Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-08-09
CHAPTER NV.

shall never forget that supper as long
as / live. Considered merely as a social
gathering it would be memorable enough.
for l never before or since sat at meat
with ten such queer customers as nv
hosts of that evening. The officers of
the Aureataland army were a very mixed
lot-two or three Spanish Americans.
three or four Brazilians, and the balance
Americans of the type of their country
men are least proud of. If there was an
honest man among them he sedulously
concealed his title to distinction. All this
might have passed from my memory, or
blended in a subdued harmny with nv
general impression of Aureataland: but
the peculiar position in which I stood
gave to my mind an unusual activity of
perception. Among this band of careless
jewellers / sat vigilant, restless and i'm
patient; feigning to take a leading mart
in their hilarity, / was sober. collected,
and alert TO my very finger tips. | anx-
iously watched their bearing and eypres-
sion. i led them on to speak of the Pres
ident, rejoicing when / ELECTED open mur-
murs and covert threats at his base in
gratitude to the men on whose support his
power rested. They had not been paid
for six months, and were ripe for any
mischief. / was more than once tempted
&c forestau the Colonel and begin the
revolution on my own account: only nv
inability to produce before their ewes art
arguments of the sort they would listen
to restrained me.
Eleven o'clock had come and gone. The
Senior Captain had proposed the Presj-
DON'T hxaal 2
silence; was the only man who hon
ored it by rising from his seat.
The Major had proposed the army. and
they had responded to their noble selves
A young man of weak expression and
quayering legs had proposed, The, com
merce Of Aureataland." coupled with the
name of Mr.. John Martin, in laudatory
but incoherent terms and l was on nv
legs replying. Oh, that speech of mine #,
For RESPONSIVENESS, for repetition. for
sheer inanity, l suppose it has never
been equaled. l droned steadily away ::
as l went on the audience paid less and
less attention. 1t was past twelve. The
well of my eloquence was running drier
and drier, and yet no sound outside l
wondered how long they would stand it
snd how long | could stand it, At u 10
l began my peroration. Hardly had l
done so, when one Of the young men start
ed in a gentle voice ditty. One by one
they took it up. till the rising tide of
voices drowned my fervent periods. Per
force l stopped They were all on their
feet now. Did they mean to break up?
In despair at the idea l lifted up my
voice, loud and distinct, in a verse of the
composition, and seizing my neighbours
hand began TO move slowly round the
table. The move was successful. Each
man followed suit, and the whole party.
kicking back their chairs. revolved with
lurching steps.
The room was thick with smoke. Ne
chanically l led the chorus, straining ev-
cry nerve to hear a sound from outside.
I was growing dizzy with the movement.
and, overweight with the strain on my
nerves, knew few minutes more would
be the limit of endurance, when at last I
heard loud shout and tumult of voices.
Whats that!" exclaimed the Major,
In thick tones, pausing as he spoke.
| dropped his hand, and seizing my re-
volver, said:
Some row in barracks, Major. Let
'em alone"
L must 60" he said. "Character-Au-
reataland- army-at stake
''Set thief to catch a thief, eh, Ma
jor?" said 1.