Evening journal., 1909-05-28
The Young
Colonel
BY EvoN DoLseAR.

had just come in from a gallop on
horseback over bitches and hedges
and was bespattered with mud. Her
cheeks were flushed with exercise; a
thick coil Of hair bad come unloosened
and was resting on her shoulder.
Il have been notified. my dear. that
] must be enrolled In the military
service and go out to fight the kings
battles. am too old to do such duty,
and we are too poor to provide a sub
stitute. About all we have left is our
title OF nobility. and as you are all
girls even that viii pass from us at
my DEATH"
Don't worry. father. dear; wen find
some way out Of the trouble"
A few days later youth. evidently
about eighteen, sailed forth from the
baron's estate. walked brlskly to the
town and presented himself at a re-
cruiting station. He gave his name
as Caspar son of Baron Ballenstein
of Ballenstein castle. The recruiting
officer rose respectfully at the an
nouncement
Il did not know the baron had a
son." be said.
II have been long away" replied the
youth
Caspar Ballenstein was enrolled in
the cavalry and sent to a barracks for
instruction and drill. A son OF the
house of Ballenstein could not be per-
mitted to remain in the ranks. and
young Caspar was soon promoted to
be a subaltern officer. He was rapidly
advanced, and in the first fight that
occurred in which ne took part most
Of the field officers were killed. and he
was made major. This gave him the
command Of his regiment while still
a mere boy.
Naturally one so young in so high a
position excited much attention in the
army. 1t was especially remarked that
the officer, though brave and dashing,
was one Of those men who from some
! congenital cause are eneminate. His
|. girlish expressions often excited mer-
! riment Instead Of saying to a brother
! officer, you're a chumpw he would
say. "You are very disagreeableF In
stead Of swearing at any bit of III luck
he would excaim. "How provokingr'
And Notwithstanding his leadership in
battle. in camp be was considered a
lax disciplinarian. His men came to
consider almost any tale OF woe to the
major quite enough to excuse any neg
lect or infraction Of duty. Another
trait gave dissatisfaction. He invari-
ably preferred and made companions
Of men who had a certain swagger
about them. a fine presence and hand
some figures and faces.
Nevertheless the little major or colo
nel-for be finally gained that rank
was adored by his men. who would
follow him right into the jaws Of
death. True be was not an adept at
tactics nor did he have much head for
maneuvering, but these he did not
need.
General Sweetzer commanded the
brigade Of which BaIenstein's regi-
ment formed a part. Sweetzer was
one moment disgusted with the colonel
Of the Tenth hussars and at another
delighted with him. The time came
when he began to give orders to his
subaltern gently. he excused those
things in which the colonel was def
cient. And at last it came TO be no.
ticed that instead of sending the Tenth
to do necessary sacrihcial work he was
prone to choose some other corps. Bal
lenstein noticed this and pronounced
1t real mean," of course drawing forth
a burst Of laughter that brought a tear
to the boy colonePs eye.
a. 81 o.
that Caspar Ballenstein was a woman.
He had no doubt that his suspicion
was correct. but he could neither prove
it to himself nor any one else without
what might outrage a woman's most
sacred feelings. He thought Of pri'
vately asking the question Of Ballen-
stein. but I'm case the answer were in
the negative the act would be an in
suit that could only be wiped out by
blood He finally determined that he
could only discover If the young Off
Ger were a woman by placing him in
a position where he would act accord
ing to sexual instinct.
One day General Sweetzer invited his
regimental commanders to dine With
him. His headquarters were at the
time in a house. and. of course. the
dinner was set in the dining room. All
the courses had been served. and cof'
fee and cigars were being brought on.
When the door was opened to admit
the servant with the coffee the gen
erals striker let in tiny animal and
Immediately closed the door.
"A mouse! A mouser' cried the gen
eraI. rising. None OF the other officers
moved except Ballenstein. who jump
er upon his chair and from there on
to the table. Then the general or
dered the mouse driven out, and Colo
mel Ballenstein descended from his
perch.
? Nothing was said in the command
about the incident. General Sweetzes
having ordered the secret kept but the
next morning It was announced that
the colonel Of the Tenth hussars
had resigned and his resignation had
been accepted. The colonel was not
seen again in camp. few hours after
General Sweetzer's dinner party had
broken up a carriage drove up to Bal
lenstein's tent. a mufled figure entered
and was driven away. This was the
only circumstance that became com
mon talk with those who discussed the
young officers sudden resignation and
dfsonDearance