owner of the garments amid that crush below, and he should recognize
them, what then? I stood close beside the writing-table as I revolved
these considerations rapidly in mind, and my eye chanced to fall upon
an open paper. It was an official order, bearing date at 5 P. M. that
same day, commanding Colonel Culbertson to move his battery at once
down the Kendallville pike, and report to Brigadier-General Knowls for
assignment to his brigade. Evidently the new dress uniform had been
carefully brushed and laid out to be worn at the ball that evening; the
sudden receipt of this order had caused the owner to depart hastily in
his service dress, vigorously expressing his feelings, no doubt, while
his servant, now enjoying liberty below stairs, had neglected to pack
up his master's things.

This knowledge was the straw which decided me; I would chance it.
Hastily I drew on the rich blue and red over my old gray, adding the
dress sword I had discovered in a closet, and then, wondering curiously
what sort of figure I might cut in all these fine habiliments, sought a
glance at myself within a mirror hanging upon the bedroom wall. Faith!
but it was God's mercy that I did!

Such a face as grinned at me from that glass, peering over the high-
cut, decorated collar, would surely have created a genuine sensation in
those rooms below. Serious as my situation was, I laughed at the
thought of it until tears ran down my cheeks, leaving white streaks the
full length of them; for no chimney-sweep in the full tide of his
glorious career was ever worse sooted and begrimed. I thought of the
elegantly dressed lieutenant and the blonde young lady upon the stairs
--surely they would have supposed the very devil himself was coming
down.