Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-07
DAILY SHORT STORY
MAJ. KENT's STRATEGY.
lOriginall

lOriginal.l
General Black had under his com
mand 4 young major who in wartime.
by holding a narrow defile with Il sin
gle battalion, had saved his command.
Garland Kent was consequently the
idol of the army. He would have been
in favor with the general had it not
been that he was n sutton for Violet,
the generals daughter. The general
had no mind TO give her to n pennileSs
soldier, were he ever so brave. Violet
was gem among women, and her
father saw an opportunity to marry
her to a STRIPPING of British nobility,
young Vernon Parke. next II line Of
Inheritance to the Earl Of BreretOu.
Parke was a specimen of tie London
effeminate dissipated swell To save
him from falling any lower his family
had sent him to America 20 mingle
with a better grade Of associates, and
he had straightway stumbled into
another pit, according TO their estimate,
by falling in love with a girl without
family or fortune Violet, unfortunate
~ for her fathers plans, favored Gar
land Kent.
The young Englishman was on the
eve of a proposition when the ami
verSary of the battle rolled round in
which Major Kent had saved the ar
my. The officers attached to headquar-
tiers and those stationed near by were
invited by the general to Il banquet,
lie knew il would he expected of him
to place Major Kent ut the post of
I.rnv. ~. RI inN-itA1
the only civilian present and seated
on the generals left All were gather
ell at IA single table. so that there was
q perfect chain of men whose elbows
touched from the general around to
himself again.
After coffee and cigars We're brought
on the goGeral made an address on the
features of the battle they were Ccle-
brating ana instead Of mentioning
keut's service took occasion to reflect
on the conduct OF some of his officers.
Kent interrupted to defend them by
making an explanation, whereupOn the
general showed his temper by giving
him the lie.
Now. such an insult at such a time
between equals would call for n chal-
Iengc. But no subordinate can resent
an Insult coming from superior es-
pecially his general. Kent WAS in
very embarrassing position but he
proved himself equal to the occasion.
Taking up his wineglass, he threw its
contents in the face of the man sitting
next to him, saying as he did so:
The generals insult: pass it on
The man receiving the insult threw
his wine into the face of the man sit
ting next on his right, repeating Kent's
words. And so the insult went down
the table to the further end and was
coming back when what must be the
termination of the matter was remark
ed by those present, especially the gen
eral. The last man to pass the insult
was Vernon Parke. who if he did so,
would give 1t to the general.
AS the wine throwing came up the
table opposite Kent he arose and in Il
voice to be heard by all said:
General, may l ask the favor that
you will change sents with me for Il
few momentsE"
The general was in a Quandary. If
he declined, Parke would he placed in
position to.insult him. If he assented
Parke would be expected to insult
Kent. Parke being a civilian. it was
permissible that he should insult the
general, and it was equally premissi-
bic that he should insult Kent. But
1t was out of Question that-ParkeI