Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-22
The PreSident'S Ride

evening after retreat when my friend
Charlie st. Clair came in with a woe
begone expression on his face and,
throwing himself into an easy chair,
heaved a deep sigh. Charlie was one
of the handsomest men l eve knew
and witbal the most lovable. He and
l had been classmates and chums at
West Point, had served together in the
Spanish-American war and We're now
stationed at the same post.
whats up. Charlie" l asked.
"I've been ordered to take the presi.
dents ride"
"Well," | said sympathetically, don't
you think you'll be able to stand it?'
81 know / WON'T
Charlie was %lazy-lazy on drill, lazy
in quarters, lazy in social life, lazy ev-
erywhere except in battle. 1t required
a fight to put energy into him, but 1t
did. His case always reminded me of
a prominent Confederate general in
this-the general when an engagement
was coming on never could settle down
to the work before him without riding
out to the firing line. Then he would
ride back ready to listen to orders.
Charlie lost all his Incidence under the
rattle of rifles and the boom of big
guns, besides becoming brave as a
lion.
II tell you what you do, Charlie" /
suggested--"put in all your time be-
tween now and the ride exercising.
Get off some of your surplus flesh and
harden your muscles"
"Oh, I'm too bigr'
That told the story exactly. He was
a big man, and the accumulation of
inertia had got ahead of him. | per
suaded him to let me train him, and /
worked with him right up to the day
OF the ride. But it was no use. l
never could get him up in the morn
ing. He would eat anything he fancied.
In short, he wouldn't train. The con-
sequence was that when he started
OF the ride he was sure to fail. My
heart sank when we left for the start
ing point, but l encouraged him so far
as possible. l was to take the ride
myself and hoped to stimulate him.
l. III III 1 Hight hId a. way W pun
him through, but he shook his head
despondently.
We hadn't gone ten miles before /
saw the game was up for Charlie.
From the very start he looked tired.
and every mile we rode he lost breath.
The sweat was rolling down his fat
cheeks, and he was the picture of mel
onohO1u XVa had oona Ouar aho11t holt
the distance when, making an effort.
he spurred beside me, putting. Keeling,
a blush white hue on his face, and
told me be was going to drop out. We
were riding past a country place at
the time, and | saw him turn in at the
gate. That was the last / saw of him
+ on ire
On reaching my quarters the next
day I found an order to go to France
to be present at the army maneuvers.
l was gone six weeks and on my re-
turn received a note from Charlie say
ing that he had been unable to leave
the house where he had taken refuge
and wished me to go to him.
I took a train and, getting off at the
nearest station, drove to the house,
prepared for a sad sight. Judging by
his appearance when l had seen him
last, he had probably strained some
vital part. and | feared to find him
forced to give up life as well as the
army. On reaching the house I sent In
my card and was ushered into his
room.
There sat Charlie In an easy chair.
surrounded by every luxury, putting a
fragrant cigar. His color was the
healthiest, and his flesh was his usual
220 pounds. A white headed old lady
went out Of the room as l entered 1t
and left us alone together.
"I've sent for you, old man." he said,
ito get me out of a hole. l haven't
yet beer retired and am amenable to
military discipline. In fact, I'm here
without leave. 1 want you to go to
Washington and fix matters up for
me-"
"I'll send a surgeon to see you. He'll
give you a certificate, l suppose, of dis
ability"
mo, he won't" replied Charlie,
'I'm not sick"
"Well, then, what's the matter?"
Charlie reached out, pushed a but
ton, a maid appeared, and he told her
to ask her mistress If she would honor
him with her presence. In a few mo-
ments a pretty woman of about TWEEN.
ty-eight stepped into the room and
| stood, so to speak, at attention.
"That's what's the matter" said
Charlie. "Nrs. Edgerton, permit me to
present one of my most esteemed
brother officers. Colonel Brewster, call
ed sometimes B. Rooster by those who
love him, a gentleman and a soldier
every inch. Colonel. Mrs. Edgerton is
to honor me with her hand. l retire
from the army into matrimony."
l could have been knocked down
with a feather. While all us fellows
bo5 hoop ooIOpipu ovnr tho country 70