Following this was hoisted a hoop or rim of torches, which paused in
such position that the folds of the flag were well illuminated. A
moment of silence came at that, and then a clapping of hands from all
about the Parade as the banner floated out, and the voices of men, deep
throated, greeting the flag. Again the bands broke into the strains of
the national anthem; but immediately they swung into a rollicking
cavalry air. As they played, all four of the bands marched toward the
center of the Parade, and halted at the dancing pavilion, where the
lighter instruments selected for the orchestra took their places at the
head of the floor.

The throngs at the galleries began to lessen, and from every available
roof of the Post there poured out incredible numbers of gayly-dressed
ladies and men in uniform or evening garb, each one masked, and all
given over fully to the spirit of the hour.

"To-night," said Kitty to me, "one may be faithless, and be shriven by
the morning sun. Isn't it funny how these things go? Such a lot of fuss
is made in the world by ignoring the great fact that man is by nature
both gregarious and polygamous. Believe me, there is much in this
doctrine of the Mormons, out there in the West!"

"Yes, look at Benjie, for instance," I answered. "It is the spell of new
faces."

"You see a face on the street, in the church, passing you, to be gone
the next instant forever," she mused. "Once I did myself. I was mad to
follow the man. I saw him again, and was yet madder. I saw him yet
again, and made love to him madly, and then--"