The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

mustache, and then went out. He
walked to the center of the encamp-
ment where the fag-pole stood. This
inoffensive affair he struck hard with
his fist, exclaiming under his breath:
Lord, Lord! What makes some people
such big gizzards?"
The next day little Billy was missing.
"
Capt. Mosely had the camp searched,
but without result, and in a little while
everybody knew that the lad was de-
serter. During the morning Private
Chadwick had long talk with Capt
Mosely, and the result of 1t was that no
immediate arrangements were made to
send a guard after little Billy.
Meanwhile Aunt Sally was growing
weaker and weaker. Sometimes in her
troubled dreams. she imagined that lit
tie Billy had come, and, at such mo-
,nents, she would cry out glad well
come, and laugh as heartily as ever.
But, for the most part, she knew that
he was still absent, and that all her
dreams were futile end fieeting.
Nevertheless, one bright morning in
the latter part of December, little Billy
walked into his mothers humble home.
weary and footsore. Aunt Sally heard
his footsteps on the door sill, and, weak
as she was, sat up in bed and held out
her arms to him. Her dreams had
come true, but they had come true too
late. When little Billy removed the
support of his arms, in order to look at
his dear mammy's face, she was dead.
The Joy of meeting her son again was
too much for the faithful and tender
heart.
All that could be done by kind hearts
and willing hands was done by Miss
Mary and the neighbors. Little Billy
shed no tears. The shock had benumbed
ell his faculties. He went about in n
dazed condition. But when, the day
after the funeral, he went To tell Miss
Mary good-by, the ineffable pity that
shone in her face touched the source
Of his grief, and he fell TO weeping as
he had never wept before. He would
have kissed her hand, but she drew it
away, and, as he Strengthened himself,
tiptoed and kissed him on the forehead.
thus they parted. But for many a long
day little Billy felt the pressure of soft
and rosy lips on his forehead.
He sold the old mule that had served
his dear nanny SO faithfully, and this
gave him sufficient money TO pay his
way back to camp on the railroad, with
some dollars to spare. AS good fortune
would have it, the first man he saw
when the train stopped at the station
nearest the camp was Private Chad
wick. Little Billy spoke to his friend
with as much cheerfulness as he could
command.
I'm mighty glad to see you. old
man." said Chadwick. II knowed in
season tSFst you was certain to come
back--and, sure enough, here you are.
You've had trouble, too. Well, trouble
has got long run and hard hand, and
amt never saw the livin' human bein'
that could git away from it when it be-
gins 10 feel around for 'em."
"Yes," replied little Billy, simply:
"I'll never have any more trouble like
that I've had"
Its mighty hard at first always" re-
marked Private Chadwick, with a sigh,
"but it's mighty seasonin'. The man
that amt the better for it in the long
run amt much of man. That's the
way put it down."
"Am / n deserter, sure enough?"
asked little Billy, suddenly remember.
ing his position.
"Well, it's a mixed case," answered
the private. you've gone and broke
the rules and articles of war-I reckon
that's what they call 'em. You took
Dutch leave. The Cap said if you didn't
come bacissin ten days he'd send file
of men after you. and then your cake
would "a been all dough. But now
you've come back of your own free will.
and the case is mixed. You are bound
TO be arrested. All that's been fixed,
and that's the reason I've been comm
to train every day sence you've been
gone. / wanted to arrest you my.
self"
'Then I'm prisoner" suggested lit
tie Billy.
That's about the size and shape of
it," replied Private Chadwick.
His tone was so emphatic that iittle
Billy looked at him. But there was n
kindly light in the private's eyes and a
pleasant smile lurking under his mus
tache: so that the young fellow thought
he might safely go back TO his grief
again.
When they arrived at camp Private
Chadwick, with a great show of fierce
fornol;tv led little Rilly to the punrd
tent. and there placed him in charge of
a newly made corporal, who knew so
little of his duties that he went inside
the tent, placed his gun on the ground
and had a long, familiar chat with the
prisoner.
After the camp had gone TO bed Pri-
vate Chadwick relieved the guard and
carried little Billy to his own tent, where
Capt. Mosely was waiting.
This rouUh old soldier Onye LITTLE piilv