Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-07
CHAPTER II-Continued.

AS Rex hurried through the silent side
streets toward the roar and clatter OF
Broadway, another perplexing train OF
thought had gone whirling through his
tired brain. The day had been full of tense
excitement. Hours before they donned
their silken gowns for the commencement
exercises he had been breakfasted at Del
monicos Chen at the corner of 18th street
and 9Th avenue) he and jolly Ned with
Kent and Tracy. On three-day leave from
their regiment, the New York list, IN
Washington, in their soldierly uniforms
these two members of the graduating class
had arrived by the early morning train TO
receive their diplomas at the hands or
Columbia's president.
At the first call of the head of the nation
for troops to defend the capital, the empire
state had marched her magnificent 7th TO
the Jersey ferry. Then speedily followed
the other regiments of Gotham's citizen
soldiery-the american Guard" OF the list,
the enthusiastic Irish of the 18th, the one
corps of Highlanders, the 18th, prominent
among them.
With the 7th at the first call went nearly
dozen of Columbia's students mainly
from the senior class, but they had Deen
returned at the end of the month for mus
ter out as musket-bearers, three-fourths OF
their array qualifying as commissioned o.
ficers.
1t had been the longing of Ingraham to
join the 7th as soon as he was eighteen, out
John Raynor demurred. Ned joined IN
spite of Uncle Jacks suggestion that ne
would better wait until he had more sta
bility; was perhaps two months an assldu-
Gus and enthusiastic attendant at squad
drills etc, Then came an occasional ap-
sence because of dance or theater party
then more absences because he was lazy
His squad was passed on to the company;
he was held back until declared prof1clent
In the school of the soldier, and then, be.
tween fines for absence and neglect ana
the chatting of comrades who had been at
tentive to duty, Ned repentet him of his
bargain and was glad at the end OF year
to find means to get out without pelng ois-
honorably discharged. So therr ended ms
brief military experience, and his boylsn
heart was sorely wrung when they de-
clned his services the thrilling day they
marched to the front, with an armed Zoe TO
meet them on the stored shores OF the
Potomac.
leyies called in April were holding the
threatened line, while the great array or
volunteers, summoned by the PRESIDENT on
the Sd of May, was being swiftly recruited
and slowly licked into shape, and with all
his soul in arms Rex 1ngraham longed TO
be Of their number.
If he went he lost his benefactor's affec-
ton and regard and must bear the accu-
sation of rank ingratitude. II he dld not
go. he must forfeit his own self-respect. 1t
ended in his laying the whole matter before
the man whose opinion he held highest, the
president of his college, and that sterling,
vehement patriot said go. Taking no one
into his confidence but poor Ned, who seem
ed unable to make up his mind what to DO,
Rex had written to Kent as to the posi-
bility of joining the list, with the nope OIL
later winning a commission. He had fully
determined to leave for Washington as
soon as he could pack and store his va
rious belongings, and this breakfast with
the two young officers was to enable him