Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-06-19
perhaps he really did want to see

Cloyne and me.
Lieutenant" said he, excuse me,
but have reason to expect some Off
cial communications from Albany,
through the major, for myself and my
friends here. Can you tell me whether
they have come|
mot that | know Of" said the officer
pleasantly.
"Will the major be In soon"
"The major is-no The truth Is, L
doubt whether we shall ever see him
again. He hasn't succeeded in raising
a company, much less battalion, and
has dropped out of the business. lie
never had commission anyway"
"Then all of us to whom he promised
commissions are dupedY
mot at all-if you've raised the req
uisite number Of men. Have you done
itT"
Then Hamilton lost his self posses
sion for the first time within my knowl-
edge.
How many men have you raised"
continued the officer.
Five" said Hamilton feebly.
"And you" This to Cloyne.
-Four" sighed the handsome Irish
man.
Then the lieutenant looked at me in
quiringly.
Three" l whispered, remembering
that one was dead and another re-
claimed by his parents.
"And you've consumed nearly
month at this" said the officer. What
commissions do you suppose you are
entitled tor
No one answered, so the lieutenant
resumed his work.
Then we three Summerton men step
ped aside at Hamilton's suggestion for
consultation. but we at once began to
moan and grumble instead of consult
ing. Cloyne said he had no one la
particular to say goodby to; neverthe-
less to go off as we were about to, with
out saying a word to any Of the many
people he 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 Cloyne's condition, but unfOrtu-
nately there were many people to
whom he owed parting calls and some
with whom he had made engagements
which he wouldn't break for anything.
began to say that feared that not to
see me again would be the death of my
father or mother or both, but didn't
get through my speech very well. AS
for my brother Ned, when ] thought
Of that little fellow and all | might
have been to him, but hadn't, and now
lie wouldn't have a big brother again
for years, | secretly promised heaven
to endure patiently any hardship or
suffering of war If l might be spared
to make amends TO that small boy.
Suddenly Hamilton exclaimed:
'%Thls won't do. We're wasting pre-
clous time. If we can't go back home
we can at 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, II
beg a thousand pardons, but l know
you'll forgive me If you'd put yourself
in my place for a moment I'm an old
r!Tst militia man, and | know orders
must be obeyed."
First regiment, eh?" said the lieu
tenant, rising from his desk, while
Cloyne and L pinChed each other with
delight at the impression which Ham
iltons announcement had evidently
made.
"Yes, and I've enlisted for service,
not for money, for I'm quite well off
already. My two friends here and
would like to see our families and ac-
quaintances before we start"
Telegraph them to come at once"
said the lieutenant Go 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
lieutenant's 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 door, the
lieutenant leading. Just then felt a
clutch at my shoulder and, turning,
saw Brainard, his face tear stained and
most woebegone. Hamilton CHANGED to
see him, too, stopped, stared and ex-
claimed:
"Eh? What's thisW
"This is a SURPRISE" said /. Hes
one of us after ALL"
Thank heavenp exclaimed Hamil.
ton.
was so pleased at this remark that
/ was hours In comprehending the en-
tire meaning Of 1t, which was that
there was woman In the case. Mean.
while Hamilton named the hotel to
which we would go and where the lieu
tenant could notify US when it was
time to start. We at once telegraphed
our families and while awaiting them
made some hasty goodby visits to
friends IN the city. Two hours later
we felt as criminals condemned to
death must feel during the final visit
Of their friends. My father-bless his
dear thoughtful heart-brought down
the entire family and the dog besides
Had 1t not been for that dogs efforts
to explore the hotel and Ned's efforts
to bring him back there would have
been little relief from the gloom OF
which all of us were full. Bralnard's
mother seemed to suffer worst of all
She had gone through the agony Of civ
ing her son away only to get him back
again forever, she supposed. Now he
was soldier once more, and at scarce
ly an hours notice she was to lose him
My own misery was doubled by heI
sorrow, for was not l to blame for his
heing in unfOrm2
My cousin May tried to put some
cheer into the party, and as she always
laughed heartily at the slightest provo
cation it was impossible not to be af'
fected by her spirits. She made CHEEKY
though modest replies to some gallant
sDppchpS which Hamilton addressed tC