, 1896-12-14
THE BOYOFT THE BAND

Boy Sladen of the band lay ill of fe-
yer, and the hospital orderly, who had
wide experience in these things, had
told the colonel that he was mortal
bad" cts now Tuesday, sir. said the
orderly. eth be much if he sees the
week through"
HE doesn't want for anything, does
he!" asked the colonel.
"Not anything in the way of Injuries
On attention, SIR" said the orderly,
whose limbs were sore with working for
the boy. '"He's mortal bad or he wouldn't
be after putin me aside for the sake of
q woman"
The colonel looked curiously at the
orderly. "And why for the sake Of n
woman?" he demanded.
"That's the strange part Of it. SIR"
returned the orderly. Ever since he
woke this mornin he's been askin for q
woman-talkin of how he's never known
the love Of one, IN how no thinks he'd
die easier if he could have u young IN
an q pretty 'un by his side to see him
of. II Boy Sladen'll talk like that, sir,
he's in a bad way"
"Did he really say that?" asked the
colonel.
"The words I've told you are the
words he used, sir, " said the orderly.
"Then he shall have one," said the
colonel, and he strobe to the orderly
room, te%lephoned to the Nurses institu-
ton and in the tones that he adopted
when ordering goods from the town he
desired the matron to send to the bar
racks ut once a young and pretty nurse
for Boy Sladen Of the band. Within an
hour a gentle nurse, wearing a neat
black cloak and a dainty bonnet, passed
the sentry On the main guard on her way
to the hospital. The sentry stared a
moment at the apparition. then stood
bolt upright, and feeling that so unusu-
al spectacle called for unusual honor he
shouldered arms.
Nurse Gaughan stepped softly up to
the bed in which Boy Sladen lay and
put her cool hand on his forehead. The
heavy eyelids were raised, Rnl Boy Sla-
den looked with dull establishment at her
face.
"Who are your" he asked in a feeble
voice.
"I'm Nurse Gaughan," she answered.
"But go to sleep again. You mustn't
talk. The You keep quiet the
you'll get WE'LL"
Boy SIaden laughed a curious little
laugh.
"Get well?' he echoed. "Not this
journey. The doctors given me up-I,
heard him tell Dennis, tho orderly, that
it wa all up with the lad. He thought
I was asleep, but I wasn't. Has the colo
mel sent for you?"
Nurse Gaughan nodded.
"Isn't he good?" asked the boy. Its
all because I said I wanted o woman to
be near me. There aren't many colonies
who would do the same. are there?"
Nurse Gaughan shook her head. Her
knowledge Of colonies was limited, and
she would have acquiesced il the boy
had said they were all fiends.
"There, now, you must go to sleep.
or I'm 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.
Some flowers were on the mantel-
piece and on q little table near the bed,
while Oh the wall, facing Boy Sladen,
Was q oolored picture Of a gorgeous
drummer boy. upon whom a host of
phantomlike eyes from u supposed crowd
were gazing in stony admiration. This
was the work Of Private Dennis. and he
thought Of all az 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
flowers were in the hospital. It was
Dsnnis' affection which had prompted
the idea Of the gorgeous drummer, and
Dennis scanty funds that had bought
The print
Deunis sighed, for . friendship -
stxuns a. IL was strange had grown up
betWsen him and the boy. The darling
W1sh Il the lad was to become a drum
najpr md WELD the splendid sta6 Of
oGlee, and the great ambition OF the
rstvats was 70 quality for nonoommis-
oicned rank. And % they helped each
oehas, Dsunts telling all be knew Of mil
t1asy duty and Boy Sladen ~instructing
Dolais ID subjects With which hc had
= q familiar e hs wiahed to ct pro
met1A.
z1scedssly stsppsd softly beck into
~ aAoepital-so softly that Nurse
m, who was looking q " Little
Do0{nA did rot hsax him. and - seazs-
49, ~ turned aud saw him
~ anns baek, "beoas Dsnats. 10
u. STRIKER.