Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

/ rived by this time see that you belong
| to my branch of the service. May inquire
| your battery?
| He flushed with pleasure at the delicate
fiattery OF my tone. and in true so!dierly
| pride of his corps.
| "B, Fifth New Jersey. sir"
Il think 1 remember them In action--no
| better command in the service. You were
| at Gettysburg?
| ''On Seminary Ridge sir Ii was my first
| battle"
| "A hard baptism of fire. indeed. vet a re-
membrance YOU will long be proud TO re-
call thank you for your courtesy
| / bowed to them both. and passed slowly
down the wide stairway, several couples
| rising as | drew near to permit of my pas
/ sage. The intense excitement OF the strange
| adventure had by this time become a posi-
tive delight My cheek flushed, my eyes
kindled as though new blood flowed in my
| veins.
| ''Ah!' thought to myself proudly what
story il will all make for the campfire
| and if l reach Lee in time the tale of this
night VIII be upon the lips of all the army
Inc loNer nail was very comfortably fill
i ed with figures moving here and there in
converse. or occupying seats pressed close
against the walls. The greater portion were
| attired in uniforms of the various
branches of service, yet l observed not
Few civilian suits, and considerable num-
Der OF women, some wearing the neat dress
| OF the army nurse, others much more elab-
orateiy attired-daughters of the neiebhor-
mood, probably. with sprinkling OF wives
,
upon their muskets stood in statuesgue
poses on either side of the main entrance.
While the wide archway. draped with flags
opening into the ball room revealed an in
spring glimpse of swiftly revolving figures
IN gay uniforms and flashing skirts over
all doated the low, swinging music of the
band. "
All this / noted as | paused irresolutelv
on the lower stair wondering If I cnuId
safely walk directly out of that front door
f tsnorrIg me sentries by right OF the uni
form l wore, and thus attain the omen air
Inc constant haunting fear of the early
return of Sheridan and his aids, or a pos
sible encounter with some former acouafnt-
a ane,s IN that crushing throng. almost
decided me upon venturing the pas-
sage. But already [ had hesitatnd
too long. A fat, good natured- looking man
or forty, an infantry major, but wearing
sLafI decorations, and evidently officiating
IN the capacity of floor manager after
Whispering word in the ear OF another of
the same Kind beside the ball room door
hastily pushed his way through the laugh
ing throng directly toward me.
Good evening, colonel" he said bowling
deeply Your face is not familiar to me-
but you viii permit me to introduce nv
dams staff
1 accepted the fat. shapeless hand he ex-
tended, and pressed it warmly.
Il was just meditating a retreat major,
when you appeared" / replied frankly
For fear my face is equally unknown to
all others present. Indeed. I feel like
cat In a strange garnet, and hesitated to
appear at all. My only excuse for doing
so was promise made Colonel Culbertson
previous to his being ordered out on duty.
1 am Colonel Curran of the 9th Ohio, but
at present serving on the staff of General
Halleck at Washington"
The majors round, red face glowed with
welcome
Extremely pleased to meet you, indeed"
he exclaimed eagerly and you may be
sure of a most cordial greeting. VIII you
kindly step this way?
AS We slowly elbowed our way forward.
all desire to escape from the ordeal fled,
and assumed the risks of the masquerade
with the reckless audacity Of my years.
Before we reached the ball room my con-
ductor, his fat countenance fairly beaming
with cordially, had stopped at least TWEEN
ty times to present me to various military
titles and l had accepted innumerable in
vitations without in the least knowing who
gave them, or where they were to be full
filed. Finally. however. we broke through
the maSSed ring, and succeeded in reaching
the tail individual in spectaeles to whom
the major had spoken previous to seeking
me, and | learned through the introduction
which followed that / was in the pres
ence of Brigadier General Carlton. chief of
staff
For a moment as I responded to the
| hearty cordially Of his welcome, / was en-
abled to take my first glance at the ball
room. and found II to my unaccustomed
soldier eyes an inspiring spectacle. The
room was magnihcently large-a surpris-
ing apartment. indeed, even in so superb a
and its proportions We're magnified by
numerous mirrors extending from floor TO
ceiling, causing the more distant dancers
to appear whirling in space. Brilliantly il
lumined by means of hanging chandeliers
that oscillated slightly to the merry feet:
decorated lavishly everywhere with fes-
TONED flags and tastefully arranged mu-
nitions of war; gay with the dress uni
forms of the men and the handsome
gowns of the women 1t composed scene
so different from any 1 had looked upon in
i fn nj mo ia Gni tod tha
slant clatter Of tongues, the merry laugh
ter, the flashing of bright eyes, and the
CLEAN of snowy shoulders. the good-hu-
mored repartees caught the various cou-
pies circled swiftly past. the quick. mu-
steal gliding of flying feet over the waxen
floor the continuous whirl of the intoxicat-
ing waltz, and over all the inspiring
strains of Strauss caused my heart to
bound. and brought with 1T an insane de-
sire to participate.
fTo be continued Monday.)