St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-10-21

all like sounds usually produced by the
lungs of night He walked quickly
among the bales Of hay, and nearly
fell over the origin of the strange
sound. He picked it up and looked 1t
it in the dim moonlight
'"White, eh? How the deuce did the
child get here9' he demanded of him
self Say. kid. who are you:"
But the child was crying too steadily
to admit Of its doing anything else. II
had probably been asleep, and now,
barely awake, was frightened by un-
wonted surroundings It was cold, too
Myers could not get . rational reply.
The child simply clung to him, and
cried with = loud voice. To Myers
mind it drowned al other sounds, and
he wondered that the guard did not
come down and see what had occurred
on post No. 3
soldier to alarm the guard. He waa too
much of = soldier to leave his post and
run with the child to the cottage Of
Corporal Bond. but . few rods away.
What he did WAS to strip OF his over
coat, wrap the child in, and talk in .
roughly comforting way. Presently he
made = hollow space among the bales,
sheltered from the wind. and warm.
In it he put the quieted child. pulling
another bale over The nest; and the
child went to sleep. like the Vigorous,
healthy little animal that it was.
The officer of the guard came STUN
bling slecpily about on . tour Of in.
spectiou. IAN right on your post7" he
demanded
IAN right. sir"
every foolish Of you not to wear IN
overcoat You're likely to get pneu-
monia, said the officer.
The sentinel made no reply. The 10.
mark had been unofficial, and did not
require any.
At the end Of two weary hours. Cor
poral Bond came down TO relieve the
sentinel He had been warm and com
Portable in the guardhouse. and was
possibly in little worse humor 1t hsv-
ing to turn out for 20 tri6ing duty.
.'Stin alive, eh?" said he. ''Well. I
didn't expect it I see they took your
overcoat, though"
mo, they didn't I've got it down
here" said MyerA He went TO the
place. and pick Cd It up tenderly.
The moro fool you for not wearing
it. )" growled the corporal "why. what
have you got in it?''
.:Just . kid I found down here crying" :"
Corporal Bond looked 1t the sleeping
child and gave . little start as Of sur.
prise. "Well, swcar!" said he. But
he didn't t
They marched together without an
other word from the lower end OF the
heat and passed the corporal's set
Of quartera Suddenly the corporal
stopped.
"rn take the kid" said he. And
then he held out hand in . friendly
way. 1--WE might shake. he ventared-
Myers was carrying the child close to
his breast with warn feeling OF ten
der possession. He did not fancy let
ting the corporal take the helpless
charge from him and spoke with un-
usual resentmeuk
"Iil keep the kid for tonight" !" sid
be, sturdily. II found It. and I'll take
care of it'll somebody elaims Il And
I don't know any reason why weshould
shake banda We haven't had any oc-
casion to. % TAR"
well" said the corporal, 81 thought
I'd like 70 because-6eeause see0 70
have made mistake in sizing you up
I'm willing to admit ny fault But it's
just - you say"
''Oh, that's IT, chr said NyesA
''well. here's my hand Shake and
shake hearty. And. By the way. the
Md here; you've got wonen-folls, and
they can take care Of it better than ]
can : just for tonight You know
whose it is?"
"Yes." said Corporal Bond Its
mine"