Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-02-20
COLONEL OF THE
TENTH HuSSARS
Why the Career of a Young
Officer Was Cut Short.

Father, what's the matter? There
is something on your mind"
The daughter Of Baron Ballenstein
had just come in from a gallop on
horseback V bitches and hedges and
was despatched with mud. Her cheeks
were flushed with exercise. "A thick
coil of hair had come unloosened and
was resting on her shoulder.
II have been notified, my dear. that
I must be enrolled in the military serv-
ice and go out to fight the kings bat
ties. l am too old to do such duty,
and we are too poor to provide a sub
stitute. About all we have left is our
title of nobility. and as you are all
girls even that will pass from us at
my DEATH"
Don't worry, father, dear; Well find
some way out Of the trouble"
A few days later a youth, evidently
about eighteen. sailed forth from the
baron's estate, walked briskly to the
town and presented himself at a re-
cruiting station. He gave his name as
Caspar, son Of Baron Ballenstein Of
Ballenstein castle. The recruiting Of
icer rose at the announcement.
81 did not know the baron had a
son." he said.
81 have been long away" replied the
youth.
Caspar Ballenstein was enrolled in
the cavalry and sent to a barracks for
instruction and drill. A son Of the
house Of Ballenstein could not be per-
mitted to remain in the ranks, and
young Caspar was soon promoted to be
a subaltern officer. He was rapidly
advanced, and in the first fight that
occurred in which he took part most of
the field officers were killed. and he
was made major. This gave him the
command of his regiment while still
a mere boy.
Naturally one so young in so high a
position excited much attention in the
army. 1t was especially remarked that
the officer, though brave and dashing,
was n Of those men who from some
congenital cause are effeminate. His
girlish expressions often excited mer-
riment. Instead Of saying to a brother
officer, you're a chump!" he would
say, "You are very di~sagreeable" In
stead of swearing at any bit Of i'll luck
he would exclaim, How provoking!"
And. Notwithstanding his leadership in
battle, in camp he was considered a
lax disciplinarian. His men came to
consider almost any tale Of woe to the
major quite enough to excuse any neg
lect or infraction of duty.
Nevertheless the little major or colo
nel-for he finally gained that rank
was adored by his men, who would
follow him right into the jaws of death.
True, he was not al adept at tactics.
nor did he have much head for ma
n%euvering, but these he did not need.
General SweetZer commanded the
brigade Of which Ballenstein's regi-
ment formed a part. Sweetzer vas
one moment Disguised with the colonel
of the Tenth hussars and at another
delighted with him. The time came
when he began to give orders to his
subaltern gently. He excused those
things in which the colonel was def
cient. And at last it came to be no.
ticed that instead Of sending'the Tenth
to~do necessary sacrtfcialworkshe was
prQpestoschoose somevotherscorps- Bal
lenstein> noticed this$and pronounced
it "'realsmean," Of coursesdrawingforth
q burst of Observation-Disclosures tear
to the boy colonel's eye.
The truth Is the colonel suspected
that Caspar Ballenstein was a woman.
He had no doubt that his suspicion