He found his brother officers easily
interested, sympathetic and propitious. They united their efforts
with his own to procure the discharge of the young recruit, but in
vain; the power of Colonel Le Noir was opposed to their influence
and the application was peremptorily refused.
Herbert Greyson did not sit down quietly under this disappointment,
but wrote an application embodying all the facts of the case to the
Secretary of War, got it signed by all the officers of the regiment
and despatched it by the first mail.
Simultaneously he took another important step for the interest of
his friend. Without hinting any particular motive, he had begged
Traverse to let him have his photograph taken, and the latter, with
a laugh at the lover-like proposal, had consented. When the likeness
was finished Herbert sent it by express to Major Warfield,
accompanied by a letter describing the excellent character and
unfortunate condition of Traverse, praying the major's interest in
his behalf and concluding by saying:
"You cannot look upon the accompanying photograph of my friend and
any longer disclaim your own express image in your son."
How this affected the action of Old Hurricane will be seen
hereafter.
Traverse, knowing nothing of the efforts that had been and were
still being made for his discharge, suffered neither disappointment
for failure of the first nor anxiety for the issue of the last.
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