The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-01-23
General Barry
Versus
General Order"
BY NJ. }. PHILLIPS
Copyright. 1905. by Ruby Douglas


some of those common soldiers are nice
looking too
Fearing to miss something of the pic
turesque camp routine, she arose and
dressed noiselessly. Her parents were
still sleeping.
The sun was just rising over the hills
to the right as she stepped to the tent
opening. In front of her. his back
turned, sentry stood at right Shout.
der, looking down at the canvas city.
Some distance to the left, at brigade
headquarters, group of men In khaki
clustered about the fieldpiece and the
tall Flagstaff. A trumpeter stepped out
from among them. The sun glinted on
his instrument as he raised it to his
lips. Then sharp and true, little mel
lowed by the distance. came the roll
licking notes Of the reveille 81 can't
get 'em up! 1 can't get 'em upr' called
the bugle merrily.
The group about the gun fell into or
derby lines. A huge puff Of smoke
cleaned like silver as 1t swept across
the grass. Boom! While the echoes
were still resounding over the lake the
regimental band struck up quickstep.
The gun crew uncovered reverently, the
stars and stripes slowly mounted the
STAFF and another day of camp life had
begun.
This little tableau over, the girls
eyes turned to the sentry in front Of
her with good deal of approval in
their depths. His shoulders were
broad, his campaign hat had the angle
OF true soldier, and the back flung
cape Of his overcoat reminded the colo
nePs daughter of picture Of Paul Re
we're. Stealing through the dewy grass
until she was scarcely a yard away,
she said softly, Good morning, Mr..
Soldier"
The sentry turned so quickly that he
nearly dropped his gun. "Gracew he
cried ecstatically. The tone of his voice
and the light in his eyes caused the
girl to recoil a step while she blushed
adorably.
"Just one little kiss, sweetheart"
went on the young man. He had not
forgotten his drill regulations in the
presence of this most distracting bit Of
femininity. His rife was at port" as
the book says it shall be when the sen
try is holding conversation with anoth-
er person.
why, Tom, the very idea," came the
saucy answer. Right here on this hill
top In plain sight? 1 don't believe I
would even under the tent Hy." Still,
there was no suggestion Of panic In her
leisurely retreat
But the sentry did not, as expected,
pursue her to the friendly fly. II can't
leave this PATH" he gloomed.
"Oh, indeed! And whyT
According to general orders l am
to quit my post only when properly
relieved" he quoted.
The girl tossed her head and pursed
her tempting red lips. IAN right, Tom
Kennedy, if any old general is more to
you than r.
There was thud of horses hoofs up
the parade ground, and General Barry
rode up. He was commander Of the
Second brigade, and as he swung
gracefully from his horse he looked the
part thoroughly The general was
young, handsome and unmarried. 1t
could be seen that officer and enlisted
man had one point in common. Both
loved the colonels daughter
Good morning, Miss Grace. You're
up with the birds" Then to the sentry,
who. having presented arms. started to
resume his beat, Hold my horse, or
Derby"
The sentry was an astute young man.
He knew that the general had OWNED
something from the manner Of the in
terrupted conversation. The request
was merely to humiliate him before
the girl. Yet his manner was respect
full, even meek, as he came to port
arms again and replied, I'm not the
orderly, sir; I'm sentinel on this post"
"Well, hold the horse, anyway"
"The regulations don't require me
to-" was the composed reply.
General Barry's anger arose as a
CLEAN of merriment kin6led In the
girls eyes. Nevertheless command
you to do it."
The sentry apparently was deeply re-
gretful General orders say that
shall receive, transmit and obey all or
ders from and allow myself to be re-
lieved by the commanding officer, the
officer Of the day, officers and noncom-
missioned officers of the guard only.
You're not any of those, SIR"
"Indeedw was the sarcastic response.
"And if you know your general orders
so we'll, how about the one which says
to hold conversation with no one ex
cept in the proper discharge of my
duty? Hold this horse or I'll put you
in the guardhouse!"
The sentry's reply was to resume bis
beat Almost bursting with rage, the
general took a step or two toward Ken
nedy, but as the relief came plodding
up the hill be decided. smile Of tn
umph on his face, to await its arrival.
Corporal" he said sharply to the
noncommissioned officer In charge,
place that man under arrest"
The corporal saluted. why, STRIP
HE was impudent, and he refused
to hold my horse when asked"
eff he was disrespectful you can pre-
fer charges, sir. You're not of our bril-
gade, are you, general?'
mo; but what of it?''
"Then you had no right to ask him
to act as orderly General orders say,
To receive p"
Hang general ordersr' was the Of
ficer's explosive interruption. you re-
fuse to obey too? I'll have you re-
duced to ranksr'
"All right, SIR" came the cheerful re-
ply. I'm Corporal Kelly of B com
pany, Second infantry If you don't
happen to know me. Fall in, Kennedy.
Relief, forward. march" And the grin
ming files struggled down the hill.
Pardon me, but General Orders
seems to have defeated General Barry
this morning." smiled the girl
"And General Barry will do his best
to turn defeat into victory" was the
grim response as the man climbed into
the saddle.
The general cursed himself for fool
as he galloped back to his tent. A de-
sire to punish the sentry for his pre-
sumption in speaking to an officers
daughter had not caused his outbreak
as much as desire to appear well be-
fore the girl.
He had met her the winter before
while she was visiting in his home
town. The general in private life was
a successful young attorney who had
believed himself too busy to fall in
love, but at sight of Grace he had
capitulatsd. During the fortnight Of
har Stav he had made ardent JovA and