The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-06-02

~O~ related by captain or the
National Guard 10 q party OF officers
at the State Camp at Peekskill the
other day. 1t happened during the re.
cent Spanish War, when he was a
Lieutenant In the Twenty Regi-
ment At that time the Twenty-second
Davids Island, in the Sound. This
island lies about mile from the New
York main shore, on a line with New
Rochelle, about a mile and n half
from Travers Island, the country home
OF the New York Athletic Club, and
perhaps three miles from Larchmont,
where Is located the clubhouse Of the
Larchmont Yacht Club. During the
war many dances were held at the
yacht clubhouse, which were always
attended In full force by the officers
Of the regiment dancing being about
the only recreation.
A constant attendant at these dances,
1t seems. was a private OF one OF the
companies, Notwithstanding that
leave OF absence was never accorded
him. AS he was punctually on hand
every morning for roll call, however,
no particular thought was given to
the matter except some wonder as to
how he made his way to the main
land. The only communication be
tween David's Island and the New
York shore was by means Of Gov
ernment tug stationed there for that
purpose and he certainly did not use
that for this was the boat that car
ried the officers TO LnrChmont when
ever the dances took place.
But there he would be as regularly
rs the affairs came around, in all the
glory Of his white duck trousers and
blue yachting cap, having in some
equally mysterious way dOffcd his sol
dier rig, which was another source Of
speculation, as nothing but the regula
tion uniform was allowed the private
soldiers, and there was no way in
which such clothes could be smugglcd
TO the island
Now the Captain of the coWpany Of
which the private was member was
quite attentive TO the daughter OF a
certain resident OF Larchmont. She
was very pretty and attraCtivc--in fact,
the belle of that section. She, how.
ever, didn't seem TO appreciate these
attentions very highly. On the con.
trary, her interest was in quite another
direction. In the direction, to come to
the point, Of the cnterprising private,
whose position, ir is unnecessary 10
state, was every bit as good in civil
life as that Of his Captain, but who,
by the fortune OF war and by the rules
governing the relations OF officer and
private was rated very much his in
ferior In the army.
The fact that the young woman pre-
fcrred the private soon made itself
evident to the Captain, who was, as one
might easily imagine, none too well
pleased with the knowledge. Hitherto
he had given the priyate's unlocked.
for and unsanctloned presence at the
dances no consideration, but now there
was certainly occasion for an inveSti.
CATION, and the Captain sternly re-
solved that such breach OF discipline
would have TO be attended to.
The big dance of the season, the
event of the yachting year, was TO be
held in few days. Everybody had
been invited, and all looked forward "a
great time The Captain asked the
young woman for the honor of being
her escort on this occasion. and was
Informed that she was awfully sorry
but she had promised Mr.. w that
ninn pnpptinpipty thn mama ~ th,
private soldier.
When the private came to the officer
for leave of absence on that night he
was curtly refused.
But. Captain" pleaded the unfortu
nate. II have already asked youue
lady TO go with mo and what will sh,
think OF me when | fail TO put in nj
appearanceY
This appeal in nowise weakened tn,
Captains determination or awakenc,
any sympathy for his interiors pre-
dicament. At last. seeing that further
remoustrance would have the same re
suit, the private apparently gave up il
despair and left his supcrior's pres
ence.
A courtmartial was the inevitable
result of leaving the island withou
permission, which might have had sci
iouS results, as the country was reall
in 4 state of war, and army officers n
such times are pretty apt To puniS
severely such a violation of the regr
lations.
Everything was aglow with life an
merriment at the yacht clubhouse tina
night. and large crowd was line
up on either side of the main entranc
when to the surprise of all, along can
the private with the belle on his arm
With face bcamlng with pride an
satisfaction he bowed right and le
in answer TO the salutes OF their man
friends until he came TO n gantlet
the officers Of the Twenty
These he coolly salutea. as IL the IA
of his being there were the most natu
! al thing I'm the world. But the Ca
tain's face was picture. Nexatio
amaZemcnt. and evaporation, all we
plainly expressed there. Could this
the fellow he imagined to himself
? moping disconsolately somewhe
! about the fort. mournfully gazing
I; the direction OF Larchmontf The
! expressions. however. finally gave w
i 10 one that BODIED III for the priva
$ who. with the young woman, was NJ
Q joyously gliding through n waltz w
look Of pleasure on his face that
cAcated anything but apprehension