The National tribune., 1896-12-03

all because / said / wanted woman TO De
near me. There aren't many Colonels would
do the same are there?"
Nurse Gaughan shook her head. Her
knowledge of Colonies was limited, and she
would have acquiesced if the boy had said
they were all fiends.
"The Colonel doesn't like women" pro-
ceeded Boy Sladen. He's bachelor" he
added, after a short pause, as if that was .
sufficient explanation of the chiefs dislike.
"He seems to be a very bad-tempered
man," observed the nurse, anxious to con-
ciliate her charge.
Boy Sladen raised himself on his elbows,
and looked angrily at his companion.
Don't you talk like that of him, or sha'n't
like you," he said.
"Oh, Pm 80 sorryi" exclaimed Nurse
Gaughan shocked at her indiscretion.
"Hes the kindest man on EARTH" asserted
Boy Sladen, sinking back upon his pillows,
and he's looked after me ever since father
was cut up by the hillmen away in Afghan
istan. He's the bravest soldier and the best
scholar. It was by listening to him that
learnt to speak English properly, and not
like the Quartermaster"
Nurse GSughan gazed curiously at this
very curious boy, and wondered what a
Quartermaster was. Then she looked at
the bed to see if she could smooth it, but the
loving hands of Private Dennis had already
done the work, and there was no little office
left for her to do.
"There, now, you must go to sleep, or Pm
sure the Colonel will be angry" she said, as
she made believe to smooth pillow.
"Then I'll try" said Boy Sladen, and he
closed his eyes.
Nurse Gaughan looked about the ROOM
and for moment her conscience troubled
her concerning her remarks to Dennis. She
saw about her simple tributes OF his great
affection for the boy, and was sorry that the
sharpness of her tongue had sent him forth
Some flowers were on the mantelpiece and
on a little table near the bed, while on the
wall, facing Boy Sladen, was colored pic
ture of a gorgeous drummer-boy, upon whom
a host of phantOm-like eyes from supposed
crowd were gazing in stony admiration. inns
was the work of Private Dennis, and he
thought of it all as he leaned against the
married quarters and gazed dreamily at the
hospital.
The heart of the Hospital Orderly was
heavy within him as he gazed. He had
been dethroned, his charge had been taken
from him, and the boy was to die while in
the hands of strangers. Dennis's flowers
were in the hospital, it was Dennis's affec-
tion which had prompted the idea OF the
gorgeous drummer, and Dennis's scanty
funds had bought the print. That the days
of the boy were numbered he knew, but he
had never told him how i'll he was, and had
done his best to make him believe that he
would soon be well again and fit for duty.
boy Sladen'll peg out by Sunday" mused
Dennis, land / shall see no more of him.
An yet he isn't satisfied VII me, but must
ha' one o. these interierin' women in their
uniform. The fever must ha' got him bad,
or why should he say he can go off better wi
her near him than one of his own comrades,
an such a comrade as I've been ?"
Dennis sighed, for a friendship as strong
as it was strange had grown up between him
and the boy. The darling wish of the lad
was to become Drum-major, and WELD the
splendid staff of office and the great am
biti0n of the private was to qualify for nom
commissioned rank. And so they helped
each other, Dennis telling all he knew OF
military duty, and Boy Sladen, whose recep-
tivity was great, and who was wOndrous!y
clever as teacher, instructing Dennis in
subjects with which he had to be familiar if
he wished TO get promotion. Dennis at the
outset learned laborously, and the regi-
mental schoolmaster gave him but little hope
of realizing his ambition; but when Boy
Sladen took him in hand he frightened
greatly, and became a pupil of the greatest
promise.
"Him to teach me, an me to teach him."
Dennis mused on; US to be together, come
wet, come fine, an love each other as we do,
an this strange woman to come between us
now 1t isn't to be borne. I'il see the Colo
mel and tell him SO, an get her sent away"
Dennis, under the Impulse of his thought,
began to walk towards the ColonePs quar-
ters, but he had not gone many PAGES before
he stopped. "No, it won't do" he muttered !;
''the Colonel Of ridgiment's the Colonel,
an what he orders has got to be done even
if it's wrong. He brought her here"-he
unconsciously inclined his head in the direc-
ton of the hospital here she must
stay. But that won't eprevent me goin' an
tellin' her I'il stand watch an watch"
The Orderly changed his course and step
| ped softly into the hospital; so softly that
Nurse Gaughan, who was looking at the
little patient, did not hear him, and she
| started when she turned and saw him.
Dennis coughed softly but uneasily by way
of opening his mission; then he waited for
Nurse Gaughan to say something. But Nurse
Gaughan had not quite recovered from her
| SURPRISE and she remained mute.
"pve come back" began Dennis, to see
| if we couldn't make some arrangement about
the boy"
Nurse Gaughan was silent still, and stared
helplessly.
| "Pve watched an cared for him up to this
point" continued Dennis, in low voice. fol
in spite of all his trepidatiOn, he did not for
get that the first thing needed was to let Boy
Sfaden rest in peace; "an' 1 don't quite see
that it's right for a stranger to come in an
| take all the work out of mans hands
especially such man as me, for Pm sori
| O. father, mother, an brother to him. was
by his fathers body when the haythans left
| him, an ID was shot from my rife tba
brought down the man who knitted him.
| That's the reason why Boy Sladen took tt
me even before the Colonel; an and that.
why, first and foremost Pve claim to Sc.
to the wants an wishes of the boy"
Nurse Gaughan could not understand
this speech was too great puzzle for her t.
unravel, and she still kept silence.
Private Dennis, his word being unchal
lenged, grew bolder, and he proceeded, bu
not without certain amount of wonder
Like the Colonel, he was reserved bachelor
consequently his ideas Of women were vague
and l-defned. To his belief no man cOul,
talk to woman and not be interrupted an,
yet here he was standing, talking contnu
ously, and not hearing . word put in +
harass or distress him.
"That bein' So" continued the Orderly
"I think we ought to come to some arrange
ment."
Nurse GauChan rnurmurod uCarto;nI,,