The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-07-21
THE YOUNG COLONEL,
BY EvoN poLssAR.
Copyright. lSoa. by American Press Asso-
ciatIon.l

pdLueI, WHILE I0e n1CIe1I 40eE6
Is something on your mind
The daughter OF Baron BaIlensteIn
had just come in from a gaIIop on
horseback over bitches and hedges
and was despatched with mud. Her
cheeks We're flushed with exercise: a
thick coll Of hair had 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 sub
stitute. About all weshave left is our
title OF nobility. and rs you are all
girls even that will pass from US at
my DEATH
Don't worry. father. dear: we'll find
some way out OF the trouble"
A few days later youth. evidently
about eighteen. sailed forth from the
baron's estate. walked briskly to the
town and presented himself at n re.
crultinG station. He gave his name
as CaspaE. son OF Baron BallensteIn
OF Ballenstein castle. The recruiting
officer rose respectfully Mt the an.
nouncement.
81 did not know the baron had a
son. he said.
Il have been long away" replied the
youth.
Caspar Ballenstein was enrolled in
the cavalry and sent to barracks for
instruction and drill. a son Of the
house OF Ballenstein could not be per.
mitted to remain In the ranks. and
young Caspnr was soon promoted to
be subaltern officer. He was rapidly
advanced. and In the first fight that
occurred In which he took part mos;
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 dashinS
was one Of those men who from some
congenltal cause are efeminate. his
Girlish expressions often excited mer.
riment. Instead OF saying to brother
officer. You're chump-' he would
say. You are very dIsagreeablerr' In.
stead OF swearing at any bit Of III luck
he would exclaim. How provokinsr
And Notwithstanding his leadership in
battle. in camp he was considered q
lax discipilnarIan. His men came &c
consider almost any tale Of woe TO the
major quite enough to excuse any neg
lect or infraction of duty. Another
trait gave dissatisfaction. BE invart
ably preferred and made companions
OF men who had certain swagger
about them. fine presence and hand
some figures and faces.
Nevertheless the little major or colo
nel-for he finally gained that rank
was adored by his men. who would
follow him right into the Jaws OF
death. True. he was not an adept al
tactics nor did he have much head fol-
maneuvertnS. but these he did moi
need.
( General SweetZer commanded the
brigade Of which Ballerstein's regi
ment formed a part. Sweetzer was
one moment dISSuSted with the colonel
OF the Tenth huSSarS and at another
delighted with him. The time came
when he began 10 give orders to his
subaltern gently. BE excused those
things In which the colonel was def.
cient. And ut last It came to be no
ticed that Instead OF sending the Tenth
to do necessary SacrI;icial work be was
| prone 10 choose some other corps. Bal
lenStein noticed this and pronounced
1t real mean" Of course drawing forth
a burst OF laughter that brought u teaI
to the boy coIonel'S eye
The truth Is the colonel suspected
that Caspar BalIenste!n WAS woman
He had no doubt TINT his suspicion
was correct. but he could neither prov,
It to himself nor any one else without
what might outrage a woman's mos,
sacred feelings. He thought OF pr
vately asking the question Of Ballen
stein. but In case the answer were II
the negative the act would be an In
suit that could only be wiped out by
blood. he finally determined that hC
could only discover II the young Off
Ger were woman by placing him IL
q position where he would act accord
Ing TO sexual instinct.
One day General Sweetzer invited hi.
regimental commanders to dine witt
him. His headquarters were at the
time IN house. and. Of course. the
dinner was set in the dining room. Al
the courses had been served. and cot
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 ant
Immediately closed the door.
a mouse! a mousse cried the gen
eral, rising. None OF the other officer,
moved except BallensteIn. who jump
er upon his chair and from there OF
to the table. Then the general or
dcred the mouse driven opt and Colo