hosen comrade, his much-loved classmate
through the long four years. "Dear old Con," he murmurs into her ears.
"I'll telegraph my congratulations to him, whatever comes to me."

There are eight in all assigned to the engineers, and then come the
names of those gazetted to the artillery--five famous regiments, too,
and Graham notes with joy that Beard, Conway, Foster, and Lawrence, all
of whom were lower in general standing than himself, get their
longed-for billet with the "red legs," and his name is not mentioned.
That means he has not been assigned where he preferred not to go. But
would the war secretary assign him where he longed to be? Yes, here it
comes, first on the cavalry list, and his heart beats for joy.

"F----th Regiment of Cavalry.

"No. 15, Cadet George Montrose Graham to be Second Lieutenant,
Troop 'E,' _vice_ Fenton, promoted."

And though her eyes are brimming and her lips _will_ quiver, Mrs.
Graham clasps both her boy's hands in her own in speechless sympathy.
It cannot all be joy, for this means miles and miles of separation that
must come all too soon. Geordie can scarce believe his ears. Oh, it is
too good! Not only the --th, but "E" Troop, Captain Lane's troop, the
troop of which Feeny was first sergeant, the troop in which veteran
Sergeant Nolan, two years ago at old Fort Reynolds, had said he and the
men so hoped to see the day when Mr. Geordie might come back to them to
be their lieutenant.

And now McCrea was grasping and wringing his hand, with a "Welcome to
the old regiment, Geordie," and blue-eyed "Bud" was dancing rapturously
about until the doctor sternly bade him cease. "Is that the way you
think they behave at Columbia, sir?" having never seen the behavior of
Columbiads, or other collegians, at a ball match or boat-race or any
public occasion of undergraduate rejoicing. Even among the spectators
were many who lost interest for the moment in what the adjutant was
reading, and watched, with kindling eyes, the unexpected little scene.
But when Colonel Hazzard himself, the soldierly commandant, with his
silver-gray mustache and hair, came striding through the crowd and held
forth his hand to the young soldier, who instantly and instinctively
faced him at attention, everybody within hearing noted the cordiality
in his hearty tones as he shook Geordie's hand: "Mr. Graham, I'm more
than glad you got the regiment of your choice, and you're going to one
of the best ca