Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-09-16

now all in the Confederate armies.
I'm that case" said Garland, our
general will. have no doubt, be pleas
ed to direct the band of II of his reg
iments to furnish music for the occa-
SION. One of our bands. that Of the
til regulars, is the best in the serv--
ice. and if you prefer an orchestra one
composed of the players can easily be
made up by the bandmaster."
At this Miss Rutlidge looked at Gar
land to express her appreciation of the
offer, and for the first time their eyes
met. Whatever of antagonism for 81
Federal officer had been With the young
lady went out like a candle and was
replaced by something Very different.
1t WIS impossible for ~antagonism to
exist under the gaze of the captains
eyes, which expressed only kindliness
and admiration.
Garland took his meals and slept in
the house, waiting for the arrival of
the command. Having nothing to do,
he sat during the day on the veranda,
entertained either by Mrs. Rutlidge Or
her daughter, usually by the daughter,
for the mother took upon herself the
preparations for the approaching wed
ding.
One day while Garland and Miss
Rutlidgc sat on the veranda n man
rode up on horseback and handed the
latter Il letter. She tore it open and
read it hastily. Then she arose and
want iotn +bA hn,,c, y, ,I,,l ,o-ly
hear her talking with her mother, but
not what was said. Mrs. Rutlidge was
evidently much excited, not to say
angry. The young lady did not ap-
pear again on the veranda, but sent u
note by a negro to the messenger who
was waiting without.
Garland did not see either Of the
ladies again till supper time, and then
only the mother. She sat with a
stormy brow till the meal was ended,
not speaking a word. then revealed the
cause of her irritation. The wedding
for which she had been waiting for
weeks. months even in some respects,
was Indefinitely postponed. The bride
groom wrote that owing to the ap-
Droach of the Federal army his affairs
were in q deplorable condition and he
must remain on his plantation to take
care Of them. But this is not the real
reason" added the lady-"at any rate,
not the only one. We have heard re-
Gently that q widow has been setting
her cap for my daughters tiance, and
we suspect that she has captured
him"
Communications had been kept up
between Captain Garland and the
army to which he belonged. He had
written a brother aid-de-camp Of the
approaching wedding, that he had Of
fered music for the occasion and that
he hoped the command would reach
M. in ample time for him to redeem his
promise. The matter had been talked
over at the mess table in presence Of
the general. who evinced an interest in
it, saying that Garland's offer must be
made good and if the command did
not march in time for the wedding
half a dozen musicians should go any
way.
But n night an order came from
the department commander to move
the next morning at daylight. When
the sun rose every regiment and bat
terry was in the road ready to move,
and the order Forward" was given.
1t SO happened that General Hassett
reached NJ. on the day before the
wedding was to have taken place.
Garland was sitting on the veranda
with Mrs. and Miss Rutlidge when he
heard a Gathering of horses hoOfs
and the general with staff and escort
came down before the captain could
vacate. Seeing his aid. the general
rode up to the house, ~dismounted and
tramped to the jingling of spurs and
rafting of side arms to where the
three sat.
Happy to meet you. ladies' be ,:,id.
removing his forage cap and buwIng
low. Il presume this young lady is
the bride to be. Captain. i was about
to send the music when the order
came to move"
All this, of course, was very embar-
RAISING. Mrs. Rutlidge. thinking it
better to have the changed conditions
known and over with, spoke up:
General, there is to be no wedding"
mo wedding. Why not?'
There is no bridegroom"
But there is a bride"
Yes; there is a bride. but her fance
has deserted her for another"
The general looked sympathetically
at Miss Rutlidge.
There shall be a wedding said the
general decidedly. II command here,
and since the preparations are made
and the music provided the wedding
shall take place"
All looked astounded at this, and the
general p~roceeded:
Captain Garland, hold yourself in
readiness to act as bridegroom on this
occasion. When was the marriage to
have taken placer"
Tomorrow at noOn, replied the
captain. a smile breaking over his face.
Very well. You will report here in