t school of the nation. And now that he was graduated, with all his
heart and hope and ambition he prayed that he might be commissioned in
a cavalry regiment, if possible in McCrea's. Give him _that_, he said,
and he would ask no favor from any man.

How his heart was beating as he watched the adjutant, whom he himself
had schooled and drilled and almost made, for Graham had been famous in
his cadet days as a most successful squad instructor, a model first
sergeant, and a great "first captain." How odd it seemed that he, a
graduate, and that all these people, officers, and children, should now
be hanging on the words that might fall from the younger soldier's
lips! A telegram from Washington had told a veteran general visiting at
the Point that his son had been assigned to the artillery, that the
order would doubtless be published that evening. But it so happened
that not until just before parade did the commandant return from a long
ride, and so had no time to read it through. He had simply handed it,
with others, to the silent young soldier, who had stood in full uniform
full five minutes awaiting his coming. "Better order 'parade rest' part
of time. It's a long read," he briefly said, and, stowing the orders
under his sash, the adjutant had saluted, faced about, and hastened
away.

And now that young official has received the reports of the first
sergeants and sent them, high-headed, martial, and precise, back to
their stations in the line. And now again he has faced the commanding
officer, saluted, and announced, "All are present, sir." And now that
deliberate functionary has at last said, "Publish the orders, sir." And
silence seems to fall, even upon the chatting groups of girls, as, with
brief "'Tentio-o-o-on to Orders," the adjutant drops the point of his
sword, letting it dangle from the gold swordknot on his wrist, and in
another moment the clear young voice is ringing over the attent and
martial audience.

"War Department, Washington, D.C., June 25, 189--," he begins, and then
briskly rattles away at the terse official paragraphs: "The following
assignment of graduates of the United States Military Academy are
hereby announced to take effect from June 14th." It begins with that
highly scientific and enviable body, the Corps of Engineers, and Mr.
George Graham, up to this moment still officially known as cadet,
touches his mother's arm at sound of the third name on the list--that
of Connell, his chum, his c