Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-07

they had it out there on the islands.
and ii was there that Miss Daily h:d
told him about the wiggies.
Billy's gun grew heavy on his Shout
der. but he Strengthened himself as he
thought of young Mr.. Hard. just from
the Point. He remembered how Mr..
Hard had looked on the evening when
Billy heard him tell Miss Daily that he
was never really. truly tired. Billy
meant to be Hike that. never really. tru-
~ tired. He though; that perhaps his
shoulder achad becauselie was only Six,
and because OF The gun. But the guard
IS s-ii-.mDcsed. and the gun he
ed FOR in bis prayers. Billy
se...sed on. past the parade ground.
past the band stand. 10 tie bend in tho
walk. where. il seemed 10 him. all the
strangers from tie city stopped and
gazed on and on. ard sometimes men
took or their hats and stood uacov-
cred
When he came to the Coloaei's house
Billy lowered his gun and tool; Off his
= hat. for he sew Miss Daily on the
porch.
He knew his reward had come Miss
Daily was alone and would tall; 10 him
md would tell him things IL 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 ard then pushed back the
damp hair from his forehead This
was the ore thing that always embar-
raised Billy. He almost resented it.
Miss Daily didn's treat young Mr.
Hard and the others that WY. he re-
fiected. Why did sire iEsait his dig
nifty by ating him IS she would Mrs
Brown little iong-c.c:iies baby: There
was one thing sure in B:llys mind No
one else should do that. He sa1 on Il
straw mat ut Miss Dai!y's feet ana
Z contemplated the buckles OIL her shoes
The river down below the bluff
sparkled in tie sunshine. and here ard
there white sail c:E=h; the lish; w.ad
that blew.
The hills Were green anl quiet. and
there was no sound but tie d:one OF
the bees in the honeysuck.e.
The girl spoke to the child now and
then. but ga=ed absently over his head
across the river and beycnd the green
hills. across the prairies and beyond
etcil OF ocean.
APPS il was the big. bronZed SOL
10 was trimming the grass by
IS; perhaps it was the little hoy
,eet who made il seem so real
lad heen part in the dream-iife
iere. beyond the ocean.
re was the row o. low rooted
5. the women in white with barred
Is. the officers in duck and kakhl
ere was the bay where the Srea:
ciral had destroyed feet
ere on the parade ground Il battal-
was drilling. The men had seen
rice and their faces We're brown and
med. Only few weeks before they
lived unde. tropical skies.
fthere beyond the hills the girl
the same men drilling. In front
s men. the Write of his uniform
ing against the yellow OF the pa
ground. was the vision Of young
Hard as she had seen him that last
before they sailed.
v.
ememEered. He had slipped his
into hers ut their parting. and
II little package OF sachet pow
wrapped in ore of his little red
red handkerchiefs. She had I'M
ped the gift rs Billy scampered
the street. She had wondered IL
ct powder could fill all the empty
ers in any ones heart.
/ this seemed so far away Some
IS she wished she could forget the
am-life over there. The morning
ship had sailed she could see from
mx&eck 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
nd looked expectant. He seemed 10
sc waiting for her 10 summon him.
iiss Daily wished she could forget
hat part OF the dream.
Billy had discovered n piece OF pre-
erved ginger in the pocket of his
.crse. He asked Miss Daily IL she
Smembered the last time he had worn
at suit. Yes. il was "out there. -
lily always referred to Manila as
ut there
And would she like to see what else
had in his pocket? Well. there was
,iece OF tinfoil. smoothed and folded
kindergarten paper. Could Miss
lily guess where that came from =:
Hard had given him that. He
il Off Of piece of soap one day
he was shaving. Billy told Miss
that he used 10 help Mr. Hard
shaving. for Mr. Hard said so.
IS Daily guess where that
IN?