The progress., 1904-12-24

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life miserable for the teacher. Used "a
chin then about goin' to war some time
and all that kind Of q two-step. Didu't
look at all likely In those days. but VI
got the chance all right Charley's thu
only one Of us that came home. HI
used to say on the transport that lows
and Paradise meant just the same e
him. and the first minute he could be
struck out for paradise. Joe and stayed
to have fling In San Francisco. Lord.
what q fool man can make OF himself u
he Just gets down to 1t.
"But then, I've never had any folks
of my own. That makes q difference. II
I could do 1t all over again, wouldn't
play the game the same way-not on
your tintype, Jacob"
He coughed again, giving himself up
to the paroxysm like feeble child. It
wasgrowing cold and the room was dark.
After sitting miserably still for q mo.
ment, he rose unsteadily and went IN
search Of fuel
IN the entry he found hod Of coal
and neat pile Of kindling, all OF which
he put remorselessly on the fire, and, az
the stove grew red, he sat with his knees
drawn up In the teachers chair, in an
excess of animal comfort. His eyes
cleaned uucannily in the light Of the
little flames which winked through the
slides of the stove; the heat made him
drowsy and his head fell forward on his
breast, but the action brought on anoth-
er paroxysm Of coughing.
II can't sleep here" he muttered.
"but I hate to get down on the floor.
Don't suppose the schoolma'am keeps
any blankets around"
He slouched again to the entry and by
a sense of feeling discovered woolen
hood and pair of mittens.
"Thesell do for pillow, he thought;
they're what schoolma'am wears when
she sticks up." Then he fell to rum
maging in the school room. In tho
teachers desk he found an apple which
he ate in jaw-stretching mouthfuls, and
in a little corner closet, his hand came
In contact with a large roll of some soft
woolen material.
Maybe schoolma'am does keep
a blanket" he mused, fumbling with tho
cloth. Don't feel like blanket though.
Don't know what it is, but guess can
sleep in it. I'll lay it out by the stove
and roll up"
He spread it in the dark, kicking out
The lower folds and shaking the upper
mes; then he settled himself on the
floor, blanket" around him and the
teachers hood and mittens under his
head. But the draught which swept
across the floor made him gasp and cough
again.
"Lord!" he muttered between his
eeth, II wish was out of this. wish
hey had let me die out there in the hos
,ital. They used to put flag over 'em,
Ind If there was anything good to be
aid about fellow, the chaplain would
manage to comb it out of the boys and
'ay it right. Lord knows haven't ever
lone much to get credit for; inlistin',
the only thing, and I
,uess 1 did that for the devil of 1t, much
S anything. Aw, no, that amt so.
Fore God, that amt So" He sat up
lercely. II done it for Uncle Sam
did," Then as the draft tor
nented him, he groaned fretfully.
"This sort of thing is KILN me OF
asst. But got to feelin' like Charley
i'd. Queer how man always wants to
et back some time to the place where
e was little kid. wanted to smell
he grain stacks again. Lord! how I
sed to slide down 'em, and get the
travis in my neck. If I'd have come
ack with Charley wouldn't have come
his way. Land boom made him rich
asst year.
Seems like amt never goin' to get
ONE" he qslavered aloud, as If to q
bedfellow. II ought to
lake 1t tomorrow. but I travel SO
lamed slow lately" He pulled his
overing closely about his head. "I'm
lighty glad of the schoolma ANS
whatever the blessed thing
!"
Outside, the smoke poured from the |
,nely chimney in unseen volumes. The
ind shifted and bank Of spring storm
ouds rose in the southwest. BY mid |
light the little building ratified and
vayed in the first thunderstorm Of the
ason. Rain heat in waves upon it's
des and lightning made a thousand
ashlights of the still form within; and
trough 1t all Jake Bills slept.
In the morning the little teacher came
lrly to the white school-house, having
concerning window left
zen. She was clear-eyed girl, with
vinging walk, and she faced the odor-
den wind as if she loved it. Relieved
find the window closed, after all, she
n lightly up the steps, opened the door
it'll one sure turn of the clumsy key.
I'd entered her school room.
There she found him-tough Jake
his last sleep, wrapped in his
untry's flag.-National Magazine.