The Columbus commercial., 1912-12-22
CHAPTER xV
At ,he stan onIeer., eaIl.

AZ the Staff Offieers' Bai.
The zoung officer glanced up hastily
at sound OF approaching footsteps. and
rose 10 his feet to permit Of my pas.
sage H. 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 oourteously,
resting one hand easily upon tie
balustrade. "could you inform ne IL
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 passe,
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 her. and Ahere in con.
verse. or occupying seats pressed
close against the walls. The greater
portion we're attired in uniforms Of
the various branches OF service. yet
| 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 atired-daughters Of tho neigh
borhood. probably. with sprink!ing
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. good-natured.looking man of
forty. an infantry major. but wearing
staff decorations. and evidently Of
ficiating in the capacity Of floorman-
ager. after whispering word In the
ear OF another OF the sa. kind beside
the ballroom door, hastily pushed his
way through the laughing throng di-
rcctly toward me.
"Good-evening, Colonel" he said,
tcwing deeply. Your face is net
familiar to me, but you will permit me
to introduce myself-Major Monsoon
of General Sheridan's stat"
accepted the fat, shapeless hand
he extended. and pressed 1t 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, | feel like a cat In a strange
garret, and hesltated to appear at all
My only excuse for doing so was a
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.
ington."
The Majors round. red face glowed
with welcome.
Extremely pleased TO meet you. in
Decd" he exclaimed eagerly. "and
you may be sure OF cordial greet
ing VIII 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
audacity Of my years Before We
reached the ballroom my conductor
his fat countenance fairly beamlne
with cordially. had stopped at least
twenty times 60 present me to various
military titles, and had accepted in
Vulnerable invitations without in ta,
least knowing who gave them. ol
where tney we're to BE- fulfilled. Final
ly. however, we broke through thu
massed ring, and succeeded In reach
ing the tall individual in spectaclet
to whom the Major had spoken previ
GUS TO seeking me. and learned
through the introduction which fol
lowed that was In the presence o
Brigadler-Ceneral Carlton. chief o
staff
! CTo BE coNTINUED)