The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-23

Harold Beghie. IN Punch.
A bomb~exploded on the breakfast ta-
BILE of Captain and Mrs Caraway. just as
Mrs. Caraway was pouring boiling water
upon the Indian tea.
Janet" cried the old gentleman I'm
called outl They want me at the depot"
George! it's impossible! oh, they can
never be so cruel''
"They want me Immediately" he made
answer. And then his wife burst into
tears.
You see. Captain Caraway was in the
carpet slipper period Of life. lie had never
been a keen soldier and with his twelve
years OF service accomplished, and his
pension attained. the gentle souled little
man had laid by his uniform and retired
| into civil lie with glad heart. on his
pension and small income enjoyed by
Mrs. Caraway, the worthy couple had
lived for many years on the outskirts OF
London. going regularly TO church on
Sunday and tending their garden and
| three Persian cats during the week. He
envied no general his fame, never abused
the war office. belonged to no military
| club. and looked back on his soldering
| the majority OF undergraduates look back
| buckle on his armor again was the last
| thought that ever entered the captains
placid mind.
Now, while Mrs. Caraway dreaded the
breaking up OF the home more than any
| thing else, Captain caraway. II must be
I co fessed, viewed the order from the war
! office In other lights as well. To go back
| TO barracks meant to him return To
| bullying, or, at any rate TO what school
| boys call Raging" His colonel. a man
named Watt, he remembered distinctly as
| fine, dashing major, who loved 10 make
| him the butt OF messroom witticisms. If,
! then, he had been ragged by the major
| I'm those faraway days OF his early man.
| hood, how much more would he find him
self chaffed and teased now that he was
| in middle life and less like soldier than
| ever? Thoughts Of this kind gnawed at
| Captain Caraways heart, but he kept
/ them from his wife.
! Mrs. Caraway was fine, bustling
woman. Her first grief over the good
woman insisted on making the old uni
| form do, and herself let IL out where nee
| essary arranging for belts and sashes to
| hide the trail of her needle. I'VE must
save as much as possible" she said, when
| her husband limited that Watt was al
ways very particular about kit.
I Then the day came for Captain Cara
| way to depart AS he kissed his wife
i
! she had grown TO mean To him, surged
! tumutuously into his heart.
What shall | do without my pretty
| Jane?' ne cried.
| Take care of yourself" she answered.
"and remember TO see that your servant
| airs your shirts and underclothing. oh,
! George promise me-" she went on, that
! you Will change your boots and socks
| whenever you have been out in the rain?'
II promise" he said. little hoarsely.
"Then IL VIII soon be over" said She
| cheerfully, and YOU will come back safe
| and sound. / wrote last night 10 the Col
| onel, asking him TO see that your bed
/ was AIRED
| "Jane!" he shiieked In horror.
| Dear George. What is it?''
| you don't mean TO say you asked the
| colonel To air my bed?"
OF course | did. Now none of your
| ridiculous nonsense about military cu-
| quette. 1 wrote secretly because l knew
| you would he sure 10 raise some trifing
| objection OF that kind. Your lie, my
dear is niuch too precious for me to
stand on ceremony in Things Of this kind.
| Goodby, George, goodby; and promise
| that you will change your boots
And 80 he departed from London.
IL was sunset wnen he arrived at the
| country station and hailed a fly. The
| train was late, and with a"three miles
ing late for mess. Never did milksop en-
tering school for the first time suffer
greater torments than did poor Caraway
during that drive. The thought that his
wife had asked the Colonel-the Colonel!
| to air his he'd caused the poor fellow in
finite anguish. He pictured to himself
| the fate In front of him The Colonel
would meet him on the steps of the quar-
| ters with carpet slippers and a tumbler
| of warm milk The other men would be
! grinning at the Colonels side, and saying
| over and over again: Are you quite
| sure, sir. that you've aired Captain Car
! aways bed?r And his servant would be
| i'm the background witnessing his humli-
| alton. The mess walters would have
| heard the Colonel roaring over his wife's
| fatal letter that very morning at break
| fast, and now all the men I'm barracks
! would be making merry at his expense
| But worse than forfeiting his company s
| respect was ,he prospect OF being baited
| by the young sprgs Of suhalterns. What
| would they say 20 him? What would they
| do 20 him? A cold vino blew across the
| darkening fields. The suns last beams
| fickered behind the chimneys OF manu-
! featuring town in the distance Captain
| Caraway shivered.
lie began 20 remember points In the
! landscape. the trees I'm the hedges. the
| bends OF the road. A few minutes more,
| and the dust stained fly would turn sharp
| 20 the left, Jolt UP a narrow lane, and
! thcn--the red brick barracks lie pulled
/ out his watch and shlvered again II
J was o'clock; he had fifteen minutes In
which 70 dress for dinner
The hy turned the corner. crawled
! slowly up tho tame, and presently ratified
I slowly over cobblsstones through the bar
| rack gates. The sentry q smooth faced
| boy. looked iip at the Captain. but d!d not
| salute. Tho barrack square seemed emp
! tv outside the officers quarters. a dun
! cherries rcd brick building. a civilian
was lounging. When The ~ stopped ne
! approached and touched his forehead
! Captain Carawav?" said eyes said
| our hero I'm Private Moore. sir and
/ I'm told or 20 he your servant. You've
| got ten minutes n dress In. sir?'
Captain Carawav followed his servant
| meeklv up the steps. and climbed with
/ him the echoinC wooden stairs. Full as
| his mind was of apprehension. he vet had
| room there for thoughts of his home ard
| the girl he had lcft behind him. All. how
| greatly 10 be desired was that little snug
I villa. with It's thick carpets. Its pretty
/ curtain and the three comfortable Per-
~ ~