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

rnOsc WHO hucW tiic pCSuhoAAhcS Va tno
man. The camp was In charge Of Capt.
Mosely, who was recovering from a
wound, and he had selected his old
comrade, Private Chadwick. as his drill
master-e curious selection IL seemed
TO be TO those who didn't know the man.
but the truth was that Private Chad
wick knew as much about tactics as
any West Pointer, and had the knack.
too, of imparting what he knew, even
II he had to use his belt strap to en-
phasize his remarks.
The upshot of the matter was that lit
tie Billy went TO Private Chadwick's
tent and remained there. He and the
private became inseparable companions
When neither was on duty, and in these
hours of leisure little Billy learned as
much about tactics as he did from the
nctual practice of drilling. He seemed
TO take To the business naturally, and
far outstripped the men who had been
drilling twice day for three months.
Naturally, therefore, Private Chadwick
was very proud of his pupil, and fire.
quently called Capt. Mosely's attention
20 little Billy's proficiency.
Over and often during the pleasant
DAYS of November, Private Chadwick
couio DO seen sittIng IN 'front.' OF unclr
tent engaged in earnest conversation,
little billy leaning his face on his hands.
and Private Chadwick making fantastic
figures in the sand with the point of his
bayonet. On such occasions little Billy
would be talking about his dear old
mamma. and about Miss Mary. and, al
though Private Chadwick was some
thing of joker, in his way, he never
could see anything to laugh at in little
Billy's devotion TO his mother or in his
innocent regard for Miss Mary Goolsby.
Somehow it carried the private back to
his own boyhood days, and he listened
to the lad with sympathy that was as
quick and as delicate as woman's.
About the middle of December little
Billy's box came. He carried it to Pri-
yate Chadwick's tent in great glee, and
opened it at once.
He had said to himself as he went
along that he was sure there was some
thing nice In the box, and he hoped to
find Mr.. Chadwick either in the tent or
close by; but the drillmaster was en-
gagged just then in making a refractory
conscript mark time in the guard tent
by iabbing bayonet at his toes.
So, for the moment, little Billy had
his precious box all to himself. He
opened IL and found the letter that Miss
Mary had pinned to the clothes. Itran
thus:
"MR. COCHRAN: Aunt Sally IL very Ill
now, and has been Ill for some time. We
are afraid that you are the only person in
the world that can cure Der. She is calling
your name and talking about you all the
time. 1t would do her so much good TO see
you that hope you can make II convenient
TO come home very soon. IL only for day.
We should all be so glad to see you. Your
true friend, MARY GooLsBY"
Holding this letter in his hand, lit
tie Billy sank down on a camp-stool
and sat there. He forgot all about the
hox. He sat as still as statue, and he
was sitting thus when Private Chad
wick came into the tent half hour
later. Little Billy neither turned his
head nor moved when the drillmaster
came in, snorting with rage and con-
signing all awkward recruits to places
too warm to be mentioned in polite
conversation. But he pulled himself
up when he saw little Billy sitting
on the camp-stool staring at vacancy.
"Hello!" he cried. What kind of
picnic is this? If my nose amt gone
and forgot her manners, L smell cake"
He paused and looked at little Billy.
Lat ha loI traphlaI o1,x
something, he lowered his voice.
l"What's the matter, old man? II it's
trouble. it'll do you more good TO talk
about il than to think about it,
For answer, little Billy held out the
letter. Private Chadwick took it and
began to read it. Then he held IL close
to his eyes.
"Now, this Is right down funny" he
said, land it's just like gal. She's
gone and scratched out the best part"
Little Billy neither moved nor spoke,
but turned inquiring eyes on his patron
and friend. "She began it: Dear Lit
tile Billy" Private Chadwick contin-
ued, "and then she went and scratched
IL out"
IL was very fortunate stroke indeed.
The color slowly came back into little
Bnly's face and stayed there. After
Private Chadwick had read the letter
little Billy took it and gave it care
m