me-"
Il wish | could" replied Brainard
meekly. Il wish l hadn't told OF II
when the colonel was SO mystited
about the shots, but really it did seem
for the good of the service"
You're too good to live" said I.
"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 sober
ing effect, so l fought down my feel
ings and tried to assume bold front
as l dragged Brainard across the
parade ground.
Pass them in, sentry" said the colo
mel from the open front of his tent a,
we drew near. We stopped at the ten
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 ncrvelesslv on tn,
roloners camp bed. the only seat Wis
able. The colonel was handling some
papers which | promptly assumed were
court martial charges against us.
Il was greatly surprised and also
pleased continued the colonel, still
handling the papers, lat receiving to
day commissions for both Of you-cOm.
missions as first licutcnants."
l looked at Brainard. and Brainard
looked mt me and | don't understand
Wy both Of us did not drop dead with
aston shmcut. The colonel went on:
Il had hoped to promote both of you
In the course Of time after you had
reached scrgeant's gradc-Brainard
because Of your rescuing your party
from the enemy after capture and fol-
getting that dispatch through to the
left Il few nights ago, and, Frost be.
cause I've learned that You spent LOT
of money in trying to get recruits for
the regiment at the time you entered
1t. I'm not the only influence with the
appointing power. Political and other
strings are being pulled for scores OF
my noncommlssiOned officers, and some
of this sort Of work seems to have been
done for you boys"
mot for me, sir, that I know Of"
said Brainard quickly.
"Eh? Well, so much the more to
your credit. Nevertheless It's true
You're both commissioned to the Forty.
third. 1t seems from letter accompa,
nying your commissions that the Forty.
third is in bad way-good men. bad
ohicers-so bad that the command can't
be trusted 10 take the field, 4 lot OF
the officers have been weeded out and
the governor wished to replace them
with men from regiments that are in
good shape and have seen hard service
The senator from your district strongly
recommended you, Frost, and called
your father up to Albany, and it seems
that your f;rher took with him n hand.
some young woman who told an ex.
traordinary story Of your bravery and
produced letter in evidence. l can't
understand how l. your colonel failed
to have learned the facts, but
Your cousin Mayw exclaimed Brain,
ard. Then he sprang to his feet and
nit me between the shoulders with a
force which | could not have believed
was in his tiny frame. The colonel
looked surprised, and Brainard muir.
INJURED Il beg pardon" and collapsed in
confusion
1t seems, further" continued the
colonel that the governor said he
wished he knew of some other trooper
OF equal courage and ability, upon
which the young lady said she could
name one and straightway praised YOU,
Brainard, without stint and declared
that If you two could be sent together
you could end the war. ] can't imagine
where the young lady obtained her
knowledge Of the special requirements
OF the service or how she cane to know
20 much about the soldierly qualities of
two Of my corporals, but these commits.
slons are the result"
1--WE can't accept them, sir" said
Brainard, IF they've been granted on
such hearsay and mlsapprehension."
l didn't approve of Brainards I'VE"
He had the right to decline for himself,
should lie insist on being so foolish, but
l wanted my own commission, no mat.
ter through what mistake it was issu.
ed. The colonel, too, was OF my way
OF thinking, for he replied
Nonsense. Never lose Il chance 10
reach higher rank, especially to move
your insignia of rank from your sleeve
to your shoulder"
But, sir, there are other men more
deserving Of it," said Brainard. "rd