Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-13

laShed with his hunting crop at the
young soldiers head, but in another in
slant two men, one in the uniform Of
lieutenant of infantry, the other in
civilian dress, sprang to the aid oe the
sentry. One of them seized Nathan's
left foot in both hands and by an old
and well known trick, suddenly heav-
ing, tumbled the raging, red faced Off
Ger headforemost out of his saddle. He
landed heavily, but labored presently
to his feet, choking with fury and
well nigh bereft of his senses. The
corporal had come with rush.
ARREST these menw roared Nathan.
sThey'ye attacked mean officer on
duty-escorting governor! Put that
sentry il; the guard tent"
"The sentry was onlv doing his duty,
SIR" began the corporal. "Those We're
his orders
"Orders from that safe robbing
scoundrel of militia colonel out yon-
DER
Whack! That was Nathan's last hit
for many day. The young man in
civilian dress darted in and landed
scientific swing on the jaw that drop
ped the luckless officer like log.
Nathan lay for moment stunned. then
looked up, dazed and helpless, into the
grave face of Eric Langdon.
sect your major home at once" the
colonel replied to the adjutant's hur-
ried, embarrassed explanation. 1.-THE
matter shall be fully investigated.
Who-who struck your"
81 did, General Langdon," spoke up
the assailant, with blood in his eye
and wrath on his tongue. Captain
Martin, late Second Columbias, sir.
and Pm ready to answer for 1t to him
or to anybody-here or anywhere. He
dashed a sentry in the discharge of his
duty, and if that isn't enough, by
heaven Well, you heard what he
said?" And the young captain ap-
pealed to the crowd.
That evening there was never to be
forgotten scene in front of the colonePs
tent in the camp of the Washoes. Six
hundred strong. officers and men, mass
ed in solid phalanX, silent, bareheaded.
there stood the two battalions. while
their spokesman, his voice trembling
with emotion. strove to say to the low
ed and honored commander that the
heart of the whole regiment went with
, the beautiful sword they gave him in
parting tribute. Close to the colonel
on one side We're grouped the governor,
his staff and state officers and on the
other large party of officers and la
dies, Melville and his household in
their midst. Rodney May, with one
i arm in a sling. had rendered the other,
hardly knowing what he did. to Ethel
/ Grahame. who unaccountably had
taken it. lowering about the skirts Of
| the crowd an old darby, bowed and
| decrepit, was whimpering with joy.
On the TANKS of the battalions. as
though by some spontaneous impulse,
were gathered hundreds of other sol
diery, regulars from the batteries, vol
unteers still serving in the neighbor-
ing camps, and all were hushed and
. all were hanging on the words of the
| soldier spokesman as he told of the
scenes of battle across the wide surges
of the ocean, of the never failing care
| of the colonel for his men. of his dar-
| ing leadership, of his almost fatherly
devotion to their wounded and strick-
en-. Vehemently the statesmen applaud
ed every telling point, and the soldiers
followed suit, but presently the major
came to speak of the future, of the
severance Of the soldier ties tina,
bound them, of the love and trust and
faith with which their hearts would
follow their soldier leader, of the pride
and confidence with which they hailed
the honors still in store for him, and
here the Washoes broke loose and roar
ed applause and reclamation, and Their
came the time to say farewell, but
here their orator broke down. 'Speab
for yourselves. boys" he choked. 81
can't say another word"
And ''the boys" breaking ranks, bore
down on their commander in a tumultu
ously cheering torrent, officers and mel
grasping his extended hands, unasham
ed of the dew that dimmed their eyes
unafraid of rebuke or regulation. ant
when at last they were dispersed ant
gone and had cheered to the echo hi:
few brief, heartfelt words of thank!
and farewell and May and Melville ant
the comrades of the old, old days hat
pressed his hands and he could turf
again to see what had become of tina
beautiful sword it had found its wa.
somehow to Ethel Grahame, who stoot
gazing after the departing soldiery, he
soft eyes swimming in tears.
The sound Of cheering borne on tn
erening breeze swept through the bow
cred row of officers quarters in thu
garrison close at hand, but there wa
strange hush at Nathan's, whose piaz
"a rustled as rule with the silks ant
satins of society. Investigation of TIL
morning episode had been prompt ant
searching. The commanding genera
had seen the fracas from afar. Hi
own staff officer made report, bis owl
orders had been defied, for thanks t
an overeager crowd at previous cere
mony, the chief of staff had writer
that except such persons as should b
personally hidden, only the general, hi
IN ~ nd ncoo,f with tho or r, III nj le