The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-02-20
CHAPTER XIV.
AT the staff offIoers, BAN.

ne JouHB Olllcer glanced up hastily
at sound OF approaching footsteps, and
rose to his feet to permit Of my pas
sage. He wore the full drees uni
form OF an artilleryman, and hts 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 II
General Sheridan and those members
OF the staff who accompanied him
down the lines this afternoon have
yet returned?"
They have not, SIR"
All, was In hopes they might
have arrived by this time"
L 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
fgures moving herr 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
1 observed not q few civilian suits.
and considerable number OF women,
some wearing the neat dress of the
army nurse, others much more elabo-
rately attired-daughters of the neigh
borhood, probably, with snrinkling
OF wives and sisters of the soldiery.
Guards, leaning upon their nuskets,
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
ngures in gay uniforms and flashing
skirts. Over all floated the low,
swinging music of the band.
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 same kind beside
the ballroom door, hastily pushed his
way through the laughing throng d.
rectly toward me.
"Good-evening, Colonel" he said,
bowling deeply. Your face is not
familiar to me. but you will permit me
to introduce myself-Major Monsoon,
of General Sheridan's staff"
/ accepted the fat shapeless hand
he extended. and pressed 1t warmly.
Il was just meditating q 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 a strange
garrett, and hesitated to appear at all.
My only excuse for doing so was
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 Haneck 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 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 1 assumed the risks
OF the masquerade with the reckless
audacity 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
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 1 learned
through the introduction which fol-
lowed that 1 was in the presence of
Brigadier-General Carlton. chief OF
staff
For a moment, as I responded to
the hearty cordially Of his welcome,
l was enabled to take my first glance
at the ballroom, and found It to my
unaccustomed soldier eyes an inspir-
Ing spectacle. The room was magnifi-
Gently large,-a surprising apartment,
indeed, even in 90 superb Southern
home as this had evidently been and
It's proportions were magnified by
numerous mirrors extending from
floor to ceiling, causing the more
distant dancers to appear eircIing IN
space. Brilliantly ilIumined by means
or hanging chandeliers that oscillated
slightly to the merry feet; decorated
IaVishly everywhere with festooned
Rags and tastefully arranged NUM-
lions OF war; gay with the dress uni
forms OF the men and the handsome
gowns OF the women, II composed a
scene so different from any had
looked upon in years as to hold me
fascinated The constant clatter Of
tongues, the merry laughter, the flash
ing OF bright eyes, and the CLEAN Of
snowy shoulders, the good-humored
repartoes caught as the various
couples circle swiftly past, the quick,
musical gliding Of flying feet over the
waxen floor, the continuous whirl OF
the Intoxicating waltz, and over all
the inspiring strains Of Strauss,
caused my heart to bound. and
brought with It an insane desire to
participate
Yet gazing entranced, upon the ami
mated scene, and feeling deeply the
intoxlcation Of the moment, my eyes
were eagerly searching that happy
throng for sight OF one fair woman's
funn l.