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


thought he. II can only be for a few
weeks, and / shall soon be back agaln
with Jane and the eats. But his heart
was aching very badly when he hurried
down tho steps and passed out into the
open on his way to the mess When no
opened the door OF the ante-rocm his
agony OF mind was intense.
"Caraway.' said voice he seemed TO
remember, and the next minute he was
shaking hands with the Colonel I'm
very glad 10 see YOU again, my dear fell
low. Eh. what? We're very duh party
here, very dull party, but you mustn's
mind that. En- what2 You must speak
up when you talk TO me; I'm as deaf as
a post-can't hear a single word Let me
introduce you 10 Major Bullen. Dyou re-
member Bullcn? After your time,
think. Eh, what?" n very fat old man
with two stout walking sticks in his
hands extricated himself from the depths
OF an armchair and hobblea over to Car
away.
VERY pleased 10 meet you he
wneezed. Fear you'll find us a bit dull
after town The Colonel's deaf and I'm
lame. Gout. Anything the matter with
youg'
"A little sciatica at times" said Carr
away, wishing 10 make himself pleasant.
'Sciatica. Cure you in two days. Rem
edy of my own. Perfectly simple and no
demmed quackery. Come over TO my
quarters after dinner, and Ia tell YOU
about it,"
"And now" said the Colonel. 'let ms
introduce Captain Simmonds. He thinks
because I'm deaf he must shout; the
greatest mistake I'm the world. / can
hear well enough If people only speak
distinctly.
Captain Simmonds came forward Hs
was IA big fellow, boasting a great chest
me ND ho
"Beastly nuisance calling us out" he
said. II believe We shall be here for a
couple of years!" And then he burst out
laughing. Caraway laughed, too.
what does he say?" asked the Col-
onel.
'He says. SIR" replied Major Bullen,
automatically. that we shall be here for
a couple of years"
"A couple of years, sir" cried Captain
Smmonds.
Don't shout, Don't shout.' the Col-
onel said. "Well. what IL we are? We'ro
four now. and that's enough for rub
ber."
You're still fond of whist. then?" Carr
away asked.
"Eh?"
You're still fond OF whist, ne says"
bawled Simmonds.
"Oh, yes. very. Never lost my love OF
rubber. How that fellow Simmonds
does bellowr'
The mess sergeant threw open the door
and announced dinner Col Watt took
Caraway's arm and led him forward.
Major Bullen. wheezing horribly and
stumbling painfully along with his two
sticks, followed at a respectable dis
tance, Captain -Sffrnfottds iettftstfts-e
hind, yawning loudly.
"Oh, by the way. Caraway," said the
Colonel. "your wife was very wise to-
write about your bed. Directly l ar
rived here | sent out for warming pans.
A most important point that Eth, wha.9
All, glad you agree with me. A damp
! bed Is the devil, the very devil have
kept my bed aired every night since I
| came here, and Bullen does the same.
| Simmonds, OF course, is young. ana
doesn't take advice. Never heard fell
low shout as he does" he continued.
whispering. "Got voice like the bull
OF Bashan. Eh. what?" Caraway smiled
and bowed acquiescence. The Colonel. no
longer the dashng major, seemed to
him the pleasantest FELLOW he had ever
met. Bullen, in spite OF his groens.
was a cheerful companion, and as long
as one laughed at his single joke Sim
rnonds seemed harmlessness itself. This,
then, was his return to soldering. A
deaf chief lame major, and a, captain
who made one joke ana vent to sleep
after dinner. In his room that night
CAPTAIN Caraway happy as a schoolboy.
sat down and wrote letter TO his wife
my Dearest Jane: Here I am. soldier
again Much as ! like the quiet of civE-
ian life. there Is, l must confess It, cer-
tain fascination about the dashng life or
a soldier. When / had got into my kit
| felt the old glow again and when
walked into the anteroom / felt all that
han 4
ignorant public associates only with the
Blues The men are charming. Colonel
| Watt--you remember what dashing fell
| low he was-is just as handsome as ever
Bullen the major. n very good sort and
| another man, Captain Simmonds. is n
tremendous wit and keeps us all on tho
roar. one cannot be dull In his society.
We are all very gay and jolly. And now.
| with love To yourself an the cats, ever
! your devoted husband,
GEORGE cARAWAY.
"P S: The fellows were awfully gooo
! about the bed business. The Colonel
| took IT quite nicely. j will write more
| fully next time
| To describe Mrs Caraway's feelings on
| reading this letter Is quite impossible.
! over and over again did the dear soul
! neruse her husbands words and every
| time the foreboding at her heart deepen-
| cd. Finally. she sat down 81 her modest
| little escritoire. and took paper and pen.
/ what she wrote IL would be wickedness
/ 10 divulge but we may at least disclose
! the concluding sentence OF the postscript:
Promise me, dear George" II ran:
.nromiso me that you Will not allow the
deshing reclxlessness or soldiers life to
make YOU despise our little home"
BY the next post Captain Caraway gave
! her tho promise.