Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-13
TEN YEARS. TRIAL
The Story Of a Soldiers Struggle
BY Brigadier General Charles King
Copyright, 1901. by Charles King.
CHAPTER XX-(Continued.)

/ Copyright, l3Ul. by Charles King.
CHAPTER XX-(Continued.
One glorious autumn morning the
regiment formed line for final review,
and in great numbers civilians, soldiers
and women fair were assembled to wit
ness the ceremony. The Columbus had
been paid off to the last man and given
their discharge, but several of their Of
ficers still fingered about the city. The
Evergreens had been welcomed home
and feted and Toasted to their hearts
content. Not a company had gone on
its way without stopping for parting
call and cheer at Langdon's camp. The
commanding general and his staff, es-
corted by a troop of cavalry from the
barracks and greeted by the thunder Of
the garrison guns, took place in front
of the center of the long, statuesque
line. For the last time the Washoes
came out in khaki, and very fit and
soldierly they looked despite the relax
alton Of the long homeward voyage and
the days of waiting about the city. To
right and left of the reviewing point
were scores of carriages from town,
and an aid-de-camp had ridden to Gen
eral Melvilles with the compliments of
the department commander and an in
vitation to draw up close to the staff,
where far better view could be had,
and so it happened that Mrs. Melville
and Ethel Grahame sat smiling within
The charmed circle. the space parceled
off by sentries for the immediate party
of the reviewing officials. The general
left his station and rode up beside
them and DOTTED his plumed chapeau.
81 had hoped to have you ride with us
today, Melville" said he, "but | sup
pose the doctors must have their way.
Miss Grahame, | saw you in saddle in
the park yesterday, and l envied your
escort" The general was nothing if
not gallant. Wonderful how some
men recuperate from wounds received
In battle" continued the double star
red veteran and gazed impressively at
Miss Grahame and glanced at Lang
don, sitting erect half way across the
field. 1t seemed to the commander that
he had put it very neatly, though the
lady failed to appear profoundly i'm
pressed.
She wished to know the cause of the
+ delay, for the Washoes were now stand
ing at ease. "Oh, the governor and
some of his peopley' explained the
chief, with slight annoyance in his
tone. st seems they have been enter
tanned over at the post, but they're
coming now" he added as two car
riages, escorted by three or four horse
men, came sweeping over the brow of
the northward height. Impatient eyes
glanced thitherward, and presently
half the waiting line in khaki and doz-
ems among the carriage loads of look
ers on We're aware that there was a
. hitch of some kind up toward that end
Of the field.
Hello" said the general. Whats
amiss yonder?" for all on sudden the
carriages of the approaching dignita-
ries had stopped at the sentry line. and
there were running ana commotion,
Then Langdon was seen to spur rapid.
ly to the spot, and in one minute after
I his appearance on the scene of violent
scufie matters were Strengthened out
The carriages, with some fustered
looking civilians, were driving down
to the reviewing point, and the colonel
galloped back to his post. Three horse
men presently rode slowly back toward
the garrison, and curious crowd sur
rounded little knot Of angered and
excited men. All in that brief space OF
time an odd thing had happened.
1t seems that Nathan had rendered
certain Inequalities to the governor
and his attendant officials. that there
had been champagne breakfast pro
longed beyond the limits, that Nathan
his adjutant and orderly essayed to es
cort the carriages of their guests to the
reviewing point and that when they
reached the sentry lines brown check
ed, stalwart young fellow had present
ed arms to the governor, but lowered
his bayonet and said "Haltw to thu
major.
"Pm escorting the governor of Wash
oe" said Nathan, flushed and angry.
$50 see, sir" said the Washoe pri
vate, a university lad who knew where
of he spoke. "but my orders are imper
alive. The governor and the state off
Gals can pass in their carriages. AL
others must keep off the field"