The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-26

hlOVh lllllt blllE Mnllu W tAhlHb uubuk
his dear old mamma, and about Miss
Mary, and, although Private Chadwick
was some thing OF q Joker In his way,
no never Gould SIC anything 10 laugh
at In little Billy's devotion % his mOth-
or or In his Innocent regard for Miss
Mary GnOlBby. Somehow IL carried
the private back 10 his own bOyhnod
days, and he listened TO the lad with a
sympathy that was as quick and AZ
delicate ps womRn's,
About the middle OF December little
BillY's box came, He carried II 10 Prl-
vate ChRdwiclts tent In great glee, and
opened II at once,
He had said To himself as he went
along that be was sure there was some
thing nice In the box, aud he hoped 10
ind Mr.. Chadwick either IN the tent or
close by; but the drlllmnster was en-
gagged Just then In making refractory
c1nscrlpt mark time In the guard tent
by Jahhing n baYonct Ut his toes.
SO, for the moment, llttle Bllly had
his. precious box all To himself, He
opened It and found the letter that Miss
Mary had pinned TO tho clothes II ran
thurs;
"Alr. CoChrans-Aunt Sally is very III
now, and has been III for some time, We
are afraid that you are the only person
IN the world that oan cure her, She Is
calling your name and talking about
you all the time, II would do her 81
much good to see you that hope you
can make II convenient to como home
very soon, II only for day, We should
all ba 10 glad 20 zee you, Your true
friend, MARY GOOLsBY,"
Holding this letter In his hand, little
Billy sank down on q camp-stool and
sat there He forgot all about the box.
He sat as still aB O statue, md he was
Sitting thus when Private Chadwick
came into the tent half hour later
Little Billy neither turned his head nor
moved when the dTlllmaster came In,
Bnorting with rage and conslgninR all
awkward recruits To places too warm
10 b0 mentioned In polite conversation,
But he pulled himself up when he saw
little Billy sitting on the camp-stool
staring at vacancy.
"Hcllo!" he cried. What kind OF
picnic is this2 Ifmy nose Amt gone
and forgot her manners, l smell cake
He paused and looked at little Billy
Seeing that the had was troubled about
something, he lowered his voice.
whats the matter. old mann III ith
trouble, i'm do you more good TO talk
uUOut " lnutl u tUlllh hUbuh "
For answer little nllly held out the
letter. Private Chadwick took Il and
began TO read H. Then he held II close
10 his eyes.
"Now, this Is right down funny" he
said, and IT'S Just like gal. She's
gone and scratched out the best part"
Little Billy neither moved nor spoke,
but turned inqulring eyes on his patron
and friend. ''She began IT. Dear Lit
tie Billy" Private Chadwick contin.
ued, "and then she went and scratched
Il out"
II was a very fortunate stroke indeed.
The color slowly came back Into little
nllly'a face and stayed there. After
Private Chadwick had rad the letter
little Billy took II and gave Il u care.
full Inspection, His Ease wns 30 full OF
color at what he saw that a stranger
would have said that he was blushlng,
whats to be done nbout it7' Pri-
vate Chadwick asked.
II must go home and sec nanny,
replied little Billy,
Privnte Chadwick shook his head.
and continued 10 shake II. as II by that
means he would blot out the Idea.
Can get furlough?" little Billy
asked. with tears In his voice.
II uNg NlllNl NVAAoNAAAfA iNAN NA+'tNNN
this question, Private Chadwick would
have used violent language, but the
innocence and ignorance Of little Billy
were dear 10 him,
Nov. whoever heard Of the like Of
that?" he said. In a kindly tone. There
amt but one way for conscrlpt 70
leave this camp, and that IL to desert"
"I'll do H." exclaimed little Billy.
"You know what that means, rcck'
on" said Private Chadwick. dryly.
at means that I'll sec my dear NAM
my once more" replied little Billy.
'And after that don't care what hap
pens" 49,.
Billy long and hard. smiling under his
mustache, and then went out. He
walked TO the center OF the encnmp-
ment, where the Aag-pole stood, This
lnoffenslve affair he struck hard with
his fist. enchanting under his breath;
Lord, Lord! What makes some people
such big glEznrdH2"
The next day little Billy was missing.
ITO RE CONCLIIDED1