The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-28

at such times are pretty apt to pun
ish severely such a violation of the
regulations.
Everything was aglow with life and
merriment at the yacht club house that
night, and a large crowd was lined up
on either side of the main entrance,
when to the surprise of all, along came
the private with the belle on his arm!
With face beaming with pride and sat-
isfaction he bowed right and left in
answer to the salutes of their many
friends until he came to a. gauntlet of
the officers of the Twenty-second.
These he coolly saluted, as if the fact
of his being there were the most natu-
raj thing in the world. But the cap
tain's face was a picture. Vexation,
amazement and evaporation, all were
plainly expressed there. Could this be
the fellow he imagined to himself as
moping disconsolately somewhere about
the fort mournfully gazing in the di-
rection of Larchmont? These express
sions, however. finally gave way to one
that BODIED ill for the private, who,
with the young woman was now joy
ously gliding through a waltz with a
look of pleasure on his face that indi-
Gated anything but apprehension as to
what the morrow might bring.
At last. like all periods Of joy, the
dance came to an end. Among the
last of the guests to depart were the
army officers. A number of the Larch-
mont couples accompanied the officers
down to the clubhouse landing stage to
see them aboard the boat which was
to take them back to the island.
Among these couples were the belle and
the private. around whose head trou-
BILE seemed about to break. But he
joined in the merriment of the party
so heartily that it would be hard to
imagine that he would soon be the VIC
tim of court-martial. Gayly waving
their farewells to the receding officers,
among whom stood the captain with a
look on his face as he glared at the
private which seemed to say: Wei,
I've got you at last and I'll make you
dance to a different tune" the party
retraced their steps toward the club
house. As soon as they we're out of
sight of the officers the careless atti-
tude of the young private changed like
a flash Now was the time for action,
or he was in for it. Hurriedly telling
the young lady that he was forced to
ask her to allow her brother to see her
LCme, to which she consented, for she
had entered into the lark as gladly as
himself, he made dash for the club
house gate.
The tug bearing the officers landed at
David's Island about fifteen minutes
before roll call that morning, and the
captain made 1t his business to be
present, although as a rule he was alb
sent. He was sure that by no posi-
BILE chance could the young private
have reached the fort this time, and
his face lit up with grim pleasure as
his eye ran rapidly over the faces in
the front rank and the features of his
rival were not visible. The different
names were called in alphabetical or
der until at last the sergeant cried
w"
"Here!" came the answer.
where's w" said the captain,
peering incredulously over the front
rank.
"Herel" repeated the private from
the rear.
w, step two PAGES to the front"
commanded the captain.
And the private broke through the
front rank and saluted his astonished
superior whose face plainly said:
"Well, I'm damned
year or so later the captain Joined
the New York Athletic Club and he
and his former private met in the cafe
one night. Finally the captain said
"W-, there's one thing that's al
ways puzzled me"
And l know Just what you are go.
ing to ask" interrupted W.
How the devil did you get back to
the island that morning."
We'll, it happened in this way"
W replied. Il was a member of the
New York Athletic Club, and, being a
good swimmer, each night Of the
dance I used to swim the mile and
half to our boathouse. There in a
locker l kept my yachting outfit Aft
err donning this / would mount a. BIZ
cycle which / always had on hand,
and then ride up to Larchmont. On
the night of the big dance, as soon as
the tug with the officers aboard left
for the yacht clubhouse, / jumped into
the water, and, aided by a swiftly
running tide, soon reached the boat
house. Hastily throwing on my shore
rig, / mounted my wheel and pedaled
TO the house of Miss --. / trundled
the wheel along as we walked to the
clubhouse, and left il at the gate
which opens into the grounds.
After you left for the island on the
morning after the dance, I ran for the
gate, mounted the bicycle. and fairly
burned up the road to Travers Island.
Without delay ! shook off my clothes,
donned my bathing suit and. once more
assisted by a friendly tide, which I
had studied out beforehand, soon
swan to the fort. My feet had no
sooner touched the bottom at Davds
Island than the bugle sounded the
reveille. Dashing over to my tent.
/ threw on my uniform. and as the
men lined up for roll call just had
time TO step into the rear though my
usual place was in the front rank"
Contrary to the usual romance. how
ever. neither one got the girl for she
later became the bride of a handsome
young Southerner.