The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-14

was such handsome fellow as he when
he donned the uniform Of the Apple
gate snarpshooters. And all that SPLEEN
did vitality, that superintendent energy,
was to be devoted to the service of his
country, with never thought for the
luxurious leisure which had gone before
1t placed him on pedestal and left
neither time nor inclination for any
thing but wholesale idolatry of the
hero of the family.
Miss Monckton voiced the sentiment
of the entire circle when she came into
the room where Marianne was packing
her brothers. travelling bag.
Reginald has given us a very bad
time of it lately, but have not hard
feeling against him. You know he may
never come back to u.s." Marianne
flashed an indignant look up at her from
her seat on the floor.
"Monksey, you can say the most ex.
asperating things! OF course Reggie
will come back. 1t will not be more
than month or two that we will have
to live without him. And as for that
other matter, he has suffered enough
already. should say we didn't have
any hard feelings. What are lands and
houses at such time as this?''
Miss Monckton elected sniff Of
scorn through her aristocratic nostrils.
"Oh, we'll, there is no use in the
world taking such very sublimated
view Of things as thatl can't, il you
can. Houses, or at least one is really
essential. We will have to live some
where, as we are not all going to be
lioutenants and camp out. Has Regi.
nald told you what we are to do if that
fiend chooses to take possession of Bel
hayen during his absence?'
"Oh, Monksey, don't! I am trying to
forget, and am SO glad there is so
much to do for him.
She bent silently over the open bag
and resumed her work. There were
tears in her eyes. One or two fell upon
the white silk handkerchiefs she was
adding to her soldiers outfit. Miss
Monekton threw small parcel into her
lap.
"Find room for that, my dear. 1t is
housewife, and I've worked horse
shoes and four leaved clovers all over
it. You know they stand for good luck,
and Reginald is going into many per-
ilous place.
"Of course he u.s., said Max, loung-
ing into the room with the silver row.
eled spurs no had been furnishing for
his brother. II only wish it was me in
stead Of Reggie, that's all. 1t is con-
founded nuisance to be told at every
breath you are too young to go. Here
before we can say Jack Robinson Reggie
is coming home covered with glory
Miss Monckton interrupted him with
grewsomo alacrity.
"Or with scars. Oh, don't talk to me
about the pomp and circumstance of
war, 1t is butchery pure and simple,
aud If ever tho men do let women have
their rights I warrant you wo can set
tic all the quarrels without cutting each
others threats. It's goddess business
from beginning to cnd. If had a SOM
"Wouldn t he be duffer?" said Max
irrovcrently.
Marianne interposed in the interest of
pcace:
Monkey. please, you and Max, stop |
fussing about that son Of yours He is
chronic bone of contention, and I'm sure
between you all something will be left
out of this bag She puckered her
brow refiectively. "Let me see. I've put
his silver boot hooks in one Of the. pock-
cts Of your housewife. hope he won't
lose them. They belonged to our dear
papa. A dozen silk handkerchiefs ought |
to do him, don't you Think"
~ should think So How about
mosquito bar?'
ooh, I've got that imp
"Toilet soap?" ,-i.,
eyes, and shaving soap, too, but I've
left out his nailbrush, and Reggie is so
particular about his hands,
Here Maxwell clashed his spurs to.
gether like cymbals and gave vent to
outlaw that stirred Marianne and Miss
Monckton to wrath.
Gee, but women folks have funny
notions about soldiers! Boot hooks and
barsl Shaving soap and nailbrushes"
Zone can be gentleman, Max, if he
is going to stand up to be shot at, and
I know my brother Reginald would
rather die with clean face than a
bristly one. Because man has been ac-
custoned to the elegancies of life is no
reason he should give them all up at
once, nor will he be any the poorer SOL
dier for little decent comfort. -
Max struck military attitude and
inflated his lungs:
Soldiers, attention! Boot hooks to
the front Shoulder nailbrushes''
This pleasantly elected a sniff of
scorn from the two women.
"Who is Reginald going to take with
him?" Miss Monckton asked, turning
her back on Max.
Gas body servant?"
eyes"
NANNY James Mose and he is the
proudest darby on the plantation.
"That's bekase he amt got the sense
he was horned with"
Nanny Jane advanced this opinion,
as she waddled into tho room with an.
other contribution for that much put
upon travelling bag. 1t was quart bot
lie full of some dark liquid. She was
binding the kid thumb of an old glove
about its very prominent stopper as she
walked.
Honey, you must find room for this,
II everything in that bag haster to make
way for it,"
"But what is it?''
"Balsum apple in whusky. When
hem boys Of our'n gets to foolin around
With guns an things, somebody's
mighty liable to git hurt, an there
lint nothin OH the top Of the universe
ike balsum apple for cut OF gun
wound. This is bound to 90 long with
hem two boys Of our'n."
Marianne took the bottle from the
Id woman s hand. She was quivering
II every nerve. If only she could have
hese last few hours all to herself!
What with all this CHASTITY talk about
cars and wounds, how was she to keep
IN n bravo front until thot IreoflfuI !