The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-01-07
THE BABY" HERO.

Baby" he was called in the reg
imGnt, and though he had turned
over his 21 years no other name
possibly could have suited him.
TlCy were on the frontier of In
dia. The ground they then occupied
was doubtful territory. Once OF
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 monotOny.
Mrs. Hindle, the adjutant's wife,
was very much upset. Hitherto che
had reigned supreme. All the devo-
tiCn Of the garrison had been freely
offered at her feet, and Baby-well,
he went in and out of the adjutant's 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. Tho youngest might
be five and twenty, the Oldest was
certainly 80.
To this one Baby, to everybody'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 younger brother
until his attentions became the talk
of the station, and then, fancy, the
old general issued an order to his
daughter, and she began to pull him
up-gently at first, firmly soon.
Finally the lady herself cut up
rough, and she sent for Baby and
gave him 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 a baby, who needed
his mother more than wife, and
that if she had any more of his non
sonse 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 lot
of time together. By Hunts account
there never was such shot as Baby
was becoming under his tuition.
Mrs. Hindle 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.
1t was arranged by some one to
have picnic. This was to be 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 in his large blue
oyes-but | may be mistaken. The
Misses Steward made their appear
ance and were soon mounted on
mules.
Now, Dora," shouted the old
general to his eldest daughter, "look
after your sisters.
Baby's eyes followed her move
ments with a hungry, mournful
look His heart ached as the little
party rode off, which he had not
been invited to join, 1t was an un-
derstood thing now that Baby was
to be left out of everything.
For some time he wandered about
in restless, mmless manner. Then
he saurtered 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.
Il think it is a mistake, SIR" he
remarked, with the respectful air of
a man who has seen long service.
"What is a mistake, Hunt2" in
quired Baby.
well, this picnic. The country
is not safe, leastways for ladies'.
Mep- cannot f.ht on equal torms