Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-01-16
THE BOY OF THE BAND

Boy Sladen of the band lay i'll of fe-
yer, and the hospital orderly, who had
wide experience in these things, had
told the colonel that he was mortal
bad. "It's now Tuesday, sir, said the
orderly. "It'll be much if he sees the
week through"
"He doesn't want for anything, does
he?" asked the colonel
"Not anything i'll the way of luxuries
or attention, sir" said the orderly,
whose limbs were sore with working for
the boy. "Hes mortal bad Or he wouldn t
be after putin me aside for the sake of
woman.
The colonel looked curiously at the
orderly. "And why for the sake of a
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 a
woman-talkin of how he S never known
the love of one, an how he thinks he'd
die easier if he could have young 'un
an pretty 'un by his side to see him
Off If Boy Sladen'll talk like that, sir,
he's in 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, telephonod to the Nurses institu-
tion and in the tones that he adopted
when ordering goods from the town he
desired the matrOn to send to the bar
racks at once young and pretty nurse
for Boy Sladen of the band. Within an
hour gentle nurse, wearing a neat
black cloak and 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 Gauehan stepped softly up to
the bed in which Boy Sladen lay and
put her cool hand on his forehead. The
heavy eyelids were raised, and Boy Sla-
den looked with dull establishment at her
face.
"Who are you?" he asked in a feeble
voice.
"I'm Nurse Gaughan, she answered.
''But go to sleep again. You mustn t
talk. The moro you keep quiet the
sooner You'll get we'll"
Boy Sladen laughed curious little
laugh.
"Get well?' he echoed. ''Not this
journey. The DOCTORS given me up-I
heard him tell Dennis, the orderly, that
it was all up with the lad. He thought
l was asleep, but wasn't. Has the colo
mel sent for you?"
Nurse Gaughan nodded.
isn't he good?" asked the boy. "It's
all because I said wanted woman to
be near me. There aren't many colonels
who would do the same, are there?"
Nurse Gaughan shook her head. Her
knowledge of colonels was limited, and
she would have acquiesced if the boy
had said they We're 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 colored picture of gorgeous
drummer hoy, upon whom a host OF
phantomlike eyes from ii supposed crowd
were gazing in stony admiration. This
was the work of Private Dennis, and he
thought of all as he leaned against the
married quarters and gazed dreamily al
the hospital.
The heart of tho hospital orderly was
heavy within him as he gazed. He haG
been dethronod, his charge had been
taken from him, and the boy was to die
while in the hands of strangers. Dennis
flowers We're in the hospital 1t was
Dennis affection which had prompted
the idea Of tie gorgeous drummer, ant
Dennis scanty funds that had bought
the print.
Dennis sighed, for a friendship az
strong as it vas strange had grown uI
between him and the boy. The darling
wish of the lad was to become drum
major and WELD the splendid staff ot
office, and the great ambition Of thu
private was to qualify for noncommis
stoned rank. And so they helped eact
other, Dennis telling all he knew of mil
itary duty and Boy Sladen instructins
Dennis i'll subjects with which he hat
to be familiar if he wished to get pro
| motion.