A Court of Inquiry Part 29

"Oh, they're not going to play as they go by!" cried David, disappointed.

The tramp of the marching feet came nearer. Suddenly the band burst with a crash into the "Star-Spangled Banner." David's eyes shone with delight.

"They're halting in front of us, David," said the nurse. So they were; David could see them.

The music reached the end of the tune and stopped. A shout broke upon the air; it was a cheer. It took words, and swelled into David's room; but it was a gentle cheer, not a vociferous one. It was given by Lieutenant Roger Thornd.y.k.e's old company. And the words of it were wonderful:

_"'Rah, 'rah, 'rah--comrade!"_

David lay back on his pillow, his face s.h.i.+ning with happiness. He would never forget that those soldiers of his father's regiment, the ----th New York, had called him comrade. He thought of them tenderly; he murmured the closing words of the "Charge," and by them he meant the men who had stood outside his window and cheered:

"When can their glory fade?

O th' wild charge they made!

All th' world wonder'd.

Honour th' charge they made!

Honour th' Light Brigade, n.o.ble six hundred!"

An hour afterward they came in together, his four Thornd.y.k.e soldiers, in their uniforms--all but Uncle Arthur, who, because he was a clergyman, and had had to make a speech, had felt obliged to put on a frock coat.

"Here's the fellow who's been worrying over his Memorial Day address!"

cried Uncle Stephen proudly.

"It was a rousing good one," declared Stuart.

"Never heard a better," agreed Uncle Chester. "He's gone 'half a league onward,' if the rest of us have stood still."

Uncle Arthur came round, his face rather red, and sat down beside David.

"Don't you believe them, Major," he said softly. "I could have done it much better if I could have worn my corporal's uniform."

THE END

A COURT OF INQUIRY

BY GRACE S. RICHMOND.

This is a charming story of a group of girl and men friends and the effect of their pairing off upon the narrator and her "Philosopher."

Althea, Azalea, Camellia, Dahlia, Hepatica--and their several entanglements with the Promoter, the Cas.h.i.+er, the Skeptic, the Judge and the Professor, form an admirable background of diverse personalities against which grows the main love story. One sees these charming groups through the eyes of the one who tells the tale--and very shrewd and delightful eyes they are, seeing life in its true perspective with much real philosophy and true feeling. Mrs. Richmond has never written anything more fresh and human and entertaining.

ALSO BY THE SAME AUTHOR:

Red Pepper Burns.

Mrs. Red Pepper.

The Indifference of Juliet.

Round the Corner in Gay Street.

With Juliet in England.

Strawberry Acres.

The Second Violin.