The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-01

OE( Lis way ~ LIZ 49,
opened the doOr of the anteroom MS
agony OF mind was intense
said a voice he seemed TO
remember, and the next minute he was
Xxi hands with the Colonel I'm
very glad to see you again, my dear TEL
low. Eth, what? We're a very dull party
here, a very duh party, but you mustnt
mind that. Eth, what? You must speak
up when you talk to me; I'm as dear as
a post-can't hear a single word Let
me introduce you to Major Bullen- Dyou
remember Bullen? After your time, l
think. Eth, what?" A very fat old man
with two stout walking sticks in his
hands extricated himselff from the
depths of ar armchair and hobbled over
to Caraway.
Very pleased to meet you," he
wheezed- Fear you'll find US a bit dull
lame. Gout. Anything the matter with
your"
"A little s~ciatica at times said Cara
way, wishing to make himself pleasant.
'Sciaticai Cure you in two days.
Remedy of my own. Perfectly simple,
and no demmed quackery. Come over to
my quarters after dinner and I'll tell
you about it"
And now" said the Colonel, "let me
introduce Captain Simmonds- He thinks
because I'm deaf he must Shout; the
greatest mistake in the world. I can hear
well enough if people only speak dis
tinctly."
Captain Simmonds came forward. He
was a big fellow, boasting a great chest
measurement and a deep pass voice
"Beastly nuisance calling us out" he
said. II believe we shall be here for a
couple of yearsI' And then he burst out
laughing Caraway laughed, too.
What does he asked the Col
onel.
HE says. sir" replied Major Bullen.
automatically, h we h be here for
q couple of years"
"A couple of What? said the Col
onel.
"A couple of years. SIR cried Captain
Simmonds.
Don't shout Don't shout.' the Col
onel said. well, what if we are? We're
four now, and that's enough for a rub
ber.'
You're still fond of whist, then?'
Caraway asked.
You're still fond of whist. he says"
bawled Simmonds.
"Oh. yes; very. Never lost my love of
a rubber. How that fellow Simmonds
does bellowi"
The mess sergeant threw open the door
and announced dinner. Colonel Watt
took Caraway'ts arm and led him for
ward. Major Bullen, wheeling horribly
and stumbling painfully along with his
two sticks, followed at a respectable
distance. Captain Simmonds Longing
behind yawning oudly
oh, by the way, Caraway," said the
Colonel, your wife was very wise TO
write about your bed. Directly 1 arrived
here l sent out for warming pans. a
1liOSL important point, IHdI. En-, what.
All, glad you agree with me. A damp
bed is the devil, the very devil. 1 have
p my bed aired every night since I
came here, and Bullen does the same.
doesn't take advice. Never heard a fell
low shout as he does" he continued,
whispering Got a voice like the bull of
Bashan. Eth, what? Caraway smiled
and bowed acquiescence. The Colonel,
10 longer the dashing major, seemed to
him the pleasanteSt fellow he had ever
met Bullen, in spite of his groans, was
a cheerful companion, and as long as one
seemed harmlessness itself. This, then,
was his return to soldering. A deaf
chief, a lame major, and a captain who
made one o k and went to sleep after
dinner In his room that night Capt.
Caraway, happy as a sc~hoolboy, sat down
and wrote a letter to his wife.
My Dearest Jane: Here I am, a
soldier again. Much as 1 like the quiet
of civilian life, there is, 1 must confess
it, a certain-fascination about the dash
ing life of a soldier. When 1 had got
into my kit I felt the old glow again,
and when / walked into the anteroom 1
felt all that elation-shall I say swag-
ger?-which an ignorant public asso-
ates only with the Blues. The men are
what a dashing fellow he was-is just as
handsome as ever. Bullen, the major, a
very good sort, and another man, Cap
tain Simmonds, is a tremendous wit, and
hCCPS Us Oil OA IL IOdI. OlG CANNOT De
dull in his society. We are all very gay
and jolly. And now, with love to your
self and the cats, ever your devoted
husband,
GEO CARAWAY.
"P. S.:-The fellows were awfully good
about the bed business. The Colonel
took it quite nicely. 1 will write more
fully next time"
To describe Mrs. Caraway's feelings
on reading this letter is quite impossi-
ble- Over and over again did the dear
soul pursue her husbands words, and
every time the f~oreboding at her heart
deepened- Finally, she sat down at her
modest little ascritoire, and took paper
and pen. What she wrote it would be
w1ckedness to divulge, but we may at
least disclose the concluding sentence of
the postscript:
Promise me, dear George" it ran;
promlse me that you will not allow the
dash1ng recklessness of a soldiers life to
make you despise our little home"
By the next post Captain Caraway
gave her fbP nropoiSa