Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-12-18

colonel, mn that's why, first and fore
most, I've claim to see to the wants
an wishes Of the boy. /" ~ sa Aaj
Nurse Gaughan could not understand.
This speech was too great q puzzle for
her to unravel, and she still kept silence.
THAT bein 40, continued the order
~, ~ think we ought to come to some
arrangement. y ..,,
Nurse Gaughan murmured. Certain
ly, II you wish, " and Dennis went away
oontented Z"
The arrangement that had been made
answered well. and Boy Sladen, Watched
necessarily and closely. wantedfor moth
ing. But his stay on earth was limited.
and both Nurse Gaughani and Private
Dennis knew 1t. To Nurse Gaughan he
became friendly and confidential as the
week wore on, and his greatest pleasure
was to draw picture Of himself as the
drum major,
"You know what the drum major is,
nurse?''- he-asl
Yes" replied Nurse GaugnHn rua,,-
lily, forgetting for the moment Boy Sla.
den's ambition.
Some day. nurse, continued Boy
Sladen, ''for I'm getting stronger now.
and shall soon be able to get out Of
bed shall march at the head OF ours
az drum major. Then when I'm man
you'll see me go past. and you II say to
your husband and children, for it'll be
some time yet. See. that's Boy Sladen
of the hand. that / nursed through
feverl' And shall know what you say.
although shan DO able to look, I'm
certain that il you're about I shall
know.
But" said Nurse GaughaD. hadn't
you better go to aieepf Do try and rest
q little''
II don't want to go TO Sleep" said
Boy Sladen. why. the men'll be pa
radipg soon. Even II went to sleep
should wake up az soon rs heard the
band play and the tramp Of the feet.
I'll go to sleep when they'v left bar.
racks That'll be two hours yet. Won't
you try and go to sleep bit, nurse?
You look 30 tired and worn out Do
try, or I'll feel I'm nuisance. F"
Nurses mustn't sleep on duty. said
Nurse Gaughan, but III sit in the
chair. IL that will please You. !"
We'll, do that, then, I" said Boy Sla-
den.
Nurse Gaughan, weary with watch
ing, felt drowsi,Iess steal over her that
she could not conquer She glanced
more than once at her charge, but no
made no sign Of wanting her help, and
when slio last looked his eyes were
closed, and he seemed to be asleep. No
sound broke the silence, and Nurse
Gaughan also closed her eyes and alum.
bered
Boy Sladen's sleep was short and
troubled. His delirium was returning,
and when he woke he started mp in bed
and looked wildly about. Nurse Gaugh.
MI slept on, and Boy Sladen, hearing
the shuffiing Of feet outside, cast tho
bedolOthes silently from him and crepb
noisclessly to the window He saw the
men falling ~. and mad idea seized
him. He glanced at the nurse, who
sumbered still then crept softly past
her, and M soon nv he WAS outside ran
swiftly toward the battalion. He waS
In rear Of the men. and no one saw hinf
coming.
The drum major. pompous In demean-
or and rigid In the wealth Of gold and
scarlet that a generous people gave him.
had taken up his post at the head Of tho
band. The star, with tho great silver
ornament at the head Of IL. was grace
fully balanced against his tunio, and
the drum major was pulling on his
white gloves just q shade more, for tho
women we're Watching from the married
quarters. Suddenly the staff was
wrenched away. and looking in stupid
amazemont for the oause he saw Boy
Sladen standing beside him. clad only
in his nightdress. bareheaded and bare
footed
A wild light was shining in Boy Sla-
denis eyes. He planted the staff firmly
on the ground at arms length, then
twirled II round his head ~ he had seen
the drum major twirl it, and before any
one had time to speak no cried, "Striks
up the March of Gordon's Ownp" He
stepped out grayely. AZ the drum major
did, and turned the staff rhythmically
and In graceful circles In the air.
He was humming the tune as he
marched, when Nurse Gaughan. startled
and terrified. ran across tho parade to-
ward him. She seized the staff, and
needless alike Of it's magniAoence and
the stony horror Of the drum major,
flung II to tho ground, and putting her
arms around Boy Sladen she lifted his
little, wasted form and bore IL into the
hospital.
The colonels quick eye had caught
Boy Sladen's words. "It's the last favor
he'll ever need. he muttered, and he
repeated the command.
The drums were beaten bravely, the
tymbals clashed melodiously. and the
reed and brass made martial music as
the battalion crunched the gravel Of the
parade to the" March Of Gordon's Own
An hour later Boy Sladen Of the band
was dead. But he was satisfied. He had
realized his ambition. Strand Maya.
zine
The wIokedness Of Sleeping.
THAT tHaa xn,aa l,,n fak Ar.vvrftr q.