Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-07-09
oRPoRAL HEALY walked
round the wire fence Mt the
corner where tho little school
ho,.o ,%aza ~-.tAA

house stood with the elaborate
air of one who is strolling about for
want Of something better to do Yet he
turned his head now and again and
eyed the long verandas Of the barracks
and the men kicking about football
on the frozen parade ground in way
which was almost guilty. They were
not thinking Of him at all. but the SOL
der twirled his stick and whistled
with unusual loudness, an apparent at
tempt to convince observers that ho
was merely enjoying the fresh, cold
wind that whistled over the brown
plains and Redeemed his thin and leath-
cry cheeks. One eye, however, he kept
sharply on the schoolhouse door, and
twice in FIVE minutes he locked secret.
ly at h1s watch. The door opened, and
the children of the post came charging
out, a tumbling group Of boys aud
girls, little folks Of the plains, soldiers
babes, clear eyed and self reliant. Heq-
ly walked more quickly round the cor
ner and presented himself Mt the side
door of the school, out Of Sight OF bar
racks and parade ground. Graves, the
soldier schoolmaster. was clearing his
desk and preparing to follow the
youngsters
"Hello!' he cried, looking up at the
tall. straight, redheaded figure In the
doorway. Coming to school, corporate
What reader shall put you imp
Healy grinned benignantly.
Eur many's the year. Graves" he
said, 1.-THE school OF the battalion has
been the only wan I've found nicis-
sary, an tactics has bin me RAIDER.
Shure I .wuz passin' an looked in upon
yez. It's wearin' Job yez have,
Graves, t'achin. them kids, near as bad
us drillin' rockies. I'm afther think
in'."
"Aboutp' said Graves, taking up the
door key.
"Ye've great head, Graves" the
corporal said sweetly, with flattering
cock Of his blue eye. 1--WE bin hearin'
the major towld the chaplain to lave
yez be, as yez knew more than he did"
Graves laughed and sat down.
when you tlatter me like that, Hea-
~" he said, II know you're after
something. What is itT'
Not at oil, ut ALP cried Healy, sud-
denly becoming nervous. II wuz list
passin'. But, SEEM yez amt busy,
wud yez do me favor. Mr.. Gravesr
Mister" cried Graves, laughing
again.
"I'll be begin yez, though, to kape
1t to yerself." said Healy earnestly
and plunging headlong into the matter
on his mind. Its no matther nv
shame, but the boys will be betther
not to hear 1t, seein' as 1 might have
to take their foolin' sarious. Wud yez
give me yer opinion on that, Gravesw
Graves took n big sheet of foolscap
from the corporal and read aloud:
Sweet girl. accept lowly heart,
Which now thy lover with the majors
permission) lays at thy feet
For from thee. oh. darling, cannot dwell
apart!
Be mine respectfully (and. according
to the rules and regulations of the
service) do entreat'
TITS POETRY. yen be afther MOTTO
In" said Healy, beaming with such
pride that he failed to observe the
schoolmaster's red face and burst Of
chuckling coughs. But wanted yez,
seein's ye're well known fur q scholar,
to tuch 1t up a bit, Graves. Yell OBJ.
sarve it don't sing itself. fur it's me
furst attmpt since boy. Thrue pc.
ethry shud kin av go to a chune whin
yez rade it. behave"
"Well," said Graves, my boys usu-
ally read the very best poetry sing
song, corporal. Is this IA declara-
tion?"
Healy blushed; at least his neck
grew even redder than was customary.
But he drew himself up very straight
indeed and answered boldly:
I'm confidence, It's afther bein' that
same. Graves. Is 1t all rightY
"Why spoil the sentiment by these
bracketed assurances of the major CIV
ing his permissionY
Jaw, Graves" said the corporal,
winking shrewdly. ''whin wuz youn-
ger an runnin' afther the gurrls twas
mesilf wuz I'LL sintiment, so 1t wuz.
But igspariance has larned me that it's
the puractical man gifts there. I'm
afther dilicately inshinuatin' to the
lady that she'd need niver fear the
mayor'll objict. Shure she knows q
soJer requoires to ask lave to marry
nv the commandin' officer. But it spiles
the chune nv the POETRY, an that's
whut I'm asliin'. Wull yez list drill 1t
into shape, Graves. SEEM ye're schol-
ar, which, l behave includes poethry."
The schoolmaster good naturally as
sumed the task and, much to the cor
porals admiration, succeeded shortly
In submitting to the old soldier suf-
flciently creditable effusion. when Hea.
ly gratefully took his departure, leav-
ing Graves to chuckle by himself for q
long time in the deserted schoolhouse.
AS the soldier left and took his way
round the rear of the buildings, avoid
Ing the neighborhood of the post trad
er's and the guardhouse, his manner
was more suspicious than ever. The
twill of his stick and the blitheness of
his whistle were affectedly nonchalant.
He could not, though, If such were his
purpose, avoid all notice nor help meet.
Ing some one. He was almost beyond
the post limits and had settled to q
businesslike walk when. just as he
turned the corner OF the corral, he run
fairly into Fin Strait, the farrier Of his
own troop. Like the corporal. Fin was
veteran. and the two were chums of
long standing. The farrier's room In
the stables had been the. scene of
many a quiet carouse, with none to
Join In but the cronies themselves, and
when Healy's pockets We're empty and
his throat hot coppered of morning
he was always sure of q punch com.
pounded from Fins stock of alcohol,
supplied to the farrier rs horse medi.
cine. Together they had come out of
the war, together Joined the regular
army, together had campaigned In fire.
quent Indian rislngs. and together they
vaguely supposed, though only in their
cups did they talk of it, they would be
pensioned off and look after tho well
fare of the old troop from distance.
How, Healyw