The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-12
zee if wo couldn't make some Arrange.
ment about the boy"

stared helplesSly
i've watched an cared for him ND to
this point, continued Dennis in Il low
voice, IAN don't quite see that it's
right for stranger to como in IN take
all the work out of "a man s hands, cspe-
clally such man as me, for I'm q sort
OF father, mother an brother to him. [
was by his fathers body when the Pay
thans left him, an it was IL shot from
my rifle that brought down the man
who knitted him. That's the reason why
Boy Sladen took to me oven before the
colonel, an that's why, first and fore
most, We claim to sec to the wants
an wishes of tho boy
Nurse Gaughan could not understand.
Ibis speech was too great n puzzle for
her to unravcl, and she still kept silence.
That boin So" continued the order
ly, II think we ought to como to some
arrangement.
Nurse Gaughan murmured, "Certain-
ly, if you wish, " and Dennis went away
contente<l.
The arrangement that had been made
answered well. and Boy Sladen. watched
necessarily and closely, wanted for moth
ing. But his stay Oh earth was limited.
and both Nurse Gaughan and Private
Dennis knew it. To Nurse Gaughan he
became friendly and confidential as tho
week wore on, and his greatest pleasure
was to draw Il picture Of himself as the
drum major
You know what the Drum major is.
nurse?' he asked one dag.
Yes" replied Nurse Gaughan read.
lily, forgetting for the moment Boy Sla.
den's ambition.
Some day, NURSE continued Boy
Sladen, for I'm getting stronger now,
and L shall soon be able to get out of
bed, L shall march at tho head Of ours
AS drum major. Then when I'm a man
You ii see me go past, and you'll say to
your husband and children, for it'll be
some time yet. See, that's Boy Sladen
OF the band, that / nurscd through a
fever! And [ shall know what you say,
although l shan't be able to look. I'm
certain that if you're about 1 shall
know
But, said Nurse Gaughan, "hadn t
you better so to sleep? Do try and rest
u little
II don't want to go to Sleep" said
Boy Sladen. why, tho men'll be pa
rading soon. Even if l went to sleep
should wake up as soon rs 1 heard the
band play and the tramp of the feet.
Ill go to sleep when they've left bar
racks. That II be two hours yet. Won 1T
you try and go to sleep bit, nurse?
You look so tired and worn out. Do
try, or I'll feel I'm nuisance
,,rct,;+ cleo. -.
Nurse Gaughan, "but I'll sit in the
chair, if that will please you.
Well, do that, thcn," said Boy Sla-
den
Nurse Gaughan, weary with watch
ing, felt Il drowsiness steal over her that
she could not conquer. She glanced
moro than onco ut her charge, but he
made no sign of wanting her help, and
when she last looked his eyes were
closed, and no seemed to be asleep No
sound broke the silence, and Nurse
Gaughan also closed her eyes and slum-
borod.
Boy Sladen's sleep was short and
troubled. His delirium was returning,
and when he woke he started up i'll bed
and looked wildly about Nurse Gaugh-
an slept on, and Boy Sladen, hearing
tho shutting of feet outside, cast tho
bcdclothcS silently from him and crept
noisclossly TO the window He saw tho
men falling i'll, and mad idea seized
him. He glanced at the nurse, who
slumborcd still; then crcpt softly past
her, and as soon as he was outside ran
swiftly toward the battalion. He was
III rear of the men, and no one saw hin,
coming.
The drum major, pompous in demean-
or and rigid i'll the wealth of gold and
scarlet that agcnorous people gave him,
had taken up his post ut the head of tho
band. Tho staff, with the great silver
ornament at the head Of it, was grace
fully balanced against his tunic, and
the drum major was pulling on his
white gloves Just u shade more, for the
women were watching from the married
quarters. Suddenly the staff was
wrenched away, and looking in stupid
amazemcnt for the cause he saw Boy
Sladen standing beside him, clad only
i'll his nightdress, bareheaded and bare
footed.
a wild light was shining in Boy Sla-
den's eyes. He planted the staff firmly
on the ground ut arms length, then
twirled il round his head as he had seen
the drum major twirl it, and before any
one had time to speak he cried, Strike
up the March of Gordon's Ownr" He
stepped out gravely, as the drum major
did, and turned tho staff rhythmically
and in graceful circles in tho air.
lie WAS humming the tune as he
marched, when Nurse Gaughan, startled
and terrified, ran across the parade to-
ward him. She seized the staff, and
needless alike of its magnificence and
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