The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-03

the desultory conversation had drifted
into our recalling various unaccountable
mental Impressions and phenomena
with their curious and often startling
results, and the Student Traveller. who
had listened attenttyely throughout,
after bit Of genial banter at his unac.
customod silence, began the relation Of
the following pleasant tale.
Its very short and simple story,
without single thread Of tragedy init
though Il has M odd beginning and m
agreeable ending for those who are not
ayerse 10 occasionally hearing OF the
humble heart dramas among lowly folk
and lives.
Ny own part In II was almost an In.
voluntary one; something as when q
scene-shifter, half in dream and halt
from habit, might return 10 darkened
ana deserted theatre and roll OF and on
this setting or that until, all uninten-
tional with himself, real players have
fitted themselves into his half phantom
performance, and at the end he realizes
he has almost unconsciously been
playwright, manager, prompter aud au'
disnce, all 10 one.
Il began in tho comfortable room OF
nv inn, over against Covent Garden,
in London, in which I had shut myself
from friends and acquaintances In order
10 better accomplish some important
literary work.
1had been engaged to write series
OF tales illustrative Of lowly London lie
for famous London periodical. The
labor had proven strangely sad pleas.
ure, but had proceeded with extreme
success aud qualification, when | sud.
donly came to point where 1t seemed
impossible for me To coherently pen an'
other sentence.
II could not he accounted for on the
ground OF overwork or lack Of material.
/ was in splendid physical condition;in
mood OF superb mental citation. But
there remained tho stubborn, incur.
moantable fact that could not write.
This almost literary syncope had shut
down upon mo now for two days. The
first sheets OF my manuscript were due
in the printers hands at the end Of two
DAYS more. So much was at stake from
promptness or failure, that the sudden
realization OF all this affected me still
more disastrously. I challenged my
powers OF creation and composition In
evcry manner possible to ordinary mas.
terry OF such situation; but it was OF
no avail. I was as helpless to perform
my allotted task as tho scullery maid in
the dark kitchen below.
In this unpleasant strait thought OF
Chelsea hospitalAfor British army pen
sioners. | hastened to the fine old
place, rife with historic associations,
happy in the thought that, among Its
grim and war Scared inmates, could
no doubt find some quaint, odd charac-
ter around whom. q tender romance
could be woven.
! had no more than reached the
grounds, when found burial squad,
Just ready to set out with dead com
rade on that last sad march tho British
pensioner ever takes to the stumberous
shades OF Brompton.
1t was headed by tiring-party OF
twelve, in old black waist belts with
worn cartouche.boxes in front and an
Gent bayonets dangling behind. Next
them stood the tiny old Chelsea tifer,
Little Joe," and the grave and pompous
drummer, Harry McDuh.
These were succeeded by the coffin
now resting on the graveled walk COW
cred with dingv black pail on which
was laid tho single military trophy OF
the dead, worn. threc.cornered hat OF
William the Thirds day-and ancient
inmates OF the dead soldiers ward.
1t was not large squad, but It was an
unaccountable CHEEKY one. The old
boys were merriiy taunting each other
with portentous prophecies Of who
should next fill the "box" that should
be thus carried out Brompton way; but
could see their bravado had in ita pit.
iful undertoue OF dolor and despair.
Gathered about the halted procession
wore an hundred or so moro Of these
veteran paupers, some leaning listless-
" against the sunny iacades Of the
building; some gathered in iussy knots
discussing the merits OF the departed;
some idly gazing at the little cortege
with vacant, stony faces; and others
with canes aud crutches pothering up
and down the line, mingling their
cracked old voices in the rough and un-
seemly badinage.
But the ancient pensioner sergeant in
charge OF the squad was now coming
from the governors rooms with the
burial permit. Premonitory notes upon
Little Joe's" fife accompanied by drum
mutterings could be heard. The old
fellows were falling into line, as the
sergeant took his place behind the rear
most file; and tho six veterans who were
to bear the coffin upon their shoulders
wero about TO lift it from tho ground.
Just then there appeared in the door
leading to tho corridors OF the great
Hall O most ancient pensioner. He
raised his hand auttcringly and
gcreeched out the one word:
"Halti"
ats old Billy" "Billy and Mike
hadn't made up afore Mike croakedl ~
aud await BIT, sergeant, fur OIL BlllyW
wero among tho expressions ! hoard
running along the limo.
lie came putting, wheeling, whimper'
ing down the broad staircase aud ter.
race. He pushed this one and that one
aside petulnntly. When he had reached
the side OF the coffin, he tumbled down
beside it and. fumbling the pail aud tho
hat upon 1t distractedly, blurted out as
tho tears rolled down his hard old face:
"Alike-Mike! to'rd TIL last, ye didn't
play fair. stealin' my baccy an grub
an things, in ward 10; but / can't see
We goin' away Z tn Brompton trenches
'thout sayin' it's all right-aII right now,
Mikep
Then old Billy kissed tho pail and the
hat, sobbed little, scrambled upon his
feet, gIarcd upon his comrades de-
family for his weakness and emotion,
and then. stumping along to the ser.