The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-27
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breath, tipped his hat far back and
mounted the steps to the platform.
/ Its the finest view on the line, "
cried Kate.
And the snuggcst baby-grandstsnd
that ever was,| put in Dot. 1T was
good of you to build it here in the
shade said his wife
But somehow all their kindness
seemed only to make Uncle Jim more
quiet, and Dot saw that his eyes didn't
look bit jolly, for al he tried tolaugh
at Katie's poor little jokes.
'Here they comet" A cheer went up
from every throat THE procession
at lastn'
Oh, the music! The old wartime mu-
sic! How much it must have meant to
the men marching there in the dusty
street-when it could bring tears to
eyes as young and bright as Katie's!
The crowds had cheered the gay new
banners, but when the old flags came,
when they saw those old, battle-worn,
bullet-riddled tatters, great silence
fell upon the people-then cheer after
cheer!
Uncle Jim tore off his hat and stood
trembling beside the girls. He remem-
bered when they started out, these old
men, these old flags, bright and fresh
and gay; now. He was just starting
out then, too, and Nudge was girl
like Kate, with pink blossoms in her
cheeks.
These men had conquered, but he
he had to begin all over again, and,
somehow, he thought, there amt
nothin' inspirin' in them old tattered
hopes o. mine There amt much o
them left, sure enough. an they've been
shot through time and time again, but,
l guess I'll have to carry 'em bit longer
anyhow
Dot, too young to understand, saw
the tears swimming in Hates eyes, saw
the mirthfulness all gone from Uncle
/ Jim's and the pallor that overspread
her aunt's dear old patient face. Her
heart ached for all three.
Oh, that big, ugly, empty tent, she
! thought. Surely it was the cause Of all
the trouble.
Slipping quietly away, she reached
| the ground without attracting apyone's
| notice, crossed over to the hated tent,
! stood q moment in the opening, then
disappeared within.
Just why she had come she could not
have told. She looked at the long rows
of cots. How many! And all for moth
! ing! She began counting them One,
two, three, four, five. six, she counted,
! walking down the line, bending to
! touch the lowest one, reaching up to
the second, standing on tip-toe and
pointing to the third in each group.
Twenty-eight, twcnty-nine, thirty.
| Here she stopped. What was there diff
ferent about cot thirty that it should
! sag as she looked up at it?
Dragging board from the entrance,
where some unused lumber lay, she
| placed it against the bed and climbed
slowly mp. There was something white.
! Further, she reached out to touch it,
| lost her balance ant, fell into the cot,
her foot sending the plank by which
she had assembled, to the ground. But
she did not notice that then; the little
bundle of lace and lawn lying so quiet
" there in the cot absorbed all her
thought. She saw now what it was.
How did it come there? Who could
have left it? Why had they done it?
Would they come for it again? How
long had it been asleep. this wee white
! baby? Even Dot could see that it was
not rosy as sleeping babies ought to be,
but white almost as its little muslin cap
Dot could hear the tramp, tramp.
tramp of marching feet, the roll of
drums, the cheering, but all these
sounds seemed to her far away in an
other world; here, there was only this
still pale baby, and all those quiet, use
less empty beds.
She began TO wish. the closed eyes
would open, then looking at them her
own eyes grew heavy, she laid her face
| beside the little motionless one and fell
asleep.
Where is Dot?" asked Kate, suddenly
missing the child.
sHey?" Uncle Jim started from his
reverie.
Isle was here only few moments
ago said his wife, turning quickly.
Then all three looked at one another
questioningly.
''She may have gone to the tent.
Strange we shouldn't have noticed her
going" said Kate.
Uncle jim set off to see. He looked
in. saw no one, and came away with
more anxious heart than ever the bust
ness worry had given him. She was a
little country girl, and did not know
her way about in the strange place.
Where could she have gone? Why had
she not told them?
she must have started for home,
he said. as be rejoined Kate and her
mother. who Immediately set out for
the house, leaving Uncle Jim on the
little platform in case she should re-
turn TO it 1t was altogether likely,
they said. that she was close by on the
street. but of course they could not see
her because OF the crowds.
The procession was over. the crowds
dispersed. still Uncle Jim held his post
under the elm tree What was il 70
(. him now that 10 locgers had filed his
tent? Word had come from the house
saving that Dot was not there In
quiries had been made at the police sta
lions. d description of the child given.
everything that could be done had been
done except this-this hardest Of all
waiting.
She was rot the only child lost that
day They had heard al .ne stations Of
another, baby, lost tic night before or
stolen. its nurse had not returned. and
the parents were half frantic WIKI grief
nd -aa- r-zofa Tsrrs had no rom IL
his heart for their trouble save Is it
added To ms own spprehensiozs- OFT