The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-23
WEE WILLIE WINKIE.


THE author Of this story, RJdyard Kipling, is a
young Englishman who has spent nearly all his
life in British India. His stories usually pertain
90 tho British army with wnich he has long been
familiar Dir Kipng has recently attracted great
attention both in England and America by his
stories, and is regarded by many as genius.l
His full name was Percival William Will
liams, but he picked up the other name in
nursery book, and that was the end Of
the christened title His mothers ayah
called him Willie-B Bahia, but, as he never
paid the faintest attention to anything
that the ayah said, her wisdom did not help
matters.
His father was colonel of the One Hun
lred and Ninety fifth, and AS soon az Wee
Willie Wrinkle was old enough to under
stand what military discipline meant Col.
Williams put him under it. There was no
other way Of managing the child. When
he was good for week he drew good con-
duct pay; and when he was bad he was de-
prived of his good conduct stripe. Gener-
ally he was bad, for India offers so many
chances to little g. year-olds of going wrong.
Children resent familiarity from stran-
gers. and Wee Willie Winkie was a very
quaintance he was graciously pleased to
fhaw. He accepted Brands, a suhaltern
of the One Hundred and Ninety fifth, on
sight Brands was having tea at the colo
nePs, and Wee Willie Wrinkle entered,
strong in the possession of a good conduct
badge won for not chasing the hens round
the compound. He regarded Brands with
gravity for at least ten minutes, and then
deliverpd him self 0f his oDiniOn
II like you" said he slowly, getting off
tis chair and coming over to Brands Il
like you. ! shall call You Copy, because
of your hair Do you mind being called
Copy? 1t is because of We hair, you know"
Here was one Of the most embarrassing
of Wee Willie Wrinkles peculiarities He
would look at a stranger for some time,
and then, without warning or explanation,
would give HIM a name. And the name
stuck. No reCimental penalties could break
Wee Willie Wrinkle of this habit. He lost
his good conduct badge for christening the
commissioners wife "Pobs, but nothing
that the colonel could do made the station
forego the nickname, and Mrs. COLLEEN re-
manned Mrs "Pobs" till the end of her
stay So Brands was christened Copy"
and rose. therefore, in the estimation of
the regiment
IL Wee Willie Winkie took an interest in
my one the fortunate man was envied alike
by the mess and the rank and file And in
their envy lay no suspicion Of self interest.
"The colonel's SOM was idolizcd on his
own merits entirely. Yet Wee Willie
Wrinkle was not lovely. His face was per-
manently freckled. as his legs were per
manently scratched. and in spite Of his
mothers almost fearful circumstances he
had insisted upon having his long yellow
locks cut short in the military fashion. Il
want my hair like Sergeant Tummil's,"
said Wee Willie Wrinkle and his father
hbetting the sacrifice was accomplished
Three weeks after the bestowal of his
youthful affections on Lieut.. Brands
henceforth to be called Copy" for the
sake of brevity-Wee Willie Wrinkle was
destined to behold strange things and far
beyond his comprehension.
Copy returned his liking with interest.
Copy had let him wear for five rapturous
minutes his own big sword, just as tall as
Wee Willie Wrinkle. Copy had promised
him a terrier puppy. and Copy had per-
mitted him to witness the miraculous OPP
Grafton Of shaving. Nay. more Copy had
said that even he, Wee Willie Winkie,
would rise in time to the ownership of a
box of shiny knives, a silver soap box and
n silver handled 'sputter brush" as Wee
Willie Wrinkle called it, Decidedly there
was no one except his father, who could
give or take away good conduct badges at
pleasure, half so wise. strong and valiant as
Copy with the Afghan and Egyptian
medals on his breast. Why then should
Copy be guilty Of the unmanly weakness
Of kissing-vehemently kissing "A big
girl, Miss Allardyce, to wit. In the course
of a morning ride Wee Willie Wrinkle had
seen Copy so doing and. like the gentle
man he was, had promptly wheeled round
and cantered back 70 his groom lest the
groom should also see.
Under ordinary circumstances he would
have spoken to his father, but be felt in
stinctivcly that tins was a matter on which
Copy ought nrst 10 Toe consulted.
Copy" shouted Wee Willie Wrinkle,
refining up outside that subalterns bunga-
low early one morning; %. want TO see
You. Copy"
"Come in, young 'uu.' returned Copy,
who was az early breakfast in the midst Of
his dogs. What mischief have you been
getting into now"
Wee Willie Wrinkle had done nothing no.
toriously bad for three days and so stood
on pinnacle OF virtue
I've been doing nothing bad " said he
curling himself into a long chair with a
studious afiectstien of the Colonel'S Ian
guor after hot paraoe. He buried his
1reckled nose in te3cup. and, with eyes
staring roundly over the rim. asked. Il
say, Copy. is il pwoper TO kiss blk glrlS;'
by Jove, You are beginning early.
Who do YOU want 10 kiSSf"
NO one. Ny mUvver'S always kissing
me if don't stop her. II it isn't pwoper
how was you kissing Maj. Allardyoes big
girl last morning by We canal
CoppyS brow wrinkled. He aud Miss
,Anaruyce ha1 with great craft managed
70 keep their engagement secret for fort
night There were urgent and imperative
reasons why Mai Allardyce should not
know how matters stood for at least an
other month, aud this small marplot had
discovered great deal too much.
II saw YOU" said Wee Willie Winkie
calmly. But We groom didn't see. 1 said,
'Eutjao'"
"ah Won had that much sense. you