drill; and when his horses and guns and caissons thundered down the hill
and swept by us at a terrific gallop, our hearts stood still. Even the
dignified Staff permitted themselves a thrill, and as for us women, our
excitement knew no bounds.

The brilliant red of the artillery brought color to the rather grey
aspect of the quiet Headquarters post, and the magnificent drill
supplied the martial element so dear to a woman's heart.

In San Antonio, the New has almost obliterated the Old, and little
remains except its pretty green river, its picturesque bridges, and the
historic Alamo, to mark it from other cities in the Southwest.

In the late afternoon, everybody drove to the Plaza, where all the
country people were selling their garden-stuff and poultry in the open
square. This was charming, and we all bought live fowl and drove
home again. One heard cackling and gobbling from the smart traps and
victorias, and it seemed to be a survival of an old custom. The whole
town took a drive after that, and supped at eight o'clock.

The San Antonio people believe there is no climate to equal theirs, and
talk much about the cool breezes from the Gulf of Mexico, which is some
miles away. But I found seven months of the twelve too hot for comfort,
and I could never detect much coolness in the summer breezes.

After I settled down to the sedateness which is supposed to belong to
the Staff, I began to enjoy life very much. There is compensation for
every loss, and I found, with the new friends, many of whom had lived
their lives, and had known sorrow and joy, a true companionship which
enriched my life, and filled the days with gladness.

My son had completed the High School course in San Antonio, under an
able German master, and had been sent East to prepare for the Stevens
Institute of Technology, and in the following spring I took my daughter
Katharine and fled from the dreaded heat of a Texas summer. Never can I
forget the child's grief on parting from her Texas pony. She extorted a
solemn promise from her father, who was obliged to stay in Texas, that
he would never part with him.

My brother, then unmarried, and my sister Harriet were living together
in New Rochelle and to them we went. Harry's vacation enabled him to be
with us, and we had a delightful summer. It was good to be on the shores
of Long Island Sound.

In the autumn, not knowing what next was in store for us, I placed my
dear little Katharine at the Convent