The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-26
THE BABY" HERO.

Qua. Inc SrOuHO tHey tueH OCcupleti
was doubtful territory. Once or
twice there had been whisper of a
rising among some of the wilder
Afghans OR Afridi tribes, but SO far
nothing had occurred to disturb the
dull rnonotony-
Mrs. Hindle, the adjutant's wife.
was very much upset. Hitherto she
had reigned supreme. All the devo-
tiors of the garrison had been freely
offered at her feet, and Baby-well,
he went in and out of the adjutant's
quarters with the familiar air of a
well established family cat.
In due time the general, accom-
panied by his wife and daughters,
reached us. The latter were fine
looking women. The youngest might
be five and twenty, the Oldest was
cerSainly 80.
To this one Baby, to everybody's S
astonishment, Immediately attached
himself. The Old general scowled,
but to no purpose.
Mrs. Hindle's tea parties were de-
serted, whereas before he was al
ways there to hand round the cakes
and make himself of use. We missed
him. for we had to get up for what
we wanted ourselves.
Not that Miss Steward encouraged
him-far from it. At first she had
been kind to him. He was but boy
in looks and in age, SO she had
treated him as a younger brother
until his attentions became the talk
of the station, and then, I fancy, the
old general issued an order to his
daughter, and she began to pull him
urgently at first, firmly soon.
Finally the lady herself cut up
rough, and She sent for Baby and
gave him a bad quarter of an hour.
She pointed out to him how ridic-
ulous his attentions were, and when
he ventured to speak of marriage
she called him baby, who needed
his mother more than a wife, and
THAT if she had any more of his nom
sense she would write to his mother.
She told him that they would al
ways be pleased to see him at their
bungalow, but her mother made it
"a condition that he must give a
promise not to think of her again
in connection with marriage.
This promise he refused to give,
so he was warnd off and excluded
from all invitations.
One thing was noticeable. He
frightened up wonderfully in his
duties. He would spend hours at
target practice, and old Sergeant
Hunt and he seemed to spend a lot
of time together. By Hunts account
there never was such shot as Baby
was becoming under his tuition.
Mrs. Kindle was in despair. He
had been very useful to her before
this unfortunate affair with Miss
Steward, and at her AT homes" he
was missed by all, for he was sure
TO do or say something funny.
twas arranged by some one to
have a picnic. This was to be Il kind
of winding up to our moderate fes-
tivities, for the generals sojourn
with us was now at an end any day.
The morning of the start Baby
stood looking wistfully at the prep
arAtions, and there was just a sus-
picion Of tears i'll his large blue
eyes-but I may be mistaken. The
Misses Steward made their appear
ance and were soon mounted on
mules.
"Now, Dora," shouted the cid
general to his eldest daughter, "lcoA
after your sisters. y
Baby's eyes followed her move
ments with a hungry, mournful
look. His heart ached as the little
party rode off, which lac had not
been invited to join. 1t was an un-
lerstood thing now that Baby was
to be left out of everything.
For some time he wandered about
in restless, aimless manner. Then
he sauntered out again. Here he
was joined by Hunt, who deeply
sympathized with Baby in the mat
ter, and had been prophesying all
kinds of dark things about the
weather.
81 think it is mistake, sir, he
remarked, with the respectful air of
a man who has seen long service.
"What is mistake, Hunts'' in
quired Baby.
"Well, this picnic. The country
is not safe, leastways for ladies.
Men cannot fight OH equal terms
with women about. There is a lot
Of them Afridis about over the hill,
and am sure there will be trouble
with the Afghans. p"
Something in Hunts manner set
Baby thinking. and, after a brief
visit to his major, he rode off in the
of the picnic party. After
riding some distance he branched
off to the right, and, after dislnount-
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