The morning call., 1890-09-23
WEE WILLIE WINKIE.
BY RUDYARD KIPLING.

"An oGicer and a gentleman"
Hr2HsIS full name was Percival William Will
EsseasH iams but he picked up tile other name In
EK-EA a nursery-book. and that was the end OF
AfA the chrstened title His mothers ayah
called him Willie Bahia, but, as he never paid the
fantest attention TO anything that the ayah SAID,
her wisdom did not help matters.
His father was Colonel OF the One Hundred
and Nlnley- fiji h. and as soon as Wee Willie
Winkie was old enough TO understand what mil
italy discipline meant, Colonel Williams put him
under ii. There was no other way of managing
The child. When lie was good for week lie
drew good-conduct pay; aud when lie was bad
he was deprived OF his good-eonduct stripe.
Generally lie was bad. for India offers so many
chances TO little six year-olds OF going wrong.
Children resent familiarity from strangers, and
Wee Willie Wrinkle was very particular child
Once lie accepted an acquaintance, he was gra-
ciously pleased 10 thaw. He accepted BIahdls. a
Subaltern of the one Hundred and Nnety-hith,
on sight. Brands was having tea AT the COL
oneps and Wee Willie Wrinkle entered, strong III
tile possession Of good badge won for
not chasing the hens round the compound. lie
regarded Brands with gravity Tor AT Ieast Ten
minutes, and then delivered himself oil his opln-
Il like you" said he slowly, getting off his
chair aud eom'ne over 10 htahdts. IKE YOU m
| shall call You Cnppy. because OF your hair. Do
you mind being called COPY IL Is because oil
20 hair, Npu know.
Nine Wink les peeuliaritleS. lie would look at
a stranger Tor some time. and then. without
Warning OF eNpla nation, would give him name.
And me name stuck. n u rePimental penalties
could break Wee Willie Wlhhlc OF This habit
lie lost his eo0d,eonduct badge for christening
Tho commissioners wife "foDs'; but nothing
that the Colonel could do ma The Station forego
ihr nickname, ana MIS-. Collen remained Mrs.
"robs' M the END Of her stay. SO Brands was
chrl>teued "Coppy," and rose, therefore, IN tue
estimation OF the regiment.
II Wee Willie Wrinkle took an interest III any
one, the fortunate man was envled alike by Inc
mess ana the rank ana file. Aud in their envy
lay no suspicion OF seli-inteIeSt. The ColouePs
son" was idoliZcd on his own merits entirely.
YET Wee Willie Mmkie was not lovely. His face
was permanently freckled, rs his legs were per-
manently scratched, and IN spite OF his mothefs
almost fearful Inconsistencies he had insisted
upOn his having his long yellow locks cut snort
Sergeant Tummirs," said Wee Willie Wrinkle,
ana his father aDelting the sacrifice was ae-
Three weeks after the bestOwal OF his youthful
affections on Lieutenant BrandlS-henceforth to
be called Copy for the sake Of brevity-Wee
Willie Ninkie was destined 10 behold
strange things and far beyond his c0mprehen-
sion.
Copy returned Ills ing with interest Copy
had let him wear Tor live iapturons minutes his
own big SwoId-iuSt as tall as Wee Willie WIN
kIe. Copy had promised him terrier puppy,
and Copy had permitted him 10 witness the
miraculous operation of shaving. Nay, more
Copy had SAID that even lie, Wee Willie YIN.
kie would rise in time 10 the owner ship of box
Of shiny knives. a silver soap-box ana silver
handed ".putter brush" as Wee While Winkie
called II. Decidedly, there was no one except
bis father, WHO could give or take away good
conduct badges at pleasure, half so strong, wise
and valiant as Copy with The Afghan aud
Egyptian medals on his breast. Why, then,
should Copy be guilty OF lie humanity weakness
Of ktsSing-vehemently kissing " big gill"
Miss Alardyce 10 vii? In the course Of
morning ride, Wee Willie WIukie had seen
Copy so doing and, like the gentleman lie WAS,
had promptly wheeled round aud canteIed back
To his groom, lest the groom should also see.
Under ordinary circumstances he would have
spoken 10 Ills father but lie felt tnstinctivey
that his was matter on which Copy ought
FIRST TO be consulted.
up outside That subaliern's bungalow early one
morning" want to see you. Coppy!"
Come il. young 'un," returned Copy. who
WAS at early breakfast in the midst OF his dogs
" Nh hat mischief have you been getting inIo
now?'
ously bad for thee days, ana so stood on pm
uacle OF virtue.
i've been doing nothing bad" said he. curl
ing himself INTO a long chair. with a studiOus af-
feclaliou of tie Colonies languOr after a hot
parade. lie buried his freckled nose in a tea
cur. and, with eyes stating roundly over the RIM
s anfsa; say COPY Is II p"0ps' 10 Kiss big
by Joye! You're beginning early. Who do
You want to kiSs?'
No one. My muvver's always kissing me II
/ DON'T stop her. II 1t isn't pwOper, how was you
kissing Major Allardyce's big girl last morning.
by We canal?"
Coppy's brow wIlnkled. He and Miss Altar.
dyce lad viii great craft managed TO keep their
engagement secret for fortnight. There were
urgent ana imperative reasons why Major Altar
dyce should not Know how matters Stood for at
least another month, and This small marplot had
discover ed great deal too much
a. YOU" said Wee Willie Wrinkle calmly.
But We groom didn't see. i said, Hut iaO.'"
"Oh you had That much sense you young
Rip" grOaned poor Copy, half amused and hall
about r?'
"Ouly me myself. You didn't tell when 1
twled to wide We buffalo ven my pony was lame
and fought you wouldn't like"
"Wuke," said Copy, enthusiastically. shak-
Ing tile small hand, you're the best OF good
fellows. Lock here, you can't understand all
these things. One OF these days-haug 1t, how
can make you see II Pm going TO marry Miss
AIardyce, ana then she'll he Mrs Copy, as you
say. If your young mind is SO scaudaiized at
the idea OF kissing lig girls, go and tell your
father"
who firmly believed that his father was onnlp-
otent.
81 shall get into trouble" said Copy playing
his uump caro- With an appealing look al the
holder of the ace.
wen / won't" said Wee Willie Wrinkle briefly
But my fayrr says It's un- manly TO be always
kissing aud didn't fink you'd do vat, Copy"
"Pm not always klsslug, old clap. It's only
now and then, and when you're bigger you'll do
Il TOO. Your father meant us not good for little
boys"
:. All" said Wee Willie Wrinkle, now fearfully
enlightened. "lps like We sputter brush"
Exactly" said Copy gravely.
But l dOht fink I'll ever want to kiss big
girls, nor no one, 'cept my muyver. And must
vat, you Know"
ilere was a long pause broken by Wee Willie
Wrinkle.
- Are you fond OF Wis big girl, Coppy?"
"Awfully!" said Copy.
"FOnder van you are of Bell or We Butcha-or
me?''
IT'S in different way" SAID Copy. You
see one Of these days Miss Allaidyce Will belong
TO me, but you'll grow up ana command The regi-
ment and-ail sorts OF things It's quite differ
ent, you see"
Very well" said Wee Willie Wrinkle. rising.
"lf you're fond of We girl, wont tell any one.
must 20 now"
door, adding; You're the best OF Iii tie fellows
Wrinkle. / tell You whai. In Thirty days from
now you can tell II you like-tell any one you
like"
Thus the secret Of the Brands-Allardyce en-
gagement was dependent Gu little child's word.
Copy, who knew Wee Willie Wrinkles idea OF
truth, was at ease. for he felt that lie would not
break promises. Wee Willie Wrinkle betrayed a
special and unusual interest i'm Miss Alardyce,
and, slowly revolving round that embarrassed
young lady, was used TO regard her gravely with
unwlnking eye. lie was trying 10 discover why
Copy should have kissed her. she was not half
nice as his own mother. On the other hand
she was COppy's property. and would in time be
long 10 him. Therefore 1t behooved Inn TO treat
her with as much respect as Coppy's big sword
or shiny pistol
Tie Idea that lie shared great secret in com.
mon with Copy kept Wee Willie Wmkle un-
usually virtuons for three weeks. Then the Old
| Adam broke oui. and he made what lie called a
camp hte' at tile bottom OF the garden. How
| could lie nave foreseen that the flying sparks
| would have lighted the Coloueps little hay-rIck
aud consumed a weeks store for the horses
| Sudden and swift was The punishment-depriva
| lion Of The good conduct badge, and most sor-
rowful Of all, two days confinement to bar
| racks-the house and veranda-cOupled with the
| withdrawal OF the light of his iathef's counie-
nance.
lie took The sentence like the man lie strove to
| be. drew himself up with a quivering under-llp
| saluied, and, once clear OF the room, TO weep
| bIIerIy in bis nursery-called by him my quar-
| ters." Copy came IN the afternoon and at
| tempted to console the culprt.
" am under awwest," said Wee Willie Wrinkle
mournfulIy, land didn't ought 10 speak to YOU"
| Very early the next morning he climbed on to
| the roof Of tile houSe-that was fJrbdden-and
| beheld Miss Alfaidyce going for ride.
,. Where are you going?" cried Wee Willie
| Wrinkle.