The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-05-30
One of the Gray Jackets.
BY E. GRAFTON M'cANTs.

Y ! ON MCAN
X Brethitt homestead, and there wer
X large happenings in the world outside
but the lapse of time meant nothing t
4 Brethitt.
With infinite patience his %neighbor!
S cared for him, soothing his frequen
and assuring hin that his furlough hat
c by no means expired as yet. Now ant
: then, 1t is true. he wandered away II
t an effort to reach his command, but al
ways some friend overlook him with
| fresh Instructions from the general tc
] stay quietly at home n to keep the
colors safe.
So, with much waiting. Brethitt's
t hair grew gray. and little children, born
since his Through began, came to be
men and women, but Brethitt knew nc
change.
Thus the '7Os passed, the sos. and a
portion Of the '90s, n the war with
Spain began.
Sc quiet was Brethitt, so harmless.
SO methodical in his aging existence.
that people had ceased to consider hin
But one day he was missing, and the
usual search for him failed to reveal
his whereabouts. For a little time there
was a languid anxiety among his
neighbors. a daily paragraph in the
newspapers, and a published reward
for his safe return: but when none of
these things availed, the matter was
dropped.
OF what value, anyway, was crazy
old Brethitt, asked the younger folk;
while the few of his comrades who were
left alive shook their heads sadly and
remarked, "Brethitt is gone-poor old
Brethitt! He was a good man in his
time"
But Brethitt was not yet gone In the
sense that they meant. The campaign
was about to begin-did not men say
so everyWhere?-and the regiments
were moving south. South-that was
correct: others at the ferry over the
Dan had told him the same.
A queer spectacle he made as he
trudged over h long red roads with
his WORKOUT blankets slung slantwise,
his canteen adjusted, and his battered
haversack resting against his hip. 1t
had been just at nightfall that he set
out, and the next days sun found him
far away. Weary he was indeed, but
cheerful. About him he saw a rich and
varied countryside-white houses, titled
fields, and well built stables and barns.
BY noon he had reached q little sta
ton on the railway. and he sat down
there TO rest and to eat. The station
agent, seeing him, laughed at the pic
turesque tramp. and q group OF loung-
ers drew near to question him: but
PAsA.4iS VAIN LII SIdH ldlT,
eyed those plump civilians with a SOL
dier's disfavor.
Strong. hearty men-ever'one of
you, he commented. 'Y'oughter be in
the army. By God, old Bonhan, 'ud
take that sof' fat offn you."
The Shrek Of an engine a mileun the
road withdrew his audience with a
rush, and presently a long train drew
up at the water tank-a train from
whose windows there protruded khaki
clad shoulders and the barred heads of
fighting men.
Brethitt sprang to his feet and ran
alongside the carriages. What com
mand" he asked in breathless haste.
his appearance produced a burst of
laughter. "Methuselah!" cried one of
the younger men %joyously; "Methuselah
bound for the wars.
The jeering reused Brethitt's wrath.
and he swore u~nctuously and fluentIv
You damned recruities!" he stormed
did any of you ever bust a app"
A man with a stripe on his arm in
terfered. We're the Nth Regulars" he
vonchrsafed, bound for Florida"
Brethitt ran a keen eye over his
friends equipment. They take care Of
you regulars" he admitted; "Im a vol
unteer myself.
The sergeant smiled. "war-fayer
must be pretty high in your neighbour
hood, lad" he h%azarded.
Piethltt app his thigh. st sh'd
say" he replied with enthusiasm
Why, son, the boy-babies, thev sins
Dixie afore ever they begin to sG,,aIIiSS
A laugh greeted his sally, and Others
pressed forward to look at him. "Anv1
how, the old fellows game" cried Some
one. otie
Encouraged, Brethitt sank his voice
to a whisper. Say, fren's," he confid-
ed, ! want to catch up with my regl-
ment, an 1 amt got Transportation To
there n chance FIR a fellow to s,in
along WI your" ehp
The men were bubbling with shirts
Les take him. they cried: les tatSe
MN fr a mascot-Sa'ay, Jimmy Won
sentry at the door! Look t'other 10 70
while the mascot's a-gittin' aboard
Ihey hustled him in, the engine
shrleked again. and the train nnilad
Slowly away from the siding, and the
The last of the Graytack ets-that 10
what they called him in the camn mn
DER the Santiago hills. For the Nth
knew him better now-beein-
nlng with him in a spirit of boistero,s
run, they had come in time to realize
ms point of view and tacitly to assent
TO 1t. So they clothed him Millinery In
with him.
And for the time Brethitt was hap
IA A A 4. -.