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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1899)
DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , SEPTEMBETl 3 , 1890. ( Copyright , 1850 , by F. Tennyson Neeljr. ) CIIAPTI3R I. Something unusual was going on at dlvl- Blon headquarters. Tlio mon In the ncnrcat regimental camps , regular and volunteer , -wore 'lined up" along the sentry poata and ellontly , eagerly watching and waiting. For a week rumor had been rlfo that orders for a move were coming and the brigades hallod It with delight. For a month , shivering at night In the dripping , drenching fogs < lrlft- Ing In from the Pacific , or drilling for hours each day on the bleak slopes of the Presidio Heights , they had been praying for something - thing to break the monotony of the routine. They worn envious of the comrades who had been shipped to Manila , emulous of these who had stormed Santiago , and would have welcomed with unreasoning enthusiasm any mandate that bore promise of change of cceuo or duty. The afternoon was raw and chilly ; llio wet wind blew salt and strong from the westward sea , and the mist rolled In , thick and fleecy , hiding from view the familiar landmarks of the neighborhood and forcing a display of lamplights In the row of gaudy saloons across the street that bounded the camp ground toward the set ting sun , though that Invisible luminary was etlll an hour high and afternoon drill only Just over. Company after company In their campaign hats and flannel shirts , In worn blue troil- Eora and brown canvas leggings , the men had come swinging In from the broad drive ways of the beautiful park to the south and , as they passed the tents of the commanding general , even though they kept their heads erect and noses to the front , their wary eyes glanced quickly at the unusual array of saddled horses , of carriages and Concord wagons halted along the curbstone , and noted the number of officers grouped about the gate , Ponchos and overcoat capes were much In evidence on every sldo oa the men broke ranks , scattered to their tents to stow away their dripping arms and belts , and then came streaming out to stare , unre- bulted. at headquarters. It was still early In the war days , and among the volunteers and , Indeed , among regiments of the regu lars whoso ranks wcro sprinkled with col- Icgo men who had rubbed shoulders but a few months earlier with certain subalterns , the military line of demarcation was a dead letter when "the boys" were out of eight and hearing of their Eonlors , and so It happened that when a young officer came hurrying down the pathway that led from the tents of the general to those of the Held officers of the Tenth California ho was hollod by more than one group of regulars along whoso lines ho passed and , as a rule , the query took the terse , soldierly form of "What's up , Billy ? " The lieutenant nodded affably to several of his follows of the foot ball Held , but his hand crept out from underneath the shroud ing cape , palm down , signalling caution. "Orders some kind , " ho answered In tonea Just loud enough to bo heard by those near est him. "Seen the old man anywhere ? The general wants him , " and , never halting for reply , the youngster hurried on. Ho was a bright , cherry , brave-eyed lad of 20 , who six months earlier was stumbling through the sciences at the great univer sity on the heights beyond the glorious bay , never dreaming of deadlier battle than that In which his pet eleven grappled with the Etrlped team of a rival college. All on a eudden , to the amaze of the elders of the great republic , the tenets and traditions of the past wore thrown to the winds and the "Hermit Nation" leaped the seas and flow nt the stronghords of the Spanish colonies. Volunteers sprang up by the hundred thousand and a reluctant congress accorded a meagre addition to the regular army. Many a college athlete Joined the ranks , while a limited few , gifted with relatives who had both push and "pull , " wore per mitted to pass a not very exacting examina tion and join the permanent establishment aa second lieutenants forthwith. Counting those commissioned in the regular artillery and Infantry , thcro must have been a dozen In the thronging camps back of the great city , and of these dozen Billy Gray "Belligerent Billy , " as a tutor dubb d him when the war and Billy broke out together the latter to the extent of a four-days' absence from all colFeglnte duty was easily the gem of the lot. Ono of the "brightest minds" In his class , he was one of the laziest ; one of the quickest and most agile when aroused , ho was one of the torpids as a rule. Ono of the Iclnd who should have "gone In for honors , " as the faculty said , Jin came nearer going out for devilment , The only son of a retired colonel of the nrmy who had mndo California his homo , Bliry had spent years in camp und field ana naddlo and know the west as ho could never hope to know Ilaawcll. The only natural soldier of MB class when , sorely against the will of moat , they entered the Btudent battalion , ho promptly won the highest chevrons that could bo given In the sophomore year , and , almost as promptly , lost Uiom for "kites" and absences. When the 'varsity was challenged by a neighborIng - Ing Institute to a compotltlva drill the "ucouts" of the former reported that the crack company of the San Pedros had the unupplpHt captain they over saw , and that , with fur better material to choose from , and more of it , the 'varsity wouldn't stand a ghost of a show in the eyes of the pro fessional Judges unless Billy would "brace up" and "tnko hold. " Billy was willing as rtarlria , but the faculty mud It would put n premium on laxity to make Billy a 'varsity captain , oven though the present IncmnboaitH were ready , any of them , to re- elgn in bU favor. "Prex" said no In no uncertain termu ; the challenge was do- Digests what you eat , Itartlflclally digests the food and aids Nature in strengthening and recon structing the exhausted digestive or gans. 1 bis the lat o t discovered dlgest- unt anu tonic. No other preparation can approach It In efficiency. It In- Btantly relieves and permanently cure ? i Dyspepsia , Indigestion , Heartburn , ' Flatulence , Sour Stomach , Nausea , BIckneaduche.GiiBtrnlBta rarnps.and all other results of ImporfectdlgestloQ. CMoarud by E. C. Do Witt A Co. , Cblcaao. I cllned , whereat the Institute crowed lustily and the thing got Into the rival papers. A a result a select company of student volun teers wns formed ; Its members , agreed to drill an hour dally In addition to the pre scribed work , provided Billy would "take hold" In earnest , and this was the company that , under his command , swept the boards six weeks later and left San Pedros' contingent an amazed and disgusted crowd. Then Billy went to meta phorical pieces again until the war- clouds overspread the land ; then , like his father's son , ho girded up his loins , went Infer for a commission and won. And hero ho was a "sub" In Uncle Sam's stalwart In fantry , with three classmates serving under him In the ranks and half a dozen more , cither aa Junior officers or enlisted men , In the camps of the volunteers. Ho was a handnomo boy , a healthy , hearty boy , and , as boys go , rather a good boy a boy In whom his mother would have found , had eho not long since been lifted above the cares of this world , muoh of comfort and more to condone , but a boy , nevertheless , who had given bis old dragoon of a dad many an anxious hour. Now , Just as ho nearcd the legal dividing line between youth and years of discretion , Billy Qray had Joined the third battaMon of his regiment , full of pluck , hope and hearth , full of ambition to make a name for himself In a profession ho loved as , except his father , ho certainly loved nothing else , and utterly scoffing the Idea that there might come Into his life a being for the wake of whose smllo he could almost lay down his sword , for ho had yet to meet Amy Lawrence. "Who are the women folks up at head quarters , Billy ? " asked a youth of his own years and rank , peering eagerly through the drifting mist at the dim. ghostly outlines of the general's camp. "Didn't get to see 'em. Where's the old man the colonel ? " was the reply. "Chief wanla him toot do sweet ! " "What's wanted ? " called a voice from the biggest of the neighboring tents , and a close-cropped head was thrust out between the front tent flaps. "That you , Billy ? Who wants the colonel ? Ho and the 'brig' rode over to the Presidio nn hour ago ain't got back. Come In ; I've started a fire In our oil stove. " A puff of warm air blew from the Interior and confirmed the statement. It was well along In summer and , not a dozen mlles away to the cast , men were strolling about with palm-leaf fans and wilted collars. Hero , close to the gray shores of the mighty sea , blankets and over coats wore in demand. Hospitably the older officer tugged at the lacings of the military front door , swore between his set teeth when the knots , swollen by the wet , with stood his efforts and then shouted : "Sergeant-major ; send somebody hero to open this. " A light footstep sounded on the springy board floor , nimble fingers worked a mo ment at the cords , then the flap was thrown open and the adjutant's office stood partially revealed. It was a big wall teat backed up against another of the same size and pat tern. Half a dozen plain chairs , two rough board tables littered with books , papers and smoking tobacco , an oil stove and a cheap clothes rack on which wore hanging rain coats , ponchos and a cape or two , comprised all the furniture. In a stout frame of un- planed wood , cased in their oilskins and tightly rolled , stood the colors of the fa mous regiment ; and back of them , well within the second tent , where one clerk was Just lighting a camp lantern , were perched on rough tables a brace of field desks with the regimental books. The sergeant-major , a veteran of years of service in the regu lars , eat at one of them. A young soldier , ho who had unfastened the tent flap to admit Lieutenant Qray , was Just returning to his seat at the other. Two orderlies lounged on a bench well beyond and back of the sergeant major's seat , and a bugler , with his hands. In his pockets , was smoking a 0hort briar pipe at the apposite , or back doorway. Woe to the enlisted man who sought the presence of the colonel or adjutant through any other chan nel. The sergeant major would drop on him with the force of a base ball bat. "Who all are over yahmluh at the chief's ? " asked the adjutant , as ? eon ns he had hie visitor well inside , and the soft ac cent , as 'well as the quaint phraseology , ti Id that In the colonel's confidential staff officer a southerner spoke. "All the brigade and most regimental commanders 'ccpt ours , I should say , and they seem to bo waiting for them. Can't we send ? " was the answer , as the Junior whipped off his campaign hat and sprinkled the floor with the vigorous shakes he gave the battered felt. "Have sent , " mild his entertainer briefly , as he filled a pipe from the open tobacco box and struck a safety match. "Orderly galloped after him ten minutes ago. Blow the brigade and battalion commanders ! What I asked you was who are the women up there ? " "No , you dldn'tl You said , 'whal all are up yonder ? ' I'm a nub , and s'posed you meant men soldiers officers. What have I to do with anybody in petticoats ? " "And I'm a grizzled vet of a dozen years' duty , crows' feet and gray hairs a-comln' , " grinned the adjutant , pulling at a long curly moustache and drawing himself up to his full height of six feet , "and when you're as old as I am and half as wise , Billy , you'll know Uiat a pretty girl Is worth ten times the thought our old frumps of generals demand. My name ain't Gordon It I haven't a mind to waltz over there through the mist and the wind Just to tell them I've sent for Squcors. Then I'll get a look at the elrU. " "I've got to go back , " said Billy , "and you've no business to with Mrs. Gordon and nu Interesting family to consider. What tent'd the ladles go to ? I didn't see 'em. " "Mrs. Gordon , sub , " said the adjutant , with placid superiority , "considers it a re flection on her sex when I fall to pay it dne homage. Of course you didn't see the ladles. The party was shown Into the gen eral's own domicile. Couldn't you see how many young follows were posing in pictur esque attitudes In front of it ? Awe Hank ! " he suddenly shouted to an officer striding past the tent in dripping mackintosh. "Gain1 up to division headquarters ? Just toll the staff or the chief I've sent an orderly galloping after Squeers. He's half way to the Preeldlo now , but it'll be an hour before they can get bock. " The silent officer nodded and went on , whereat Gordon made a spring for the entrance and balled again. "Say , Hank ! Who are the damsels ? " The answer came back through the fog ; "People from the east looking for a run away. Old gent , pretty daughter and pretty daughter's prettier cousin. Heard the or ders ? " "D n the orders ! They don't touch ua. Where do they come from ? " "D'rect from Washington , they say. Three regiments to sail at once ; and " "Oh , I know all that ! " shouted Gordon Impatiently "It wns all over camp an h ur ago ! Where do they the girls come fioni ? What's their names' "Wasn't presented , " was the sulky reply. "Let a lot of stuffy old women show up In search of long-lout sons and those fellows at headquarters unload them on us In less than no time , but a brace of pretty girls I Why , they double the gate guards so that no outsider can so much as see them. Billy , here , knows 'em. Ask him. " By this time the youngster had ranged up alongside the adjutant and was laughingly enjoying the latest arrival's tirade nt the expense of the headquarters' staff , but at his closing words Lieutenant Billy's grin of amusement suddenly left his face , giving way to a look of blank amaze. "I know 'cm ! I haven't been east of the Big Muddy since 1 was a kid. " "They asked for you all the same , Just after you started. 'Least one of 'em did for What's-hls-name ? the chief's military legal adviser , came out bareheaded and called after you , but you wcro out of hear ing , lie said the cousin , the prettiest one , recognized you as you skipped away from the general's tent and pointed you out to her friend. Somebody explained you were running an errand for one of those aides too lazy to go himself and that you'd be back presently. " "Then go at once , young man , " said the adjutant , laying a mighty hand on the Junior's square shoulder. "Stand not upon the order of your going , but gitl Never you mind about the colonel. He won't be here until after he's been there , and he's In for a rasping over this morning's Inspection. Just look at the report. Sergeant-major , send me Colonel Colt's reoortl" ho called aloud , tossing his head back as he spoke. "Come In , Parson ; come out of the wot. " And , eager enough to read a famous Inspector's criticisms of the appearance of the regi ment , the officer addressed as Parson shoved briskly Into the tent. The young soldier who had opened the tent flap a few minutes before came forward with a folded paper , which , in silence , he handed the adjutant and turned back to his desk. Mr. Gordon took the paper , but. his eyes followed the soldier. Then ho called , somewhat sharply : "Morton ! " The young fellow stopped at the dividing crack between the two tent floors and slowly faced the three officers. He was slender , well built , erect. His uniform fitted him trimly and was worn with easy grace , his hands and feet were small and Blender , his eyes and hair dark and fine , his features delicate and clear cut. his complexion , a trifle blis tered and beaten by the harsh winds that whistled In every day from the sea , and , as he turned , all three officers were struck by its extreme pallor. "You're sick again , Morton , " said the ad jutant somewhat sternly. "I thought I told you to sec Dr. Heffernan. Have you done so ? " "I waon't sick enough , " faltered the young soldier. "I was all right a minute or two or rather this morning , sir. It'll be over presently. Perhaps it was the smell of the oil Hat did It the stove is close to my desk. " But Gordon continued to look at him doubt fully. "Move your desk acrons the tent for the present , anyhow , " said he , "and I'll speak to the doctor myself. With all this news paper hullabaloo about our neglect of the sick , " continued he , turning to his friends , ! "if a man changes color at sight of a emash-up bo must be turned over to the lied Cross at oaco. What lo It , orderly ? " j he finished suddenly , as the tent flaps parted and a soldier in complete uniform , girt with , his belt of glistening cartridges , stood at' salute , some visiting cards in his gloved hand. I "Lieutenant Gray here , sir ? " was the com- | prehenslve answer. Then , catching sight of , nil but two , Juniors of the staff , mon who stood on the shady side of forty , four of the number wearing on their shoulders the silver stars of generals of division or brigade , and among their thinning cropa of hnlr the sil ver strands that told of years of service. Ono man alone , the commanding Kenoral , was speaking ; all the others listened In respectful silence. In the gloom of that late , fog-shrouded afternoon a lantern or two would have been welcome , but the con ference had begun while It was still light enough for the chief to read the memoranda on his desk , and now ho was talking without notes. In the array of grave , thoughtful faces , some actually somber and severe In expression , n smllo would have seemed out of place , yet , all on a sudden , grim features relaxed , deep-set eyrs twinkled and glanced quickly about in search of kindred sympa thetic spirits , and more than half the bearded faces broadened Into a grin of mer riment and ns many heads wcro suddenly uplifted , for Just as the gray-haired chief ended an Impressive period with the words : "It will be no laughing matter If I can lay hold of them , " there burst upon the sur prised cars of the group a peal of the merriest laughter Imaginable the rippling , Joyous , musical laughter of hnppy girlhood mingling with the hearty , wholesome , If somewhat boyish , outburst of Jollity of healthful youth. "Merciful powers ! " exclaimed the c'llef. "I had forgotten all about these people. They must have been hero twenty minutes. ' ' "Sixty-live , sir , by the watch , " said a saturnine-looking soldier , tall and stalwart , and wearing the shield of the adjutant sen- oral's department on the collar of his ack coat. "Thoy ought to go , then , " was the placid suggestion of a third officer , a man with keen eyes , thin , almost ascetic , face , but there twitched a quaint humor about the less heartily. With sudden movement the general rose. "Well , I've kept you long enough. " ho said. "Let the three rcgtmente bo got In readiness at once , but relax no effort In that other matter. Find the guilty parties If a possible thing. " And then the group dissolved. Ono or two of the number looked back , half-hesi tating , at the entrance of the tent , but the chief had turned again to the littered table before him , and , seating himself , rested his gray head In the hand nearest his visitors. It was as though ho wished to conceal his face. Ono of the last to go the thin-faced soldier with the twinkling blue cyee hung Irresolutely behind the chief a moment as though ho had It In his mind to spcnk , then turned and fnlrly tip-toed out , leaving ilw camp commander to the society of a slnplo elnff officer and to the gathering darUncra. "Kindly say to Mr. Prime , or his friends , that I will Join them In a moment , " said the former , presently , without so much as uplifting head or eye , and the nldo-de- oamp left ns noiselessly as his predecessor , the humorist. But whuu ho was KILO and "Tho Chief" sat alone , the sound of merry chat and chatter still drifted In with the mist nt the half-opened entrance. Shadowy forms flitted to and fro between the official tent and the lights be gan to twinkle at brigade headquarters ! across the wldo roadway. An orderly scratched jit the tent flap , but got no an swer. The lone occupant sat well back in tha gloomy Interior and could barely bo distinguished. The waiting soldier hesitated a moment , then entered and stamped once upon the wooden floor , then turned and noiselessly stopped out , for , anticipating his question , the general spoke : "No light Just yet , orderly. I'll call you In a moment. Just close the tout , " At his hand , ho needed no light to flnd it , lay a little packet that had been passed In to "GRAY READ THE CARDS MR. LISPENARD PRIME MISS PRIME AND MISS AMY LAWRENCE. " the young otncer , wno stepped quickly for ward , ho held forth the cards. "The adjutant general's compliments , sir , and he'd be glad If the lloutcuant would i come over at once. " ! Gray took the cards , curiously tudled them , and then road aloud , one after tha other , and placing the topmost underneath the other two aa soon as read ; "Mr. LIs- penard Prime ; " "Miss Prime ; " "Miss Amy Lawrence. " It was the last name that lay uppermost at the end and the pardon noted it. "That's the pretty cousin , Billy , " quoth he. "Case of the last nhall be first , don't you see ? Scoot now , you lucky boy , and tell us all about It later. " But Gray was etlll gazing dreamily at the cards , "I'm sure I never tnet any of them be fore In my life , " said ho. "There must be some mistake. Yet that name sounds familiar somehow , " and "that" was the only name now in eight. "I'm off , " ho suddenly announced , and vanished. There was a Bound of light , quick footsteps - stops on the flooring of the rearward tent at the same time. The sergeant-major glanced up from his writing ; looked at a vacant desk , then at the clock , then , In quiringly , at his regimental deity the adjutant. It was Just the hour of the day at which all manner of papers were coming down from division and brigade head quarters to be duly stamped , noted and stacked up for the colonel's action. This was the young clerk Morton's especial func tion , but Morton had left the office and waa gone. CIIAI'TKK II , The little party of visitors in the gen eral's personal tent made a striking con trast to that assembled under the official canvas. In the latter , seated on camp stools and candle boxen or braced against the tent pores were nearly a dozen officers , all In the sombre dark blue regulation uni form , icveraf In riding boots and spurs , some even wearing the heavy , froggod overcoat ; lines of his lips. "That visit's past the retiring age. " And then another peal of merriment from the adjoining tent put a stop to conversa tion. "They don't lack for entertainers , " hazarded a staff officer as soon as he could make himself heard. "The solemn looking Gothamlte who came with them must have slipped out. " "It seems he knows Colonel Armstrong said the chief thoughtfully. "I sent for him an hour ago , anJ he may be piloting Mr. Prime around camp , looking up the j runaway. " "Another case ? " asked a brigade com mander with a shrug of his shoulders. "Another case , " answered the general , with a sigh. "It Isn't always home troubles that drive them to It. This boy had every thing a doting father could give him. What on earth could make him bolt and enlist for the war ? " No one answered for a moment. Then the officer with the humorous twinkle about the eyes and the twitch at the lip corners , bent forward , placed his elbows on his knees , his fingers tip to tip , gazed dreamily at the floor , and senteutlously said : "Girl. " Whereupon his next neighbor , a stocky , thickset man in the uniform of a briga dier , never moving eye , head or hand , man aged to bring a sizable foot in heavy riding boot almost savagely upon the slim gaiter of the humorist , who suddenly started and Hushed to the temples , glanced quickly at the chief , and then as quickly back to the floor , his blue eyes clouded In genuine dis tress. The general's gray fp"e had seemed to grow grayer in the gloom. Again there i came , llko a rippling echo , the chorus oft merry laughter from the adjoining tent , only t it. seemed & trifle subdued , possibly as though one or two of the merrymakers had Joined him with the mall while the council was still in session. It was stoutly wrapped , tightly corded and profusely sealed , but with the sharp point of an eraser the general - oral slit the fastenings , tore off the wrap per , and felt rather than saw that a bundle of letters , rolled in tissue paper and tied with ribbon , ribbon long since faded and wrinkled , lay within. This he carefully placed in a large-sized military letter en velope , moistened and pressed tight the gummed flap , stowed It In the Inner pocket of the overcoat that hung at the rear tent pole , reduced the wrapper and Its super scription to minute fragments , and dropped them Into the waste basket , all as carefully And methodically as though life knew neither hurry nor worry ; then bowed his [ lined face in both hands a moment in utter silence and in unmistakable sadness. Pres ently his lips moved : "Can you look down I and see that I have kept my word , Agnes ? " | he murmured. "God help me to find him and save him yet. " Once again the laughter , the gay young voices , rang from the ether tent. All over camp , far and near , from the limits of the park to the very slope of the height at the north , the evening bugles were calling by thousands the thronging soldiery to mess or roll call. Slowly the general rose , drew on his overcoat , and In another moment , under | the sloping visor of his forage cap , with eyes i that twinkled behind their classes , with a genial smile softening every feature , his fine soldierly face peered In on the scene of light , , of merriment and laughter under the canvas j roof of the only home he knew in the world I the soldier home of one whose life had j been spent following the flag through biv ouac , camp o. ' garrison , through many a march , battle and campaign all over the broad lands of the United States , until now , ' at the hour when most men turned for the placid Joys of the fireside , the love of de voted and faithful wife , the homage and Affection of children , the prattle and playful sports of children's children homeless , wifeless , childless he stood ft.t the border of the boundless spa , noldler duty tx > lntlng the wny to far distant , unknown and undoslrcd regions , content to follow that flag to the end of the world if need IMS , and ownlnc no higher hope or ambition than to uphold It to the end of his life. There was nothing In such a face as his to put a check to fun and merriment , yet , allen on a. sudden , the laughter died away. Throe young gallants In soldier garb sprang to their feet and faced him with appeal and explanation In their speaking eyes , although only one of theilr number found his tonmiu j In time to put the matter Into words. There ' were only two girls when the general loft that tent to meet his officers at 4 o'clock , and now there were four , nad the four wcro having G o'clock tea. At least any one would nave said they were four blithe girls , Innocent of graver re sponsibilities than social calls and dinner or dance engagements , for never looked four young women so free from the cares of this world as did those who were picturesquely grouped about the general's camp table and under the brilliant reflector of the general's lamp , but the plain gold circlet on the slender finger of the merriest and noisiest and smallest of the four , and the fact that she had nothing to say to the elder of the three attendant officers except In the brief , Indifferent tones of assured proprietorship , and very much to iay to the others , told a different story. The general's manner Icbt none of Its klndneta , even though a close observer would have seen that his face lost a little of Its light as he recognized In Uio evident leader of the revels and mistress of the situation the wife of his senior aide-de camp. An hour before he thought her a thousand miles away and so did her hus band. "Bless your dear old heart ! " exclaimed ' the little lady , springing to her feet , facIng - Ing him with Indomitable smiles and thrusting forward two slender , white , bejeweled hands. "No don't say you disapprove ! Don't scold ! Don't do any thing but sit right down hero and have a cup of your own delicious tea ( Frank , some boiling water ) that no one makes for you as I do you've owned It many a time. And then we're all going to the Palace for din ner and then to the theater , and I'll tell you all about It between the courses or be tween the acts. Oh , you poor dearl I ought to have conno before you'vo been j working yourself to death ! " And by this time , resolutely pulling , she had towed the general to a chair , and into this , his favorite leather-armed , canvas- backed , hickory-framed companion of many a year , she dcftry dropped him , and then , giving him no chance for a word , gayly pirouetting , she Bplr.ed one after another upon each member of the party present an accomplished llttlo mistress of ceremo nies encased In a tailor-made traveling suit that rendered her proof against a dozen minor Ills , so beautifully was it cut and fitted to her pretty figure and , with inex haustible flow of merry words , presented her or him to the veteran In the chair : j "This , my honored general , first and foremost , Is Miss Mildred Prime , daughter of a thousand earls Is she , yet one vastly to be desired , though I say it who should not , for she hairs from New York , which ' Is enough to make me hate her , whereas , we've just sworn an eternal friendship. I You'vo only casually met her and her folks before , but I can telf you all about them. You should have put Frank at the head of your Intelligence bureau , general. He'd never flnd out anything , but I would. Wo came on the same train together all the way from Ogden. " A tall , dark-eyed , dark-haired , oval- faced girl , coloring slightly la evident orn- I barrassment over these odd army wdyV j courtesled smilingly to the general and seemed to be pleading dumbly for clem ency If there had been transgression. "This , " hurried on the voluble llttlo woman , seizing another feminine wrist , "Is Miss Cherry Langton Cherry Ripe wo call her at home this summer , the dearest girl Uiat ever lived except myself , and one you'll simply delight In as you do in mo when you get to know her. She is , ns you have often been told and have probably for gotten , the only good-looking member of Frank's family his first cousin. She was moping her heart out after all the nice young men In Denver went to the wars , and withering on the stem until I told her she should go , too , when she blossomed and blutficd with joy as you see her now , sir. Cherry , make your manners. " Cherry , whoso name well described her , was only waiting for a ohanco , laughing the while at the merry flow of her chaperon's words , and , at the first break , stepped quickly for ward and placed her hand frankly In the outstretched palm of her host , Itien glanced eagerly over her shoulder as though she would say : "But you must see her , " and her bright eyes sought and found the fourth feminine member of the group. "And this , " said Mrs. Frank Garrison , bravely , yet with a trifle Irss confidence of manner , with Indeed a faint symptom of hesitancy , "Is Miss Amy Lawrence , " and In extending her little band to take that of the most retiring of the three girls only the finger tips and thumb seemed to touch. Miss Lawrence came quickly forward , and wnltlng for no description , bowed with quiet grare and dignity to the chief and , smlllnr a Ml grnvoh pii-1 "fncle left word tint ho would soon re turn , general , but he hns been gone with Colonel Armstrong nearly nn hour. I hope wo have not taken too great a liberty , " anil her glance turned to the substantial ten , service on the rude cnmp table. "Oh , I'm responsible for that and for any and every Iniquity hero committed , solely because 1 know our general too well to believe he would allow famishing dam sels to faint for lack of sustenance. " It was Mrs. Garrison , of course , who spoke. "I simply sot Frank ami his fellows to work , with the result that ton and biscuit , light and warmth , mirth and merriment , faith , hope and charity sprang up HUe maglo In this gloomy old tent , and here wo are still. Now. say you're glad I came , general , for these stupid boys Oh I 1 qulto forgotl Let mo present the slaves of the lamp the spirit lamp , general. Frank you know too well. I dare say. Stnnd forth , vassal No. 2. This , general. In Captain Schuylcr , a mite of a man physically a Qolhnmltc , In fact but a tower of wit and wisdom when permitted to speak. " ( A diminutive yogstor , with a head twice too big for his body , and a world of fun In his sparkling eyes , bowed elaborately to his commanding gen eral , hut prudently held his peace. ) "Cap tain Schuylcr , my dear general , meekly boars the crescent of the subsistence department on his beautifully high and unquco- collaui. Ho mum tan tli nnbly Now } > rk-imulo an Idea on the subject of supplies , except that commlfsary clRara are bad , but his senator said ho had to have "something , and that's what ho got. He'd rather bo second lieutenant of regular Infantry any day , but that was too high for him. Hero's a youth. It fits to a 't' Mr. William Gray of the teenth Foot , whom I know years ago when we wore kids In the same camp , and 1 whoso best claim to your notice la that you know' his father. He says so , and hopes you'll forgive all his budding Iniquities on the strength of It. " The general nodded with a grin at the youngster who stood at Miss Lawrence's left , and then hold up hlo hand for silence , shutting off further pre sentations. "I'll forgive anything but more chatter , " said he , with a placid smllo , "provided you glvo mu eomo tea nt onco. Then I should be glnd to know how you all happened to meet here. " "My doing entirely , general. ( Frank , another cup quick ! ) Cherry came with mete to surprise my husband an easy thing to do I'm always doing It. Wo found him hero , by your orders , striving to entertain these two charming damsels the last thing oa earth ho Is capable of doing , however valu able ho may bo with orders and corre spondence. I heard Mr. Prime's story and at once suggested Colonel Armstrong. I heard Miss Lawrence exclaim at sight of Billy here , and saw a case of old acquaint ance and sent for him forthwith. So easy to say : 'Tho adjutant general'o compli ments' I found that after all they had never mot , but Miss Lawrence had seen him at the head of come famous student company. I it was who presented him to her and sum moned Captain Schuyler to meet once rnora his fellow citizens , the Primes. I It was who ordered lamps , fire and the tea things. I am the good fairy who wrought the transformation. Behold mo with my wand ! " She seized Miss Langton's slender umbrella , and , waving It over her curly little head , pirouetted again In triumphant gayety. The general was thoughtfully sipping his tea and studying her ao she chattered and danced. When she paused n moment for breath he again held up his hand. "Colonel Armstrong wont with Mr. Prime , did ho ? " "With every assurance that the prodigal should bo produced forthwith and restored to the paternal bosom , " declaimed Mrs. Garrison risen , melodramatically , and would have ranted on , never noting the flush of pain and embarrassment that almost Instantly appeared in the faces of Miss Lawrence and her dark-eyed eastern cousin , nor seeing the warning in her husband's eyes , but at the moment the tent flap was thrown back and held open to nd.mlt a tall , gray-haired civilian whose silk hat was uplifted as ha entered , In courteous recognition of the. group , despite the distress that was betrayed In the pallor of his face and the Instant glance of his dark eyes toward the sPender girl , who stepped eagerly forward. Mrs. Garrison , turning quickly , saw , and with swift , agile movement , sprang to one side. The general slowly struggled up from hla easy chair. Reaching her father's side , Miss Prlmo laid her hand upon his arm , looking fondly and anxiously Into his face. A soldierly , middle-aged officer , in dripping forage cap and rain coat , stopped quickly In and Towered the flap. "Did you flnd him , father ? " was Mls Prime's low-toned , faltering question. "Wo found the soldier referred to ; Colonel Armstrong has boon most kind ; but it wasn't your brother nt all , my child. " ( To bo Continued. ) An improvement In combination locks has been patented by a Mlssourlan , consisting of an elastic cap , which can be slipped over the end of the knob , with a handle on ono side of the cap by which the knob is re volved. You are costive , and nature is under a constant strain to relieve the condition. This causes a rush of blood to the rectum , and before long congested lumps appear , itching , painful , bleeding. Then you have piles. There are many kinds and many cures , but piles are not curable unless you assist nature in removing the cause. CASCARETS make effort easy , regulate and soften the stools , relieving the tension , and giving nature a chance to use her healing power. Piles , hemorrhoids , fistula , and other rectal troubles yield to the treatment , and Cascarets quickly and surely remove them forever. Don't be persuaded to experiment with anything else ! a as Atchleonlobe. . J-of- "I nfffcred the torture * of tbu dnu.ncd with protruding pilto brought on not i by constipation with whlen I was affllctfldfor a pp twenty ie r . 1 ran cro your CASOA- HET3 In the town of Newell. la. , and dev neterfounfl anything to equ l them. To-day be' I m entirely free from pi lea and f Ml llko a new man. " O. H. KCITZ. w' Mil Jones St. , Sioux City , la evei. fen- " tv ANNUAL SALES. 5.OOO.OOO BOXES We. 25c. 50c. THE TABLET DRUGGISTS CASCARETS are absolutely hirmlen , purely re jetible compound. Ho mercurial or other mineral pillolioi in dtcweti. C c r ti promptly , effeetlrely nd permanently CMC ererr dltoidei of the Stomach , liver and Intestines. They not only cure eoMtlpatlon , but correct any and every form of Irreeularity ol the bo well , including diarrhea anddyientery. Pl a ant , palatable , potent. Taite eood , do jood. Merer lcken , weaken or tripe. Be sure you jet the jenutne 1 Beware of imitation * and substitute ! I Buy a boi of CADCARET8 to-day , and if not pleated in every retpect , tet your money back I Write ui for booklet aid itee ample I Addreis BTBRUMO nBMBDT COMPAHT , CHICAGO or MEW TORK. 331 f