The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-13
III thought their color was such pref
ty contrast for my gown"

at is very pretty"
care you annoyed, Cousin Jack?"
mot at all. Shall we finish this
yalse?"
"Ye-es."
Later on Travers claimed NIollie for
dance.
GLOW good of you to wear my flow
ers," he murmured.
Many of the men lounging about the
room enyied the little sergeant as he
passed with his partner dIer face was
flushed. Her dark eyes shone brilliantly.
II am tired" Mollie said suddenly.
They went to the end of tho room, where
3 portion was screened off. He took her
fan. waiting it for her while they talked.
Il wish l were rich enough to marry
you, Mollie."
Suppose the colonel refused his con-
sent:"
"Well. we could run away and get
married."
"You daron't."
sob, yes. dare, sweet little Mollie,"
he whispered. Il dare do something for
you
"That is very brave of you. Will you
tetCn HE an Ice:
The smile on Mollie's lips faded as
Travers disappeared round the screen.
She closed her eyes YEARLY.
"Mollie" The sergeant major was
bending over her. Il have come to say
good night, Mollie. One of the men who
is down with the fever has sent for me-"
''But you needn't go:"
81 must; he is dying"
AS he leaned over the chair his hand
lightly touched her hair. One of the
roses had fallen from her breast and lay
on the folds of her gown.
"May have this:" he asked, taking it
up gently
eff you like" The freshness had gone
from her voice. But the other man
gave it to me, Jack"
"Never mind; you have worn it,
He passed out of her sight as Travers
came into it bearing the ice.
"Take it away" she said to him, pet
ulantly; II don't want it."
Sergeant Major Boyne was down with
the fever. His comrades talked serious
ly together. Some of the men hung
round the hospital to which he had been
removed and begged constantly for the
latest bulletin.
Near the group of soldiers stood Mollie
Henderson. Every day she gathered
news of her cousin from their fragmen-
airy conversation.
Hes mortal bad" remarked one
"Aye. Sinking fast, heard
Hes sticking to his colors to the last"
spoke another. "They say he's calling
out her name often"
"And she don't care rap for him."
"She amt good enough for our SER
geant major" they murmured together.
"P'raps she'll be sorry when'-
Some one pushed through the group.
Each man fell aside as Mollic, her face
white and strained, passed by them and
obtained admittance into the hospital.
| Presently one of the men looked UP at
| the sergeant majors window
Lets hope she'll he in time, mates"
he said luskily.
The sergeant major was convalescent.
In the little back yard he practiced a
broadsword exercise in the presence of
Mollie Henderson
-three-four; right! One
! two-three-four; left"
The girl sitting on the wall called out
to him:
THAT will do. Come here and rest a
minute
You must be obeycd, Cousin Mollie,"
he said, gliding one hand into her muff.
''Of course. Haven't l sworn to take
care of You, Cousin jack"
Their fingers interlaced inside the
muff. She counted the branches of TIL.
skeleton tree; he reckoncd up the
notches in the wooden post
Cousin Mollie?"
Cousin jack"
Don't you think we might begin the
new year.
The two little dangling feet moved
restlessly against the wall; the hand
within the scrgeants frightened its clasp.
He looked mp at the face above his own.
"Mollic, Molliew he cried softly, may
I hoist my colors in the new year,
eyes, Jack, yes"
The boy in the next yard looked W
! from spinning his top and remarked
upon the sudden disappearance of Mollie
into the sergeant majors arms, u
| thought she wouldn't want showing off
! the wall this time. "-London Tit-Bits.
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