Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-31
CHAPTER III.
OUR APPOINTMENT WITH TIE MAJOR.

EssPNW noon noon. according to re-
preached headquarters from the op-
posite side of the street we saw Ham,
ilton and Cloyne coming down, and
Brainard stopped me. exclaiming:
Did you ever see two finer looking
Bolderst"
l said l never had. Each was tall,
straight. well formed and carried him.
self with the grace and ease that came
of military training long before they,
with us had joined Billy Beecham's
company of the Ninety-ninth. Their
cavalry uniforms had been carefully
altered and refitted, so there w6s none
Of the awkwardness about them that
made the volunteer soldier appear more
shabby than the average citizen. Each
wore a SLOUGH hat and plume, like the
regulation dress" hat. only much finer,
and they attracted more attention from
passcrsby than any of the commissions
ed officers whom one met every mo-
ment or two on Broadway in those
days. l wanted to tell Brainard how
much more distinguished they would
look within a day or two when they
had received the commissions, about
which the major undoubtedly wanted
TO see them and me, but | hadn't the
heart TO speak or good fortune from
which poor Brainard was to be ex-
Guided, SO j said nothing.
The two fine fellows entered the
stairway which led TO the loft in which
our regiments recruiting headquarters
were, and | followed them. Quite q
number of uniformed recruits were
there in the back part OF the room, so
1t seemed TO me that other officers and
would be officers must have been more
successful than our trio at Summerton.
i was about to tell Hamilton and
Cloyne of my luck with Brainard, but
Charley begged me not to. He said he
wanted to surprise them when we re-
turned to Summerton. Until then he
would try to keep out Of sight. l join
ed them alone, therefore, and the three
of us walked about together, amusing
ourselves by observing the old SER
geant, who seemed to be trying to find
some one or count the recruits, we could
not discover which.
The major had not yet arrived. The
lieutenant, who always seemed to be
on duty as aid or assistant, leaned
from the window as If looking for the
major. Finally he withdrew his head,
walked to the rear of the room and
shouted:
Attention, men! Fall inw
II wonder if he is going to indulge
in squad drill?" said Hamilton to
Cloyne, as both of them stepped aside,
followed by me, in order to be out of
the line which the men were forming
by the aid Of the old sergeant.
Fall in, men," said the lieutenant,
approaching US.
Beg pardon" said Hamilton, salut-
ing gracefully, "but we've an appoint
ment at noon with the major, at his
own request"
"Yes, I understand" said the lieu
tenant Il represent the major. Fall
in-accordlng to height"
''lf lie meant drill" muttered Hamil-
ton to Cloyne, why didn't the old
duffer say so? Did he think we
wouldn't obey orders, that he got us
here by such unmilitary waysp
"Right-dressw shouted the old ser
Geant, who had stationed himself ut
the right of the line. Then he ran along
the front, pushing some men back
little and pulling others forward.
Finally he returned TO the right and
Shouted Front" Then the lieutenant
looked at US as carelessly as if merely
10 see If our general appearance was
Sair At last he shouted:
ATTENTION! Men, orders have come
for all recruits for the Thirty-eighth
cavalry to be sent to the regiment at
once. You must remain here, there
fore until the order for transportation
comes. Wen get off some time this
evening. That's all. Break ranks
uarchw
The yells roars and oaths that went
up from two or three score of the men
We're worse than any | ever had heard
1 couldn't blame any Of the other re-
Fruits, however, for | was as angry,
shocked and frantic as they. "Get Off
some time this evening"" That meant
l couldn't see father. mother or Ned
before I started-couldnt see them in
three years unless the war ended soon.
er. 1t was awful-it was worse than
the worst thing l ever had imagined
about war.
Some of the more excftable fellows
made rush for the door TO find there
for the first time an armed guard, be.
yond whom at the head Of the stairs
were several more. They did not be.
long to our own regiment either. Then
they dashed TO the rear of the loft and
threw up the window sashes, but two
infantrymen with fixed bayonets were
in the tiny courtyard below. Then
Babel began again, while the lieuten.
ant resumed his chair. cigar and pen
as coolly as II he were deaf or accus-
toned to such scenes.
"Can it be possible that this was
what the major meapt?" l asked Of
Hamilton and Cloyne.
"Undoubtedly," groaned Cloyne. at
Isn't new trick by any means"
1.-THE scoundrelw Kissed Hamilton.
who was the picture Of more kinds of
discomfort than had ever seen in one
face before.
perhaps he really did want TO see
us three ON the business you suggest
co." said l to Hamilton. "'Twon't do
any harm 10 ask"
lie shook his head doubtfully. but
n had