approached his desk, and I thought
that I could see a rather awkward effort at a smile hang around the
upper corners of his huge, black beard, as his eye caught her features
through his spectacles, and he received her papers. But the gruff manner
in which he told her the next moment that he would not grant it, showed
I was mistaken.

"'But I was told, Mr. Secretary,' said the woman, in tremulous tones,
'that my papers were all right, and that your assent was a mere
formality. I have three other sons in the service, and this boy is
not'----

"'I don't care what you have been told,' retorted the Secretary, in a
manner that made me so far forget my reverence that my toes suddenly
felt as if disposed to propel something that, strange to say, had the
semblance of humanity, and was not distant at the time. 'You had better
leave the room, madam!' continued the same voice, somewhat gruffer and
sterner, as the poor woman burst into tears at the sudden
disappointment. 'You only interrupt and annoy. We are accustomed to this
sort of thing here.'

"I looked at him as he took the papers of another for examination, and
wondered whether we were really American citizens--sovereigns as our
politicians tell us when on the stump, and whether he was really a
public servant. But I couldn't see it.

"Now, civility is a cheap commodity, and, in my humble opinion, the
least that can be expected of men filling public positions is that they
should possess it in an ordinary degree.

"Three o'clock came, but it was not my turn yet. In fact, the treatment
of the lady had so disgusted me, that I was quite ready to leave when a
servant announced that business hours were over. That evening, I found
out to my great satisfaction that men considerably more influential than
myself had held the Secretary to the promises he had made them, and that
notwithstanding all his backing and filling the order for their return
would be issued."

The disappointment of the morrow was a standing topic in camp and on the
picket line for the ensuing three weeks. The only doubt that existed
with the Court convened for the trial of the Brigadier appeared to be
whether the numerous charges excelled most in frivolity or malice, as a
slight reprimand for writing an unofficial account of an engagement,--an
offence of which several members of the Court had, by their own
confession, repeatedly been guilty,--was the sole result of its labor.
His restoration to command, the