Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-12-16
THE CAPTAINS DREAM.


spectful remonstrance, you are ami
hilated.'
..Annihilated. echoed the captain,
in indignation.
Yes, sir; the umpire sent word as
you and all your company was swep'
away by the last discharge of the
milshy.'
BY the militia, too.' exclaimed the
captain; well, I'm =! Here, give
me my flask and sandwiches and take
the horse"
The captain sat watching the fight
rs it rolled over to the opposite hill
and consuming his sandwiches. He
was, of course, annoyed at being ami
hilatcd; but, after all, he was saved
some marching in the sun, and the
day was hot. He wondered where he
should be likely to find his wife, who
had expressed her intention of trying
to see something of the manoeuvres.
BY the time, however, that he had
finished his lunch and lit his cigar he
decided that he did not much want to
find his wife, and he lay back and
smoked in luXuriant ease.
Talk about meeting death with resig-
nation"' muscd he; why, it's splendid;
I'm sorry it was the militia, though.
| suppose our charge was rather rash
IA Balaclava sort Of
He nodded off, and his cigar fell
from his lips. Hardly had this hap
pened when he was reused by sweet
voice. Opening his eyes he saw be-
fore him a lovely girl.
Il beg your pardon, sir" she said.
but could you tell me where to find
mammal"
The captain looked at the lady.
Il am dead" he said; dead men
can't find mammas.'
You don't look very dead she an
swered, smiling.
AN Englishman never knows when
he is dead" said the captain, in hazy
reminiscence; but l have it on the au-
thority of the umpire, if that will do"
Il left mamma just about here" re-
marked the lady.
Then she's undoubtedly annihilated
also. Nothing bigger than a mouse
could have lived through that fire.
Mamma is much larger than Il
mousse" said the lady, smiling.
Wont you sit DOWN. asked the
captain.
The lady, smiling again. sat down.
She wore a simple dress of white, and
the blue ribbon round her waist was
rivalled by the blue of her eyes.
Il mustn't stay long" she said
AT a moment like this" remarked
the captain, "a mans memory wan
dcrs free through the delightful laby-
rinths of youth and love"
Love! Are you married?''
Il was married." answered the cap
And you were thinking of your
wife,"
While his fancy" pursued the cap
tain, pictures joys yet in the future
perhaps the near future"
The lady was picking a daisy to
pieces. She raised her eyes for mo-
ment and looked at the captain.
But if you are dead she sug-
gested
Now you," the captain continued,
raising himself on his elbow, ARE too
young even to have a thought of IL
kiss"
Il have certainly never thought
much of a kiss" said the lady
The thought does not fill you with
delicious trepidation"
''Oh, no."
Il thought not" said the captain,
in a gratified tone. 1T does me, you
know
"Ah"' said the lady
You can't know what it's like"
I've often kissed mamma"
ITS not quite the same thing; still,
show me how you kiss mamma"
Well supposing my hand was mann
ma, l should go like that"
Il see. And what would mamma
do?'
"Oh. l can't show you that. My
hand can't kiss me, you know
But supposing We're your hand
"That's nonsense, isn't it? l couldn't
suppose that"
We'll, then, supposing 1 were man.
maj
But you're not bit like mamma"
Il have it. Suppose you were mani
ma, and | We're your
THAT would do capitally; but we
need not trouble-I see mamma COM
ing now
She pointed, and, at the foot of the
hill, the captain also saw mamma.
Has she good sight:" asked the
captain.
"No, she is nearsighted. I'm afraid
she'll not see us"
"Ah.' said the captain, and he kissed
the lady.
With a little cry and a little laugh
she sprang up and ran down the hill.
The captain closed his eyes; but in