The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-03

chest measurement and a deep base
voice.
"Beastiy nuisance calling us out"
he said. II believe we shall be here
for couple OF years" and then he
burst out laughing. Caraway laughed,
| too.
what does he say?" asked the colo
| mel.
"Hc says, sir" replied Major Bull
len, automatically, that we shall be
here for a couple of years"
IA couple of what?"
IA couple of years, sir" cried Cap
tain Simmonds
Don't shout? Don't shout" the
colonel said. "Well. what II we are?
We're four now. and that's enough
for a rubber
you're still fond Of whist, them"
Caraway asked.
"Eh?"
you're still fond of whist he says"
bnwled Simmonds.
"Ch, yes; very. Never lost my love
Of a rubber. How that fellow Sim
monds does below"
The mess sergeant threw open the
door and announced dinner. Colonel
Watt took Caraway's arm and led
him forward. Major Bullen, wheez-
ing horribly and stumbling painfully
along with his two sticks, followed at
O. respectable distance. Captain Sim
monds lounging behind, yawning
loudly.
"Oh, by the way, Caraway," said
the colonel, your wife was very wise
to write about your bed. Directly I
arrived here I sent out for warming
pans. A most important point, that
Eth, what? All, glad you agree with
me. A damp bed is the devil, the
very devil. I have kept my bed aired
every night since I came here. and
Bullen does the same. Simmonds. Of
course. is young, and doesn't take ad-
vice. Never heard fellow shout as
he does" he continued, whispering.
Got voice like the bull Of Bashan.
Eth, what?" Ceraway smiled and
bowed acquiescence. The colonel. no
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 laughed at his single
Joke Simmonds seemed harmlessness
itself. This, then, was his return to
soldering. A deaf chief. lame major
and captain who made one joke and
went to sleep after dinner. In his
room that night Captain Caraway.
happy as schoolboy, sat down and
wrote letter to his wife.
Ny Dearest Jane:-flcre l am, soldier again.
Much us like the quiet Of civilian life, there is
must confess it, a certain fascination about the
dashing life of a soldier. When I had got into
my kit l felt the old fellow again, and when l
walked into the anteroom I felt all that elation
shall say swagger?--which an ignorant pub
lie associates only with the Blues. The men
are charming. Colonel Watt-you remember
what Il dashing fellow he was-is just as hand
some Bulcn, the major, very good
sort, and another man, Captain Simmons, is a
tremendous wit, and keeps us all on the roar
One cannot be dull in his society. We are all
very gay and jolly. And now, with love to
yourself and the cats, ever your devoted hus.
band. George Caraway.
p. S.--Thc follows were awfully good about
the "bcd" business. Tie colonel took it quite
nicely. I will write more fully next time.
TO describe Mrs. Caraway's feelings
on reading this letter is quite impos
sble. Over and over again did the
dear soul peruse her husbands words.
and every time the foreboding at her
heart deepened. Finally, she sat down
at her modest little escritoire, and
took paper and pen. What she wrote
it would be wickedness to divulge, but
VIC may at least disclose the conclud-
ing sentence of the postscript:
promise me, dear George" it ran,
promise me that you will not allow
the dashing recklessness of a soldiers
life to make you despise our little
home"
J3y the next post Captain Caraway
gave her the promise.-Harold Begbie,
in Punch.