ise up as one man and demand its extinction." But, as I said
before, so long as their most popular officers are permitted
unrebuked to meet them, and carouse with them, and thereby teach
and inspire the young and thoughtless soldier to drink, what can we
accomplish? The sights and sounds, the fearful scenes and frightful
curses to which I have been witness here, all due to the demon that
lurks within that protected rum hole opposite my window, would
appall a Christian community--which this is not.

Sandy turned to the wrapper, his lips almost as gray as his young face.
It was the copy of a letter from the pastor of a church in a far Eastern
city, inclosing five newspaper clippings, and calling upon the Secretary
of War to order the instant court-martial and dismissal of the military
officers responsible for the abominable state of affairs existing at
Fort Minneconjou; which letter the Secretary had respectfully referred
to the Commanding General, Department of the Middle West, for
"investigation and report," which paper and inclosures that official had
respectfully referred to the commanding officer, Fort Minneconjou, with
similar demand. Stone had received, read, remarked and--sent for Sandy.

An hour later, as Miss Sanford was sallying forth on "an errand of
mercy," as she had usually heard such missions described,--she was going
to the post hospital with a fresh supply of temperance tracts and a
small box of cherries,--she encountered her cousin at the door, and
something in his face made her own lose color. The Dwights' phaeton came
bowling down the road at the moment, Mrs. Dwight bowing and smiling
bewitchingly, Captain Foster gallantly lifting his derby, for, when
others could not wear it, Foster favored civilian dress. Miss Sanford
responded vaguely, Sandy not at all. Possibly he did not wish to see.
Possibly, said Priscilla to herself, it is _that_ that has so upset him.
She hoped, indeed, it might be that, and not that which, almost
instantly, she feared. He said no word at all, merely motioned to her to
turn back. Priscilla was accustomed to dominate, not to domination, but
she saw the look of the father in the stern young face before her. Uncle
Will she knew was the mildest of men in his dealings with women, until
fully aroused. Then Uncle Will became dangerous, and looked very much as
did Sandy now. The first question as he practically backed her into the
little army parlor