The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-26
row fia4 HltpHb A SOLDIER.
'woaAaed Wanderers hseaRs
Through the Eneny's Lines
. Aided by . Little Girl.

One day Tiny was sitting on little
bridge eating a seed cake. 1t was DUR
ing the war, and she heard so much
about it that she wished she might
help in some way. She wasn't very
hungry, SO she began to throw crumbs
in the water, relates the Pittsburg
Press.
"Oh, say, little girl, don't do that! ]
cant stand it. Give it to mel"
1t was really voice coming out OF
the grass at the streams edge, and
hand cautiously followed.
One does not fall off bridge wher
the unexpected happens if one has
never learned self-consciCusness OF
fear, but it was impossible to prevent
her eyes from growing, big and starey.
because delightful thought!) really
soldier lay in the long grass, well hid.
den, and tb< war must surely be ap'
preaching rapidly, albeit cowbells and
crows were the only sounds'at the mo-
ment.
Child, give it to me-l'm starving"
Instantly they were facing, she lean
ing from the end of the bridge to push
the cake into his thin hand, thrust
claw-like from its army sleeve.
"Pll get you some more, sir! Wait!
I'll get you some supper
"Starving!" he painted, devonring he
cake ravenously. "Starving-wait!'
One must wait when told to in that
manner. The end of the bridge was on
land, and he lay in the grass with his
head upon his arm. not the command
ing soldier of the distracting cere.
mony, ii is true, but an emaciated fig.
ure with light hair and fair face
remembered long afterward as boyish,
hopeless, pitiful. His cap and mnsket
lay beside him. and his eyes looked up
into hers with the hope born Of desper.
alton in them, as he said:
Little girl. can you keep a secret?
Now when one has done nothing else
all ones life one might as well own up
to it. albeit with quickened breath, and
twisting the strings Of the blue sunbon.
net.
"Yon don't look like it--sit down so
that no one can see that you are talk.
ing to someone glorious!' She sat
upon the end of the bridge.
"Im sick he went on; 81 mean
was shot in he leg last night mean"
suddenly hc flung an arm between his
eyes and the clear ones bent upon them
and eroaIed beneath his breath in
words wholly nnntelligisle to a disei.
pie of Aunt Srene. Then he raised up.
on his elbow with an effort.
See here, child. what mean is this:
I've come this far. and no one must
know I'm here: but I'm too weak to get
on without food. Maybe you can help
mel but no one must know, not soul.
mark you!'
- know" she said, gravely. "1knew
about somebody else. You've got a fur.
Tough. but if the Skir-m mish--ers find
you they'll take you prisoner
"Exactly." he said. "You stick to
that. especially about the furlough;
but I've got to have strength-food-
something"
~ 'spect you'd better come up and
go to bed, sir. Aunt knows about war
secrets and she won't mind, or tell
about your fur-longh."
Look here, baby, keep still! I
thought you could keep a seeret?' =
$50 ! can" she said: "fve got some"
"Well, il you will keep mine and man
age TO get me something to eat with
out anybody knowing, III give you"
lie looked about him at faded cap
and battered musket.
what would you rather have"'
This did not seem The ime to eQ,livO.