Waring's Peril

"Waring's Peril" by Charles King is a tale set in the wake of the Civil War, where Lieutenant Sam Waring, a charismatic yet imprudent artillery officer, finds himself caught between military obligations and social temptations. Waring's initial decision to shirk his duties for a town event introduces readers to his easygoing nature and hints at the potential conflicts arising from his cavalier attitude toward military life. As Waring interacts with his attentive servant, Ananias, and navigates the complex dynamics of the officer corps where his peers regard him with both envy and respect, the story paints a portrait of a man whose actions soon set him on a collision course with danger, both personally and professionally, when an accident involving his horse throws his life into turmoil.