The National tribune., 1903-06-11
WITH DELIGHT.

WIN 4
or Queen Victory" murmured Maria turn
ing them over fondly. Who are they for,
Pete; the girl you are writing TOT"
Sure as you are a foot high, they
amt. II you'll take them, Miss Maria.
they are for you," said Pete, grinning in
delight at the sensation his gift had ere
ated.
Over his shoulder appeared his partners
face wreathed in a smile which reached
from one ear to the other.
"Yes, Miss, they are yours il you will
have them, and we are mighty glad we've
got 'em to give to you," put in Sandy.
A disturbed thought struck Mrs. Klegs
Peter" she inquired sternly, where did
you get these things?"
why" exclaimed Sandy, "that little
red-headed kid of the Twentieth Corps
who died the other day gave them to us
with his other things just before he died.
because we was the only ones that had
done anything for him."
II think they ought to go to his father
and mother" said Mrs. Klegg. "You're
no right to them"
Maria's face fell, and she laid the case
down.
Father and mother nothing" said Pete
scornfully. HE didn't have none. They
died a thousand years ago. and he was
selling papers in Philadelphia when one
Of them Twentieth Corps regiments came
through; and he followed it up to get
something to eat and place to stay. Then
the men who was with him was shot, and
then he didn't have anybody"
"He must have stolen them," persisted
Mrs. Klegg, in conscientious severity.
Probably taken from some house. We
can't have nothing to do with them. We
can't receive stolen goods"
Tears came to Annabers eyes, and Ma
ria's face was picture of woe as she laid
the spoons back in the case and started to
i close the lid
"Stole nothing" snorted Pete. '"The
anything in its whole life."
Sandy gave his partner a kick as a
warning not to be so wholesale in his as
serti0ns.
| He picked 1t up in the streets of Co
lumby," continued Pete, where it was
kicking around in the mud, the same as
| the rest of US picked up lots Of other
one fellow to another dozen times. Why,
we caught lots of the citizens stealing from
one another, and then stealing back again.
We took loads Of stuff away from the
thieves, which Serg't Kiesg gave to the
woman on the boat and sent her down
the river with it. We ant no thieves,
nor was the Twentieth Corps kid, but
in the street that he kicks against"
"They are engraved with my name, al
most" said Maria. taking the spoons up
wistfully. MARIE. Only got to
change the last letter. Hermann there at
home could do that easy"
"Why change it at alI?" asked Annabel.
Frightening up. marie is French for Ma
You know there is Paris in Indiana. up
in Jennings County. There's where
Becky Smolet went with her husband"
Il may keep them, mayn't l, MAJ" anx-
| iously pleaded Maria.
ut looks all right" hes:tatingly an
swered her mother. You may keep them
at least until the rightful owner turns up,
if ever. They'll be safer with you than
kicking around camp among these boys.
Thank you. boys" to the happy lads.
pete, l could almost love you," cried
Maria, as he lodged her and ran away
laughing.
lounging up. Hear you're gong to have
| wedding up here"
"Yes, Mr.. Yawman, we are," answered
Mrs. Klegg composedly.
"Well. here's some woman's fxings that
I got when we went through that block
ade runners wagon down by Cheraw,"
answered Corporal Yawman, producing a a
up into pocket handkerchiefs, but when
came to look at 1t it is too fimsy and rot
ten for any use for a man, and l thought
msbbe some girl would like it, and carried
it along until should meet one. It's no
use in the world to me, and you can have
it IL it's any good to you. Fine weather
we are having, though think we are be-
ginning to need rain"
He handed over the package to Mrs.
Klegg and shambled of.
The package seemed to be done up in
many layers Of much-torn wrapping pa
per, and was SO soiled looking that she
hated to handle 1t. She began unwrap-
ping it, while Maria and Annabel leaned
eagerly over her shoulders watching the
process.