Evening star., 1898-07-23
WILL YE COME OUT.o

me at all. and have you eating the poor
things up? Do come inr'
'Begab, an can't jist yet, Mrs. Bell"
Healy answered. They'll be afhter call
In my name at retrate Mrs Bell Swate
Mrs Bell, I'm askn' yez to look at this
wee bit av wrihn'."
oh" cried the widow. suddenly ami
mated. do tell! Is II an invite to a hop
at the post? Are the soldiers going to give
another dance?'
Nat yit!" exclaimed Healy, throwing
out a restraining hand Mrs. Bell began
TO tear the envelope. Nat yit,' he re-
peated tendcrly. "Whin I'm gone. Mrs Bell
II ST s-a matther av business, me dear
business, corpoTal?'
III be afther an answer tonight Lit II
be the roight wan, swate Mrs Bell
oh, Mr. Healy!" the widow murmured
and biushed. Healy caught her in his arms
and gave her hearty kiss.
%! o. Mr.. Healy.' she cried, and
Lit it be the roight wan, swate Mrs
Beu, the corporal repeated and ran away,
himself a shamefaced red, and fearful to
look round to see if any one had noticed
them.
The farrier, being a privileged character,
was excused from tattoo roll call. There
fore there was nothing to hinder him, an
hour after retreat. from locking his room
door in the troop stables and speeding
away through a slight fall of snow. on
pleasure bent, So 1t happened, while Cor
poral Healy was standing stiffly to atten-
ton along with his troop answering the
call Of his name at tattoo, with the snow
gathering thickly .about them, that Fin
Strait was comfortably seated in the neat
little unprotected house, protecting from
all comers the neat little widow
But / must be going" he said, for the
tenth time. Its getting late and the
snow gets deeper every minute. If 1 want
to get home at all tonight L should be go
ing now, Mrs. Bell
Yes, Mr.. Strait"
~ was thinking you must be very lonely
here since-yor know"
The Widows eyes ceased to twinkle, end
winked away = tear or two.
1T is lonely, Mr.. Strait" she answered
him.
Fin shufled his feet nervously and looked
out beneath the red window shades.
Bell
yes, Mr. Strait"
Its not lonely up at the post" said Fin.
and rubbed the crossed brass sabers on his
hat with sudden fury.
The widow sighed.
But I can't live at the post, Mr. Strait"
she answered. and stood in the middle of
the floor, thoughtfully playing with her
marriage ring. The farrier looked at her
timidly. tenderly.
Sit down, Mrs. Bell" he cried, desper-
ately IF you can't md chair. sit down
here.
And he pulled the widow on his knee.
"Oh. AIr. Straitr' said Mrs Bell but re-
sisted very gently.
YIN you come ana i've at the post as
my wife?' the farrfer whispered, but the
wicked widow, conscious of an offer from
the corporal now in her pocket, played
with the farrier.
At that there came a modest rap at the
door, and the widow jumped to open 1t. 1t
is probab ? that she knew who 1t was, for
the twinkle of her eyes betrayed a love of
mischief, but she evinced great surprise at
seeing Corp. Healy standing in the snow
She threw the door wide and hospitality
open.
Why Mr.. Healy," said she. "to think
you'd come through all that snow-for the
second time today, too. You must like the
town. Come right in
IF il had showed baynits and sabers
me dariint." cried Healy, entering, .'Pd
have come for the
He did not finish the sentence He saw
his old friend Fin, and the corporars face
turned red and white and darkly purple in
quick succession. The farrier had risen to
his feet at the sound of the soldiers voice
ard the two faced each other in the coy
little parlor, with. for the first time since
they were both recruits, f1erca anger in
| their eses. The widow closed the door and
| began to laugh and chatter
How funny. nowi" she cried ''Here's
| yos two, whom the folks at the post call
| the brethren, you're so thick and such Odd
| before How funnyr
80 she chattered, while her lips were yet
red with honest Fins kiss, ard uealey's 8
| appeal crumpled in her pocket. Old hearts
are more slow to fame to either love or
anger than those that are young but once
atire they burn with the snap and glare of
Jury. Healy heard nothing of Mrs. Bells
CHATTER; his ears were full of a savage
humming like the buzz of a KafHr ir1pi
The farrier did not look at her: his eyes
We're hxed on the corporaPs- In the breasts
OF both there blazed the same primitive