Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-31

you get chance, cultivate his acQuaint-
ance, for he's good man for young
ster like you to know"
"Major Hopkins has been good enough
to take some notice of me already,
Frank said, intensely pleased at the
turn the conversation was taking.
Eyes, heard him say to-day that you
were wonderfully like boy he lost.
Henderson continued: "You see, Uncle
Jack has had pretty tough time of it,
and that perhaps accounts for his going
a-soldiering when most men Of his age
and means would have preferred to
send substitute"
"a boy he lost9"
"Yes, his only child and wife were
both drowned at sea, and he has never
been the same man since"
But now, to Franks chagrin, the con-
versation was interrupted by other
members of the party.
Green and Carson, who were old
friends of Henderson, were clamorous
that he should sing them something be-
fore the meeting dispersed.
Come now, Mark, no excuses. We
don't often get such chance, and we've
not the slightest intention of missing
it."
"Well, boys" was the CHEEKY answer,
''if youswill promise to do justice to the
chorus, l don't care if / do tip you a
stave. So here goes. l stole the best
half of it from Sever, but the felony
won't spoil its flavor"
Then, in a rich baritone he trolled:
The pickets are fast retreating, boys,
The last tattoo is beating. boys,
So let every man
Fill up his can
And drink to our next merry meeting, boys.
The colonel so gayly prancing, boys,
Has wonderful trick Of advancing, boys;
When he sings out so large:
Fix bayonets and charger
He sets all the Johnnies a-dancing, boys.
" Our sweethearts at home are signing, boys,
For lads on the tented-held lying boys;
But we're hearty as yet,
And don't mean TO fret,
Or talk about death, till we're dying, boys.
But it's time for a farewell-greeting. boys,
For the wing-footed hours are fieeting boys,
So let every man
Fill up his can,
And drink to our next merry meeting. boys"
Once fairly started, the gallant caval-
ryman proved himself prince of good
company, song and story tripping from
his lips without apparent effort. 1t was
only when the party was breaking up
that Frank managed to get a word or
two with him.
''Shall | see you in the morning, Cap
tain Henderson," he asked, anxiously.
mot likely, my boy; for l start on
the first train, and you'll be hoofng it
probably before I'm out of bed"
"Yes, that is so. Well, be sure and
call on mother, if you go to Meltonburg
and, say; if you tell her any thing
of our way of living down here, don't
draw your pictures with too many
shadows in them"
81 understand, and will be careful.
But how about the fair Grace? Shall 1
tell her that you send her kiss, but
don't want the precious article deliv-
cred till you're at home?"
Frank laughed.
Goodbye, old fellow" he said. 81
wish with all my heart and soul 1 was
going with you"
And there was something like tears
in the lads eyes as he grasped his
friends hand and turned gloomily away
to his quarters.
The march to st. Louis proved
worthy of Charlie Fulton's worst an
ticipations. The weather was execra-
BILE, rain, snow, sleet by turn assailing
them-the ground now slushy as
swamp, and again frozen with ridges
hard as iron. Sometimes they had to
hunt for the least moist spot on which
to pitch their tents, and at others they
could not pitch their tents at all, be-
cause no human hands could drive the