Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER XIV.
At the Staff Officers Ball.

AT the Staff OFFICERS Ball.
The young officer glanced up LASTLY
at sound of approaching footsteps, and
rose to his feet to permit of my pas
sage. Hs wore the full dress uni
form of an artil!eryman. and his EVIL
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 If
General Sheridan and those members
of the staff who accompanied him
down the lines this afternoon have
yet returned?"
"They have not, SIR"
"Ah, was in hopes they might
have arrived by this time"
bowed to them both, and passed
slowly down the wide stairway. sew
eral couples rising as drew near
to permit. of my passage. The lower
hall was very comfortably filled with
figures moving hers 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
l observed not a few civilian suits.
and a considerable number OF women,
some wearing the neat dress of the
army nurse, others much more elabo-
rately atlired-daughters of the neigh
borhood, probably, with a sprinkling
of wives and sisters of the soldiery.
Guards, leaning upon their muskets.
stood in statuesQue poses on either
side Of the main entrance, 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 floated the low,
swinging music of the band.
A fat, Notwithstanding man OF
forty. an infantry major, but wearing
staff decorations, and evidently Of
ficiating in the capacity of floor.man'
ager, after whispering word In the
ear of another of the sar kind beside
the ballroom door, hastily pushed his
way through the laughing throng di.
Getty toward me.
'Good-evening, Colonel" he said.
tcwing deeply. "Your face is not
familiar to me, but you will permit me
to introduce nyself-Major Monsoon.
of General Sheridan's staff"
accepted the fat, shapeless hand
he extended. and pressed it warmly.
Il was just meditating retreat
Major, when you appeared" replied
frankly. For fear my face is equal.
ly unknown to all others present. In
| deed, I feel like a cat in strange
garrett, and hesitated to appear at all
My only excuse for doing so was q
promise made Colonel Culbertson
previous to his being ordered out on
duty. l am Colonel Curran, of the
Sixth Ohio, but at present serving on
the staff of General Halleck at Wash
| ington."
The Majors round, red face glowed
with welcome.
Extremely pleased to meet you, in
! U0cu, u0 SACIdAucu eagerly duV
| you may be sure of a cordial greet
ing. Will you kindly step this way?'
! AS we slowly elbowed our way for
ward, all desire to escape from the
ordeal fled, and assumed the risk
Of the masquerade with the reckless
audacity of my years. Before w
reached the ballroom my conductor
his fat countenance fairly beaminl
with coriiality, had stopped at leas
twenty times to present me to variou!
military titles, and 1 had accepted in
Vulnerable Invitations without in tn,
least knowing who gave them, o.
where they were to BIZ fulfilled. Final
ly, however, we broke through thu
massed ring, and succeeded in reach
ing the tall Individual in sprctacle'
to whom the Major had spoken previ
GUS to seeking me, and Learned
through the introduction which fol
lowed chat I was in the presence o
Brigadier-General Carlton, shief O
staff.
! GRO BE CONT1NUED.)