Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-03-07
AN ARMY
MERCURY
The Story of on Undelivcred
Love Letter.
TyllE Majors son had made h

OF me req anu hll'K DcauS Oh llle wires
now us he walked with his gun on his
shoulder. Perhaps it was the little
wiggles in the mir that reminded him
of the beads. Miss Daily told him one
day that the little wicgles were heat.
Billy knew all about heat, he thought;
they had it out there ON the Islands,
and it was there that Miss Daily had
told him about the wigglcs.
Rilly's gun grew heavy on his Shout
der, but he Strengthened himself as hr
thought OF young Mr.. Hard, just from
the Point. He remembered how Mr..
Hard had looked on the evening whn
Billy heard him tell Miss Daily that he
WAS never really, truly tired. Billy
meant to be like that. never really, tru-
ly tired. He thought that perhaps his
shoulder achcd because he was only six,
and because of the gun. But the guard
duty was sClr-impOsch, AMI the gun he
had asked for in bis prayers. Billy
truhGcd ON, past the parade ground,
past the band stand, to the bend in the
walk. where, it seemed TO him, all the
strangers from the city stopped and
gaZel on and on. and sometimes men
took Off their hats ana stood uncov-
cred.
When he came to the ColoncrS house
Billy lowered his gun ana took off his
hat. for he SAW Miss Daily on the
porch.
He knew his reward had come. Miss
hpiI Il n 1,
and would tell him things l,o was sure
no one else knew. That about the wig
giles he considered very interesting.
The girl took both Of the boys little
hot hands and then pushed back iii"
damp hair from his forehead. This
was the one thing that always cmba-
raSscl Billy. He almost resented it.
Miss Daily didn't treat young Mr.
Hard and the others that way. he re-
ncctcd. Why did she insult his dig
nifty by treating him rs she would Mrs
Browns little long-clothcs baby: There
was one thing sure in Billy'S mind. No
ono else should do that. He sat Oh II
straw mat at Miss Daily's feet and
contemplated the buckles on her shoes
The river down below the bluff
spanked in tie sunshine, and here and
there Il White sail caught the light wind
that blew.
The hills were green and quiet. and
there was 10 sound bnt the dronc Of
thr hH,> in the honcysurklc.
The Girl spoke TO the child now and
then, but gaZcd ahScntly over his head
across the river and beyond the green
hills, across the rrairics and beyond
the stretch of ocean.
Perhaps it was the big. bronzcd sol
dicr who was trimming the grass by
the steps; perhaps it was the little boy
Mt her feet who made it seem 50 real
Both had been II part in the dream-lfc
over here. beyond the ocean.
There was the row of low rooted
houses, The women in white with barred
thrOats, the officers in duck and kakhi.
There was the bay where the great
Admiral had destroyed Il fleet.
Here on the parade ground hattn!-
ion was drilling. The men had seen
service and their faces We're brown and
scanned. Only Il few weeks before they
had lived under tropical skies.
But there beyond the hills the girl
saw the same men drilling. In front
of his men. the white of his uniform
showing against the yellow Of the pa
radc ground. was the vision of young
Mr. Hard as she had seen him that last
day before they sailed.
She had walked home with Billy.
she remembered. He had slipped his
hand into hers at their parting. and
with 1t Il little package of sachCt pow
der wrapped in one of his little red
bordercd handkerchicfs. She had I'M.
wrapped the gift rs Billy scamprrod
down the street. She had wondered il
sachct powder could fill all the empty
corners in any ones heart.
All this seemed so far away. Some.
times she wished she could forget the
drcam-lifc over there. The morning
the ship had sailed she could see from
the deck rail the little group Of officers
who had come to bid her goodbye. All
but one had hurried over the gangway
rs they saw her. That one had stood
ana looked eXpectant. He seemed 10
be waiting for her to summon him.
Miss Daily wished she could forget
that part of the dream.
Billy had discovered a piece Of pre-.
served ginger in the pocket OF his
blouse. lie asked Miss Daily If she
remembered the last time he had Worn
that suit. Yes, it VAS "out there
Billy always referred to Mania rs
"out there"
Ana would she like to see what else
he had III his pocket? Well. there was
n piece of tinfoil. smootlled and folded
like kindergarten paper Could Miss
Daily guess where that came from:
Mr.. Hard had given him that. lie
took ii off Of Il piece OF soap one day
when he was shaving. Billy told Miss
Daily that he used to help Mr. Hard
with lis :having, for Mr.. Hard said SO.
Could Miss Daily guess where that
ton cNmN from?
That was queer. She had given II To
him herself Could it he that yOurc
ladies didn't care for tops? Billy care.
fully removed folded handkerchief
from the capaciDus pocket. There was
something in it. lie was having Il
beautiful time making discoveries. lie
had not Worn this suit for many weeks
and its treasure had been forgotten.
Miss Daily looked rs the boy I'm.
folded the little handkerchief with its
cOmrHl rcd border.
There was note addressed 10 Miss
Mary Daily.
Wh3t does it say OH there, Miss
Ma!y:' the boy asked.