The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-28

she said, tears of joy sparkling h her eyes. "Youv presence alone was neces- sary to make our happiness complete
 But mother. John interposed. Hals been treating me real mean: he's kissed all the rest and wont kiss me. because be says my face Is dirty, and l feel bad because there's no one else who will There's Millie can't if she wants to. for Fl alS taken lite-lease of her lips, should think, Amy won't, for I've been teasing her to kiss me all day. aud Allie can't climb high enough, and Pm really suffering to be kissed. Now, mother, won't you kiss me. If l get down on one knee so you can reach me. and hold my whiskers one side, so they won't tickle your nose?" And ohu dropped on one knee and held up his lips for kiss like year old baby Mrs. Gray took the bronEed, bearded face of her loved sol- dier boy bet Eeen her two hands with loviag pressure, aud besto~ed hearty kisses on lips, cheek and forehead "And now, she said, come to dinner 1; fe r it will all be cold
 "Oa, that's it, is it?" John said, spring ing to his feet. Here, then, Company A First regiment Home Reserve Guards Fall in for rations Salute your superior otficeri Present armsi" and he obeyed the last command in a most novel man. ner, catching Amy up in hts arms, and, tn spite of her threats and entreaties, car rying her out to her place beside bis at the head of the table.
 Why can you behave yourst If, Johr2' she said olush.ng rosily as she smoo,hed her rutfi sd plumage I've good mind to box your ears.
 d like to see you try is, my dear, l think you would h we to get upon a sheet of paper to raa ch them"
 Never mind, Amy" said Hal, Thanksgiving don't come but once q year
 "Once in two years, If you please, to us old soldiers" John said with mock dignity as he took up the knife and fork preparatory to m Aking an attack on the tarkcy before him. That. suppose, is the king of the fowl dominion "-eom- mencing to sever the limbs of the defunct monarch.
 He has 'strrtted his brief hour upon the stage That's Shakespeare, isn't it, Amy1"
 Why, mol l should call it turkey" Amy answered demurely, while her eyes sparkled with fun.
 "R sally no~l We'll. that shows how | ignorant fellow becomes by living away from the girls. There's HaL now-l don't believe he knows half so much as he did when hc came searching me out down there in Dixie. never told you about that did ?"
 Millie laughed and said she believed not-well knowing one of Johns droll stories was coming
 Well. you sec" he began, Git was an awful rough day last Nj MAIch, and our reg- iment was encamped down at Little Washington, in North Carolina. was busy about some camp duties, when heard quite commotion at headquarters, and the boys crying fresh fish ' 1 knew sell enough what that msant, and went along up there and found about a dozen new recruits. One of them-a pretty good looking fellow, only the ca voyage had faded him out to sort of greenish- yellow-came along up to me, and says | he:
 Are you Mir. John Gray2'
 Y" No, sir says |, l m Sargent Gray, ofcompany A. Twenty first regiment. Con- necticut Rebellion Smashers.'
 {" Then you are the fellow m look ing for says he, reaching out his hand, for Pm your brother.'
 "' The deuce you beT says |, looking him over from head to foot. seems to me you grew mighty quick then, for 'tisn | more tb an year and half since Jeff home and you hadn't been heard of al that time.'
 At that he laughed and cayss he, Well I'm not exactly your brother now, but expect to be-ior l m going to m arry your sister MllIie.'
 "'Exactly,' says l, shaking hands with him, and she sent you down here to ask my consent eh ?
 '" Not precisely says he, come d ,wn here to hght.'
 "'Oh, you did, did you ? says 1, pull ing of my coat. Well, como on then I'm ready for you
 Bat it wasn't you l came to fight says he, laughing again, It was the Se- | cesh.'
 "I put on my coat then, and took him down to my tent, and we got to be pretty good fr ends, only now and then we had bit of uf as to who had the best right to M,llles letters first"
 Pretty good," said Hal. laughing, as John concluded. "I guess tho boys would know that Orderly John was a, home il they had heard it,
 "l should think you VT uld be ashamed of yourself" Amy said, trying to look stern. "l don't sec but you grow wone instead of better. What could you ever do with him 2 appealing to Mrs Gray.
 She couldn't do anything with me-" John said before his mother could an- swer, but when behaved too badly she used to sen 1 me over to sec you, and she says when come home mex. time she will send me over to stay with you for good. Will you take me 2"
 What should take you tor 2" Amy asked.