The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-10-27
LOVE ON A WALL.

1Ho littio DdCh ydiu pleSeHtcu d Lofel
appearance. The frost was on the ground,
and the Il skeleton tree in the corner
extended its leafess branches like gaunt
arms in various directions.
A wooden post was stuck in the CEN
ter of the gravel square, its purpose
vague; at a few yards distant stood a
man practicing at broadsword exercise.
Sergeant Major Boyne. pauslng from
his exertlons, addressed some one sitting
on the wall to his right.
care you cold, Mollie:w
"No, thanks; it is warming to watch
you"
The sergeant continued lis evoiutions.
"One-two-three-four right! One
-two-three-four; left!"
The girl clapped her hands. The SER
geant repeated the performance.
"How jolly you look, cousin Jack"
Mollie cried as the cuts and thrusts whis-
tied through the air.
"Do I?' the sergeant queried, solemnly
regarding the post in the middle Of the
ground.
"You know that you look NICE" she
said severely. Don't pretend"
He returned the weapon to it's sheath
and looked at the girl critically.
"You know that you look nice, Cousin
Mollie," he said, with mock severity.
Don't pretend. You are the prettiest
girl in Linbridge. All the men at the
barracks say that of you"
"Do they?" she cried with a gasp. Il
am SO glad"
"Glad? Silly girl! What is their opin-
ion WORTH"
"As much as yours. 1 suppose" she
answered.
"Oh, of course"
She leaned against the wall and re-
fastened a buckle. She bit her lip and
tapped the red bricks with her heels.
Sergeant Travers came off worsted
among the men the other night, Iheard."
"The odds were all against the one, as
usual" she said. Your barrack jokes
are seldom funny"
He laughed. why do you care for
him, Mollie?:"
81 don't"
Cali right, Mollie," he said in a tone
that indicated ''all wrong"
cts getting late" she remarked.
"They are setting the tea tray"
"Shall I help you down."
Her toes were on a level with his chest
rs he fronted her. She carefully scru-
tinized the height from the ground.
"No, thank you"
"Oh, all rightv he responded. with
the same dubious infection.
She heard his spurs click over the
frosty ground. She watched the patch
of scarlet merge into the gloom and re-
appear in the lighted room of the house.
Then the tears trickled down her cold
cheek and froze there.
A boy was spinning a top in the next
garden. She leaned toward him.
Little boy" she whispered, "give me
a push"
The little boy, mounting an inverted
bucket, pushed" and heard a muff1ed
thud on the other side of the wall.
Every girl in the little garrison town
who possessed an invitation to the non
commissioned officers bail was prepar-
ing for the evenings festivity.
Mollie Henderson %pirouetted round the
small limit of her chamber, a gauzy be-
ing in white. The circumscribed mirror
had been tilted up and tilted down, only
a quarter of her form being visioned at
one time.
The edge of her skirt and white satin
slippers were undergoing reflection when
her youngest brother shouted through
the keyhole:
"Youlldo, Mollie! You'll beat Georgina
Webb hollow"
"Oh, Bobby, darling, doyou think SOP
she cried, opening the door.
positive. Here are two boxes. Guess
ones from the sergeant"
Each box containeda spray of flowers.
She held the red roses admiringly.
Dear Mollie, please wear myfowers,"
was penciled IN a sheet of paper bearing
the name of Sergeant Travers. The
lilies of the valley were accompanied by
a scrap of paper From Jack"
(Which shall I wear, Bobby" she ask
ed e2citedly, laying the roses and the
lilies together against her bodice.
Both" the boy replied promptly.
"Oh, 1 can't. I think-I think the red
looks better on the white. The lilies are
a trifle insipid, and yet-oh, I must wear
the roses; the rel looks lovely!"
She turned from her brothers inspec-
ton, with the roses clustered at her
breast.
Stunning! Now stick the lilies in
your hair"
but they would look awful, Bobby"
whats the odds? Cousin Jack might
feel hipped if you don't stick 'em some
where"
Don't be so silly! The men have
nothing to do with the flowers"
She gathered her gloves and fan to-
gether and fastened out of Bobby's
sight.
"Well," so'iloquized the juvenile man,
81 guess I'll ;eep my money in my peck
ct before I'm soft enough to waste it on
the girls"
"Did you receive the lilies?' Sergeant
Major Boyne asked, while he and his
partner stood aside from the dancers for