Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-07-20

like a monk, or staring at every body
like stupid stuck pig
The poor lad ran trembling fingers
over his clothing, but the more he
hurried the less he succeeded; indeed
he knew not what he was doing. AT
that moment the pretty young cantiniere
Of the regiment paused before them.
To appear ridiculous and stupid before
q pretty woman-what could be worse,
and the conscript utterly lost his pres
ence of mind, fumbled with his fingers
at his buttons, then let his arms fall
dejectly by his side, dropped his head
and stood silent.
The cantiniere laughed and trippod
away .
'Babyp said the corporal, shaking
his head with an air of scornful COM
parison; then, lifting his voice, he went
on: You'll have to wake up, my boy,
and promptly, too. or else we'll wake
you up. Fatigue drill, bread and water;
bread ana water and fatigue drill-we
wont let you feel homesick, take'my
word for it. Now, off to your room
and clean up your traps. march,
But r
Hold your tongue when your superb
or addresses you, or else-the guard
room is over yonder Do you see it?'
and the corporal turned away, growing,
Fine stuff this for an army-poor
Italyp
Il say, corporal-sirl the conscript
called after him timidly.
The corporal wheeled round and
glared at him, pointing towards the
guard-roOm.
4 wanted to ask you one thing said
the lad in q tone so gentle and humble
that it was impossible not to listen to
il.
We'll, ask it-that one thing
Il wanted TO ask you if there was in
the regiment an officer who comes from
where come from; there ought to be,
but don't know for certain
If the people where you come from
are all like yo1 you may depend on 1t
you're the only man from the place we
have And, struggling his shoulders,
he staggered off.
LUZ why dLO WO OlCdbCu
sighed the lad, as he sank down again
on the stone step. What have we done ?
What are we--dogsp And five years
of it to GOMEZ He buried his face in
his hands.
At that moment three of the soldiers
on guard came strolling past.
Poor boyI they cried, with a shout
of laughter, 'he must be in love! He's
thinking about his little sister-think-
ing about his girl! She's got another
fellow by this time. Look at the eyes
he makes! Poor boy!'
who can they be making fun of
now?' said the officer of the guard to
himself, rs he strolled to the window
with his newspaper in his hand. The
soldiers saw him coming and made Of
discreetly; the conscript looked up and
caught his eye. who can that idiot
bee What can he want? said the
officer, half angrily, as he saw the lad
beckon to him and laugh, first in sur
prise then with satisfaction. What is
the matter with you, eh?' he asked.
striding out into the yard; what makes
you chuckle so and rub your hands !?
Answer me, will you?'
You see, you see,' said the conscript,
nervously lingering the hem of his
tunic; Il knew you were in this regi-
ment, and they sent me here. You
don't remember me, know, but re-
member you. And you were home
three years ago-I knew you and knew
your people too, but l dare say you don't
know me, but / used to see you ride
past our house every morning, and we
are both from the same place-that's
what wanted to say
Hum, understand said the officer,
scanning him closely, as if TO recall his
face and name.
Il knew you were an officer, 'con-
tinued the conscript, 'and since you
were home last they've rebuilt the front
of the church opposite your house. and
ON the square there's cafe, as big as
half as big as this yard, and it's full
of people all day long
Hold on. 1 remember you now
your name iG Reno, isn't itp'
Yes, Renzo.'
And you used to live in the little
stone-house by the church down in the
laneT
Yes, exactly; in the little stone
house by the church down in the lanep
The boy could hardly speak for de-
light.
We'll, and how do you like soldier
ingp'
The conscripts face fell; he lowered
his eyes and remained silent.
why aren't you off with the rest of
them, enjoying yourself?'
Still no answer, but an answer was
to be read in his face.
Come said the officer, whats the
matterP Out with it.
The matter is, captain stammered
the lad, that is to say, 1 don't know
what it is, but the way they treat us
here isn't fair-at least, it isn't pleas
ant. If we ask any one anything he
doesn't answer, and when any one says
hard things to us we have to swallow
them-or else its There's the guard
roomp know that we amt soldiers
vat-that xve don't know avarvfbino