The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1912-01-12
CHAPTER XIV.
At the staff Officers Ball.

AT tne SldTI NHlCcIa Dall'
The young officer glanced up hastily
at sound of approaching footsteps, and
rose to his feet to permit of my pas
cage He wore the full dress uni
form of an arLilleryman, and his evil
dent surprise az my presence made
me realize the necessity Of addressing
him.
Lieutenant" I asked courteously
resting one hand easily upon the
balustrade, could you inform me II
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 l 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 a few civilian suits
and considerable number of women
some wearing the neat dress Of the
army nurse, others much more elaoo
rately attired--daughters of tie neigh.
borhood, probably, with a sprinkline
OF wives and sisters of the soldiery
Guards, leaning upon their muskets.
stood In statuesque poses on either
side of the main entrance. while tho
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.
4 fat, gocdnaturel-looklng man of
forty, an infantry major but wearing
starr decorations, and evidently OF.
ficiatlng in the capacity Of floor.man.
ager after whisnorlng a word in the
ear Of another OF the sane kind beside
tie ballroom door hastily pushed bis
way through the laughing th.ong dt.
rtctly toward me.
"Good-eyoning, Colonel" he said.
howing deeply Your face is no.
familiar to me, but you will permit me
to introduce mysclE--Major Monsoon
Of General Shcrilans staff"
! accepted tie Eat shapelos5 land
he extended. ana pressed it warmly.
i was Just meditating q retreat
Major, when you appeared" I replied
frankly. For fear my face is canal
" unknown to all others present, In
deed, feel like a cat in a strange
garnet, and hesitated to appear az all
My only excuse for doing SO was a
promise made Colonel Culbertson
previous to his being ordered cut 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 Won IN.
Decd he exclaimed eagerly, land
you may be sure Of cordial greet,
ing VIII you kindly step this wayq''
AS we slowly elbowed our wav for
ward, all desire to escape from tho
ordeal fled, and assumed the risks
OF the masquerade with the reck,aeo
audacity Of my years. Before ws
reached the ballroom my conductor
his fat countenance fairly beaming
with cordially, had stopped at Iesst
twenty times to present me to various
military titles, and I had accented ,n'
Vulnerable Invitations without in tbe
least knowing who gave them or
wnere they were to be fulfilled. Final.
~ however, we broke through ,hs
massed ring, and succeeded IN reach
Ing the tall individual in spccts cIas
70 whom the Major had spoksp nrev;'
7us to scaling me-. an Ls,n.s