The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-05-27
CHAPTER XIV.
At the Staff Officers Ball.

At the Staff Officers Ball.
The Joung officer glanced up LASTLY
at sound of approaching footsteps, and
rose to his feet to permit of my pas
sage. HI wore the full dress uni
form of an artilleryman, and his evil
dent surprise at my presence made
me realize the necessity of addressing
him.
Lieutenant. l 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. l was in hopes they might
have arrived by this time"
! bowed to them both, and passed
slowly down the wide stairway. sev-
eral 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
l observed not few civilian suits,
and considerable number of women.
some wearing the neat dress Of the
army nurse, others much more elabO-
rately at.ired-daughters Of the neigh
borhood, probably, with sprinkling
of wives and sisters of the soldiery.
Guards, leaning upon their muskets.
stood in statuesque poses on either
side of the main entl ance. while the
wide archway. draped with flags. open
ing into the ballroom. revesled 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 floor-man-
ager. after whispering a word in the
ear of another of the sal kind beside
the ballroom door, hastily pushed his
way through the laughing throng d.
Re city toward me.
:Good-evening, Colonel" he said.
bCwing deeply. Your face is not
familiar to me- but you will permit me
to introduce myself-Major Monsoon.
of General Sheridan's staff"
l accepted the fat. shapeless hand
he extended. and pressed it warmly
II was just meditating a retreat,
Major. when you appeared" replied
frankly. For fear my face is equal
ly unknown to all others present In
deed, l feel like a cat in a strange
garnet. and hesitated 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
deed" he exclaimed eagerly. and
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 risks
of the masquerade with the reckless
audacity of my years. Eefore we
reached the ballroom my conductor,
his fat cOuntenance fairly beaming
with cordially. had stopped at least
twenty times to present ne to various
military titles. and ! had accepted in
Vulnerable invitations without in the
least knowing who gave them. or
where they were to be fulfilled. Final
ly. however. we broke through the
massed ring, and succeeded in reach
ing the tall individual in spectacles
to whom the Major had spoken previ-
GUS to seeking me. and learned
through the introduction which fol-
lowed that ! was In the presence of
Brigadier-General Carlton. chief of
staff.
(TO BE CONTINUEDD