Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-08


I'm an old woman, Sergeant. as well you
know" sighed Miss Priscilla, shaking her
head.
"Old, Ma amp" repeated the Sergeant.
"Old, Ma'am? Nothing of the Sort Ma am!
Age has nothing to do with it. 'Tisn't the
years as count. We aren't any older than
we feel-eh, Sir?"
"Of course not" answered Bel1ew.
"Nor than we look-eh, Sir?'
Certainly not, Sergeant, answered Bel
lew
"And she, Sir she don't look day older
than
"Thirty- five" said Bellew.
Exactly, Sir, very true My own opinion,
thirty five exactly Sir"
Sergeant, said Miss Priscilla, bending
over her work again. Sergeant, your hat"
The Sergeant, hereupOn, removed the dis
tracing headgear altogether, and sat with
it on his knee, staring hard at the tree again.
Then, all at once with a sudden gesture he
drew large silver watch from his pocket,
rather as if it were some weapon of offense,
looked at it, listened to it, and then, nodding
his head rose to his feet.
"Must be going he said, standing very
straight and looking down at little Miss
Priscilla; though sorry, as ever. Must be
going, Ma am, Miss Priscilla, Ma'am. Good
to her with a sudden jerky movement.
Miss Priscilla paused in her sewing, and
looked up at him with her youthful smile.
"Nlust you go SO soon, Sergeant? Then
goodby, until tomorrow and she laid her
very small hand in his big palm.
The Sergeant stared down at it as though
greatly minded to raise it to his lips; in
stead of doing which he dropped it suddenly,
and turned to Bellew:
"Sir. l am proud to have met you. Sir,
there is poor crippled soldier as l know
his cottage is very small, and humble, Sir;
but if you ever feel like dropping in on him,
Sir, by day or night, he will be honored, Sir.
honored. And that's me, Sergeant Richard
Appleby, late of the 10Th Hussars- your
service. Sir" saying which, he put on his
hat, stiff armed, wheeled, and strobe away
through the orchard, jingling his imaginary
spurs louder than ever
WELL?' inquired Miss Priscilla in her
w quick bright way, "well, Mr.. Bellew.
what do you think of him? First impress
sions are always best; at least, | think so.
What do you think of Sergeant Appleby?"
81 think he's splendid fellow" said Bel
lew, looking after the Sergeant's upright fig
tire.
"A very foolish old fellow, l think, and as
stiff as one of the ramrods of one of his own
guns, said Miss Priscilla; but her clear,
blue eyes were very soft and tender as she
spoke.
and as fine soldier as a man, I'm sure,
said Bellew
"Why, yes, he was a good soldier, once
upon time. believe,-he won the Victoria
Cross for doing something or other that was
very brave, and he wears it with all his other
medals, pinned on the inside of his coat.
Oh, yes. he was fine soldier once; but he's
a very foolish old soldier now, think, and
as stiff as the ramrod of one of his own guns
But I'm glad you like him, Mr.. Bellew, and
he will be proud and happy for you to call
and see him at his cottage And now, l sup
pose, it is half-past eleven, isn't it,"
ayes, just half-past," nodded Bellew,
glancing at his watch.
Exact to time, as usual" said Miss Pris-
ella. ~ don't think the Sergeant has
missed a minute or varied a minute in the
last five years: you see, he is such very
methodical man, Mr.. Bellew."
"Why, does he come every day, at the
same hour"
"Every day." nodded Miss Priscilla. at
has hecOrne matter Of habit with him