Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-06
WEE WILLIE WINKIE.
BY RUDYARD KIPLING.
An officer and Q gentleman. ~

H. 40 AL ~NAuL Woe ItTClNal Nllubfu
fS Williams, but he picked up the other
3name in q nursery book and that was
- the end Of the christened title.
His mothers ayah called him Willie
Bahia, but, as he never paid the faintest atten
ton to anything the ayah said, her wisdom did
not help matters
His father was colonel Of the one hundred
and ninety fifth and AZ soon as Wee Willie
Wrinkle was old enough to understand wha,
military discipline meant Col. Williams put
him under it. There was no other way Of man.
aging the child. When be was good for a week
he drew good-conduct pay. and when he wal
bad he was deprived of his good-conduct stripe.
Generally he was bad, for India offers 50 many
chances to little si1-year-olds Of going wrong.
Children resent familiarity from strangers
and Wee Willie Winkie was Q very particular
child Once he accepted an acquaintance, he
was gracionsly pleased to thaw. He accepted
Brands, . subaltern Of the one hundred and
ninety-ffth, on sight Brands was haring ties
at the colonel's and Wee Willie Wrinkle entered
strong in the possession of a good-conduc,
badge. won for not chasing the hens round the
compound. He regarded Brands with gravity
for at least ten minutes and then delivered
himself Of his opinion.
hhS you, sdiu ue SLOWLY, g6ttluR OH MS
chalr and coming over to Brands. II like you.
l shall call you Copy because of your hair. Dc
you mind being called Copy? 1t is becaus Q OF
We hair, you know"
Here was one of the most embarrassing OF
Wee Willie Wrinkles peculiarities. He would
look at stranger for some time and then,
without warning or explanation. would give
MIN q name. And the name stuck. No regi.
mental penalties could break Wee Willie Win
kle OF this habit. He lost his good-conduct
badge for christening the commissioners wife
'Pobs:' but nothing that the colonel could dc
made the station forego the nickname, and Mrs
COLLEEN remained Mrs. "Pobs" till the end of her
stay. So Brands was christened "Coppy," ano
rose, therefore, In the estimation of the regi-
ment
If Wee Willie Winkie took an interest in any
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 col
oners son" was idolized on his own merits en-.
tlrely. Yet Wee Willie Wrinkle was not lovely
His face was permanently freckled, as his legs
were permanently scratched, and in spite oil
his mothers almost fearful remonstrances ht
had insisted upon having his long yellow locks
cut short in the military fashion. II want m,
hair like Sergeant Tummil's." said Wee Willie
Wrinkle, and his father abettng, the Sacrifices
was accomplished.
Three weeks after the bestowal Of his youth
full affections on Lieut.. Brandis-henceforth te
70 Cahcu SOppy 1OT sake Oh DTeVlty-N6<
Willie Winkie was destined to behold strange
things and far beyond his comprehension.
Copy returned his liking with interest
Copy had let him wear for Eve rapturous min
utes his own big sword-just as tall as Wet
Willie Winkie. Copy had promised him
terrier puppy and Copy had permitted him tc
witness the miraculous operation Of shaving
Nay. more-Coppy had said that even he, Wee
Willie Winkie would rise in time to the owner
ship Of box of shiny knives, q silver soap DO,
and a silver-hsndled ''sputter brush" as Wee
Willie Wrinkle called it. Decidedly, there wa
no one except his father. who could give or tax,
away good-conduct badges at pleasure, half 81
wise, strong and valiant as Copy with the AZ
CHAN and Egyptian medals on his breast
Why, then. should Copy be guilty Of the un
manly weakness Of kissing-vehemently kiss
ing-a "big girl" Miss Aliardyce, to wit? II
the course Of a morning ride Wee Willie Win
kis had seen Copy. SO doing, and, like the
round and cantered back to his groom, lest the
groom should also see.
Under ordinary circumstances he would havt
spoken to his father, but he felt instinctively
that this was matter on which Copy ought
first to be consulted.
Copy" shouted Wee Willie winkie, rein
ing up outside that subaltern's bungalow early
one mornng-'I want to see you, Copy"
"Come in, young 'un, /" returned Copy, who
was at early breakfast in the midst Of his dogs
"What mischief have you been getting intt
Wee Willie winkie had done nothing notori.
ously bad for three days, and so stood on
pinnacle OF virtue.
eve been doing nothing bad" said he. curl
ing himself into . long chair with a studioui
affectation. He buried his freckled nose in
teaoup. and, with eyes staring roundly over tn
"By iovel You're beginning early. Who d.
you want to kiss?'
mo one. Ny muvver's always kissing me
don't stop her. II it isn't pwoper how wa
you kissing Major !Ailardyos's big girl las
Coppy's brow wrinkled. He and Miss Altar
dyce had with great craft managed to keel
thoir engagement secret for q fortnight. Their,
were urgent and imperative reasons why Majo
Allardyce should not know how matters stoot
for at least another month, and this small mar
81 saw you," said Wee Willie Wrinkle calmly
''But We groom didn't see said Hut jao.'"'
''Oh. you had that much sense, you youn,
rip" groaned poor Copy, half amused ant
half angry. And how many people may 20,
"onIy me myself. You didn't tell when
twied to wide We buffalo ven my pony was lame
and fought you wouldn't like"
''Winkie," said Copy, enthusiastically
shaking the small hand, you're the best o
good fellows. Look here, you can't under
stand all these things. One Of these days
to marry Miss Allsrdyce and then she'll b.
Mrs. Copy, as you say. II your young MIND
is 30 sosndalized at the idea of kissing bis
girls, 60 and tell your father
"Whst will happen?' said Wee Willie Wrinkle
who firmly believed that his father was omipo
tent.
Il shall get into trouble" said Copy, play
ing his trump card with an appealing look Al
the holder OF the ace.
'ven 1 WON'T" said Wee Willie winkis
briefly. But my faver says its un-nan-ly Il
be always kissing, and didn't fink you'd dc
"rm not always kissing, old chap. It's only
now and then, and when you're bigger you'll
do It too. Your father meant lis not good 70,
"Ah!" said Wee Willie winkie, now fully en-
lightened. cts like We sputter brush"
Exactly" said Copy gravely.
.But don't fink I'll ever want to kiss big
g gnss 1 NOR no one esps my And
There was long pause, broken BY We.
Willie Winkie.
care you fond Of Wis big girl, Coppy7"
"Awfully" said Copy.
"Fonder van You are OF Bell or W Butcha-
or me?"
ats in different way" said Copy. "You
see, one Of these days Miss AlIArdyce will be.
long to me, but you'll grow up and command
the regiment snd-all sorts Of things. IT.
quite different, you see"
Every WE'LL" said Wee Willie Winkie, rising.
III you're fond OF W girl, won't tell any one.
must 60 now"
Copy rose and escorted his small guest 10
the door, adding, you're the best Of little fell
lows, Winke. I tell you what. In thirty days
from now you can tell il you hks-ssn any one