Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-18

II you Will take my place, you will find every
thing ship-shape, you will have neither
bother nor expense, and you will be doing
me kindness into the bargain. You shall
have it all to yourselves. I've reserved
my own use; and it is much more snug for
a bachelor than my present big rambling
place"
Really, Colonel, you are awfully kind 2!
But no. not is impossible! You are much
too good"
''Confound it, man, you don't suppose l
| f1atter myself that any miserable kindness
| could do for you would be half what it
should be?" The Colonel was growing pur-
pie and hoarse with excited feeling. do I
ever forget Kandahar, do you thinka It
wasn't your fault that you didn't catch that
beastly smallpox! What would your Nelly
have said to me if you had-eh? 1 remem-
Der her sweet face, her eyes full of tears,
hec pretty lips trembling, that time we were
off to the front You were looking after
the baggage-the row was deafening. She
would come and see you off-and, by Jove
she behaved like brickI She put her two
hands on my arm, saying, You will look
after him, Colonel, won't you? And a nice
way 1 had of doing it! Let you nurse me
single handed through malignant small
pox"
''And jolly lucky you were to get mel
Jim said laughingly, with an affectionate
look at his rugged old friend. 'EBut 1 ran
no risk; I have never caught anything in nv
life, except wigging from you! AS you
know, fire and water, fevers, accidents, and
bullets have all been near me, but all of
them missed me. I'm not afraid"
Don't make too sure, my boyl ANY way,
you stuck to me; and, cross-grained old chan
though am, can't forget it. AS for your
| wife, she and [ were always chums-ever
since her pinafore days, when her father
and I were friends. You will I assure
you, be doing me the greatest of favors by
accepting this offer of mine! Just think il
over"
Jim Blake walked the length of the veran-
da, thoughtful look on his handsome reso-
lutte face-he was loath to disappoint his
| dear old friend; but, when he turned, the
Colonel saw at glance that his mind was
made up, and the expression on his own face
changed.
"You don't mind my saying exactly what
think, Colonel, I know" Jim began, when
he had stationed himself, with his hands in
his pockets, exactly in front of the Colonel.
His thoughts must have been loving ones,
for Jim's honest gray eyes were filled with
tender light and his voice was very gentle
cit is this way. That plan of yours would
be awfully jolly, and, whatever you may
say, 1 can't thank you enough But the
| truth is, I feel sure my little wife would
rather come to a place Of our own, no matter
how small. l mean she will think such a lot
of anything do. She will be delighted
with all my little lodges; and-and it will
seem more like home to Nelly"
Il see," said the Colonel, dolefully; 'Ican
do nothing! It's always the way whenever
I try. It's something in my manner I sup
pose-some nasty"
ooh, say, don'tl" cried Jim, in genuine
distress. 'You can do lots of things"
The old man was unfurling his white UNI
brella and preparing to dart forth into the
sunshine, look of childish wrath and dis
appointment on his red face; but Jim laid a
OBTAINING hand upon his arm.
"You can help us in heaps of ways You
mentioned flowers just now. Why, if you
! don't come to the rescue, I shall be in a
| difficulty over the garden! 1t has all to
be made Luckily, though we have a big
well in the compound and abundance of
waterl The thing must be set going al
| onceI"
II can stock the garden, if that's all, said
the old man, in a grumbling tone.
"And chairs, " continued Jim, serenely-
"chairs are not to be had at Muncherjees
for love or money-at least not the kind"
You shall have piles of chairs of all
shapes" said the Colonel, with returning
amiability.
''Oh, and-well, we're not proud-cooking
| pots You take your meals at mess, [ know,
and [ dare say you have kit of sort doing
nothing. That would be something like a
help noW-pOts are SO COMPOUNDED dear to
! buy"
The Colonel frightened up considerably
and, when he had been asked for few more
concessions, was himself again. Then, af,
! ter assisting to plan the future garden
and devoting some little time to ways and
! means, he marched off, in measure con-
| soled.
Jim watched him as he proceeded along
the straight glazing road leading into the
camp, till the stout figure dwindled to a mere
| dot beneath the huge umbrella.
The doctor had strolled in, and, with a
| frown, he stood beside his brother-of1icer
watch the umbrella till it was out of sight.
''Poor old boy, I'm afraid he's seedy-hes
so confoundedly touchyl" remarked jim.
'Rum old chap, but as good as gold It's
| about time he cleared out, though I should
not wonder if he hangs on for a brigade. He
| will hate handing over the reins. I believe,
when it comes to his last parade, he'll cry
like baby"
| There's no use my speaking to him." the
| doctor remarked, with a shrug. '.kive-and.
thirty years in this abominable country,
without going home, is about as much as q
man can standi He is as yellow as a guinea.
and his helrt is like a sponge. A spell OF
; excessive heat or the least excitement would
carry him off like a shot. By the way, ]
! came to tell you that that ill-conditioned
| brute Shaik Ibrahim is off the sick-list al
| last"
ooh, all right! I've been suspecting him
of malingering-in fact, [ suspect him of
more than that-but the Colonel won t listen
to a word against him. The scoundrel knows
I've got my eye upon him; but he's deuced
| cunning!"
He is a COMPOUNDED rascal, and no mis-.
take; but his illness was genuine enough
| this time. For days we had job to make
him taste food. He's all right again now;
but there are two men l should be thankful
to see safe out of the regiment-our poor old
@. O. and Shaik Ibrahim."
It was only four-wheeled cab, laden
with luggage, driving away, and five little
hearts that were breaking, and five little
| sodden handkerchiefs that would not wave
| because they were so wet and heavy with
tears and, when the cab had turned the cor
ner and they had looked their last upon the
| dear mothers pale tear-stained face. only