Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-12-16

noncommissioned onicer In charge.
''place that man under arrest"
The corporal saluted. why, sirT
"He was impudent. and he refused
to hold my horse when asked
''If he was disrespectful you can pre-
fer charges, sir. You're not of our
brigade. are you, general?"
''No. but what OF it?"
"Then You had no right TO ask him
to act as orderly. General orders say.
TO receive -
"Hang general orders!" was the Of
ficers explosive interruption. you re-
fuse to obey too7 I'll have you re-
duced to ranks!'
"AlI right. sir" came the cheerful re-
ply. I'm Corporal Kelly OF b COM
pany. Second infantry, II 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 def&ted 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 a 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
successful young attorney who had
believed himself too busy to fall in
love, but at sight Of Grace he had ca
pitulated. During the fortnight of her
stay he had made ardent love and did
not doubt that in time his suit would
be favorably received, The girl liked
him. for he was frank and handsome
and not quite spoiled by success. Yet
there was barrier to her heart which
he could not pass. She would not al
low him to visit her at the little city
where she lived. and he was forced to
be content with the half promise that
they might meet at camp. and straight
way Randolph Barry began to count
the days which must elapse before the
encampment.
Yet their meeting on the evening Of
the first day had not been encouraging.
The colonel's daughter had greeted
him as she did her other friends. And
this second interview! He ground his
teeth as he thought Of his folly. An
hour later he laid his version of the
encounter with the sentry before Major
General Goodwin, commander of the
two brigades In camp.
Have q drink. Barry" urged his su
perior when he had finished. land
you'll probably feel better. | can't or.
der those boys under arrest for that"
This COMPOUNDED young Kennedy
was impudent, l tell you." snarled
Barry. Hes a pretty soldier, quoting
general orders to- me when he was dis
obeying one when rode up. I want
him in the guardhouse just to square
myself with Grace Van Tuyl." He
clicked his spurs yiciously.
Cant make regulars out of these
fellows in ten days." was the conciliat-
ing reply. Discipline is all right in
moderation. We can't shut down on
'em real hard. Why. this man Ken
nedy owns factory down in Trenton.
He's got dead loads of money. I'm sur
prised he was as decent as you admit
he was" and the generals eyes twin
killed..
"Jim," returned Barry very earnest
ly, "I've got to see him court martialed.
1 know Miss Van Tuyl well. and. and"
The hesitated a moment-'it makes
difference what she thinks Of me. You
understand
General Goodwin was silent mo-
ment. when he spoke he had dropped
the half bantering manner which had
marked the interview on his part. His
tone was kindly and sincere: II under
stand. and I'm sorry--sorry ] can't &C.
commodate you. and for another rea-
son. Tom Kennedys my nephew. my
sisters kid. and I've got to see him
through. told him he could have
place on my staff. but he wanted to be
a real soldier. he said. So he enlisted
in B company. and in view of what
you've said hate to tell the rest of II.
but he's engaged to Miss Van Tuyl
They're to he married in September"
The younger man rose and walked
to the front of the tent before he re-
piled. 81 believe I'll take that drink,
general" he said. with an assumption
of his old gay manner. II seem to have
been routed with loss by General Or
ders' and his aid. General Cupid.
drink"-he removed his, hat CALAMITY
and clinked glasses with his superior
ito the future Mrs. Kennedy. God bless
her"