The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-02-01
CHAPTER XIV.
At the staff Officers Bail.

me yOung OFFICER glanced up LASTLY
at sound of approaching footsteps and
rose to his feet to permit of my pas
sage. H1 wore the full dress uni.
form Of an artilleryman. and his eyi.
dent surprise at my presence made
me realize the necessity of addressing
him
Lieutenant" | asked cOurteously,
resting one hand easily upon the
balustrade, could you inform me IL
General Sheridan and those members
Of the staff who accompanied him
down the lines this afternoon have
get returned"
They have not. sir"
All was in hopes they might
have arrived by this time"
bowed TO them both. and passed
slowly down tho wide stairway. sew
cral couples rising as | drew near
( to permit of my passage. The lower
hall was very comfortably filled with
/ figures moving her and there IN con.
verse. or occupying seats pressed
/ close against the walls The greater
/ portion were attired in uniforms OF
| the various branches Of service. yet
/ ! observed not few civilian suits,
and a considerable number OF women,
some wearing the neat dress of the
army nurse, others much more clabo.
rately atuired-daughters OF the neigh
borhood, probably with sprinkling
uf wives and sisters of the soldiery.
Guards. leaning upon their muskets.
stood In statuesque poses on either
side Of the main entianc while the
wide archway, draped with flags. open.
Ing into the ballroom. revealed an
inspiring glimpse of swiftly revolving
figures in gay uniforms and flashing
skirts. over all foated the low,
swinging music of the band
A fat, good.natured.looki man Of
forty, an infantry major but wearing
staff decorations, and evidently Of
iiCiating In the capacity of floor.man.
ager after whispering n word in the
ear of another Of the SAL , kind beside
the ballroom door, hastily pushed his
way through the laughing throng di.
+, city toward me.
"Good.evening Colonel" he said.
bCwing deeply Your face is not
familiar to me. but you will permit me
to introduce myselr-Major Monsoon.
Of General Shcridans staff"
accepted the fat, shapelass hand
he extended. and pressed 1t warmly. .
u was just medtating a retreat,
Major, when you appeared" | replied
frankly. For fear my face is equal.
~ unknown to all others present In
deed, | feel like cat In strange
garnet. and hesitated to appear at all .
My only excuse for doing so was o
promise made Colonel Culbertson
previous to his being ordered out on
duty am Colonel Curran. of the
Sixth Ohio, but at present serving on .
the staff Of General Halleck at Wash.
iugton"
The Majors round, red face glowed
with welcome
Extremely pleased TO meet you. in.
deed" he exclaimed eagerly. and
YOU may be sure of n cordial greet.
ing WIN you kindly step this way?"
As we slowly elbowed our way for.
ward, all desire to escape from the
ordeal fled. and | assumed the risks
Of the masquerade with the reckless
of my years. Before we
reached the ballroom my conductor,
his fat countenance fairly beaming
with cordially. had stopped at least
twenty times to present me to various
titles, and had accepted in.
invitations without in the
least knowing who gave them. or
where they were to b fulfilled Final
Is, however, We broke through the
massed ring, and succeeded in reach.
Ing the tall individual in spectacles
10 whom the Major had spoken prevI.
BUS to seeking me, and learned
through the introduction which fol-
Owed that | was in the presence of
Brigadier General Carlton. chief OF
staff
CTo BE coNTINUED)
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