Evening star., 1898-07-23

Corporal Htaly walked TOunu Ine Wire
Sence at the corner where the little school
house stood. with the elaborate air of one
who Is stroIIiug about for want of some
thing better 10 do. Yet he turned his head
now and again and eyed the long verandas
OF the barracks and the men kicking about
Q foot ball on the frozen parade ground, in
way wEich was almost guilty. They were
not thinking Of him at all. but the soldier
twirled MS stick and whistled with un-
usual loudHess. an apparent attempt to
Convince observers that he was merely en-
Joyiug the fresh. cold wind that whistled
over tne brown plains and reddened his
lean and leathery checks. One eye. how
ever, h kept sharply on the schoolhouse
door. and twice IN five minutes he looked
secretly at his watch. The door opened
aud the children of the post came charging
out. tumbling group Of boys and girls.
Ettle folk of the plains. soldiers babes
clear eyed and self reliant HeaIy walked
more quickly round the corner and present
Ell himself at the side door of The school.
out oi sight Of barracks and parade ground.
Graves. the soldier schoolmaster was
Clearing his desk and preparing TO follow
The Youngsters
"HaIIoa' he cried. looking up at the
tall. straight red-headed figure in the door
Wy coming to school corporal? What
Te@t"r shall put you iu?''
Healy grinned beuigEaHtIy.
" many $ the year. Graves" he said
the school of the battalion has been the
only Wan I've found uicissary an tactics
has h.n me raider ShUre I wuz passin' an
looked IN upon yez- It's wearin' lob vcZ
have, Graves. tachin' them kids. near as
bad as drilEn' rockies. I'm afther thfnktn'"
About" said Graves. taking up the door
key.
we've a great head. Graves" the cor
pcrai said sweatly. with a flattering cock of
II
tOTld the chaplain To lave yez be, as yez
kN-w more than ne aid"
Graves laughed and sat down.
When You fatter me- like that Healy."
What is it2''
Nat at all. at air cried HeaIy, sud
denly becoming nervous i wuz jist pass
in But seein. yez amt busy. wud ye do
me favor. Mister Graves
Mister cried Graves. laughing again.
ia he begin yez. though. TO kape it to
yourself. said Healy, earnestly and plung-
Ing headlong into the matter on his mind
. II no matther of shame, but the bows
5FiI he he;ther not to hear it. seem as L
might have to take their fooIin' sarious.
W I'd yez give me Yer opinion on that.
GraVeS2''
Graves took a big sheet Of fooIscap from
the corporal and read aloud
Sweet girl. accept a Iowly heart.
Which now thy lover with the majors
permission lays at Thy feet,
For from thee. Oh, darling. 1 cannot dwell
apart
Be mine I respectfully land according IN
the rules nd ray1iIatfo17s - ~, 80 ~
fcel do eutreat-'
..Tt.s ,g.,t-,- III l, x,
sid III - II ". Ge ~ ~-tIIeI ligtlcln
r. r--14.! -'7 VIZ s"Ci PI!UG >idt
- - -. e .-i, ;.iIl'uilild7 teI Leu
- - % t.lis CiL''- nLllis CHusHS- but
a scholar. to touch it up a bit Graves.
.l e obs. "osaTFe. 1t don't sing itself, fur it's
G a'',Lli,I mn since ooy' Ihrue
9.'ol nm w go 10 a chuhe Wh4h
= ~ .l1I-I -s'I' II, / 1el2Ne-
~ sal0 'fF5Nts, my boys usually
- - m !,!y nsSl poetry sing-song, cor
pc Is St'IS IA uec-afitlOn!
iiSo'.S gL-S1Iea, al least MS neck grew
(, --l gI.--T l-Lah was customary. But he
IL" "-i,47tiL 1D very straight indeed, and
6l4~"ti+@ 1"ialy'
- III S''i-i4s!ic2. i : afther betu that same,
Gi4EeS- is II all rlght2'
~ ny S}tl the sentiment by these braCk-
eleH aSSui s.1ceS OF the major giving his
PERMISSION.
AN Graves said the corporal, winking
sh. rN-lN. Wlin l WuS younger, an rUnRin
af-her the gurrIs, twas mesi1f wuz all sin
tmi1t, 50 il WIZ. But igsparince has larn-
ed M that It's the puracticaI man gifts
there I'm afther dilcately inshinu3tin to
ths lady that she'd need niver fear the
L '&j"rU object. ShuTe she knows a sotar
re4ucirro 20 ask lave 10 marry Nv the cam
nand.n' officer. But it spiles the chune NV
t4ic Etr-llLEF an lQdl "QQt aSEln',
WuH ys jist drill It into shape Graves
seein' yt're q scholar. which, l behave. in
c,ud-s po=thry?''
The schoolmaster good-naturedly assum-
ed the task. and much to the corDora1's
admiration. succeeded shortly in submitting
70 the old soldier a sufficiently creiitable
ehusiOn when HeaIy gratefully took his
departure leaving Graves to chuckle nv
himself for a long time in the deserted
schOOlhouse.
As the soldier left and took his way
round the rear Of the buildings avoiding
the neighbOrhood Of the post traders and
the gUarlhouse. his manner was more sus-
Tic.ous than ever; the twfrl OF his stick and
The blitheuess Of his whistle was affectedlv
ncrchalant He could not. though. If such
were his purpose. avoid all notice nor HIN
meeting some one. He was almost hevond
the post limits and had settled 10 a husi-
Dess-!ike walk when just as he fI,rned the
corner Of the corral he ran fairly irto Ein
Strait the farrier Of his own trooT Vil-a
the corporal Fin was a veteran and tbe
two were churns of long standing The far
riers room in the stables had hem the
scene OF many a quiet "a rouaa viii, ropa
70 iciu in il 5,1t the cronies rbarosaII,ns aTd
when HeaIy's Uockets were er1rtv ana bIs
throat Eot-coppered Of a morning, he vas
always sure Of a punch comnoundeJ from
Fms stock Of alcohol euprIiE5 n tba for-
rter as horse medicine. Together they