The Washington herald., 1913-11-04
TAKEN PRISONER.
By DONALD ALLEN.

By DONALD ALLEN.
The third brigade Of the State troops
was holding its annual encampment at
Ferndale. portion of two farms had
been rented and the white tents were
\ pitched to make long streets and the
soldiers seemed to be scattered over the
face OF the earth
One Of the farmers who had leased
MS fields was a Mr.. wiIlets. He had
known Tor month when the soldiers
would arrive, and there had been much
talk in the family To Miss Bessie, the
eighteen-yesr-oId daughter. II promised
to be season OF romance
| There would be tall soldier boys and
short ones.
There would be blue eyes and black
ones.
At least one out of three would be a
hero and ready to rescue her il the
red calf broke his rope.
There would be klights who womb
don their plumed hats TO her. ana ebeva-
! liers who would gently ask il she were a
damsel in distress and offer to die in
her service II she were.
While the grounds surrounding the
house were 10 be held inviolate this
agreement held good only with the rank
and file with a taste for tomatoes, Gu
cumbers. lettucef and cabbage. There
was nothing whatever To prevent the
commander OF the brigade or any of his
colonies or majors from calling at the
house to say TO Mr.. Willets:
Sir, but ] have seen thy daughter
Bessie looking over the fence that guards
the onion beds. and have been SO over
come by the beauty of her face and the
grace of her figure that / have come
TO ask thy fatherly permission to pay
her my devoirs.''
And Pa wiIlets would reply: Noble
sir. have a piece Of green apple pie and
glass Of last years cider, and then
win my daughters maiden heart IL thou
canst"
And then she would be won and wed
and i've In love and romance forever
after.
II was a beautiful dream, but the DAYS
passed and the officer came not. Dozens
of them passed and repassed the house
as they made their way to the town and
back, and Miss Bessie was there look
Ing over the fence according TO schedule,
but none paused to address her.
II was long week before the chevaIier
made his appearance. and the damseIs
patience had been so soreIy tried that
she was out OF temper. She was half
asleep in her hammock on the side
veranda overlooking the garden when a
up a soldier dropped from the fence
among the vegetables and began to help
himself
'1Here-what does this meant
The soldier looked up to find the girl
within five feet Of him.
"Ex-excuse me,'' he stammered. as he
blushed guiltily.
Has my father given you permission?''
MOO"
Just helping yourself. eh:"
I thought-thought-r
Yes, you thought
Il thought these things looked good
TO me. and had l seen any one around
the house to ask I should have offered
to pay for them"
81 don't think you looked for any
one"'
They looked into each others eyes. and
the girl said TO herself:
Hes not a bad-looking young man.
Evidently holds a good position. in civil
life. j believe they call it EobbIing'
when they help themselves as he was
about to do, and they don't consider il
as anything serious. Guess 1 have hu-
inflated him enough"
And Burt Hamilton. assistant manager
Of bank when at home. but as yet |
only a high private in the rear rank !
"Stavi1g looking girl Quite find I've !
made After camp breaks up I'm going F.
to find some excuse to call. Wouldn't |
be surprised IL fell I'm love. I'm feel |
ng symptoms of IL right now
Miss Bessie was looking him steadily |
"a the face, and her eyes flashed and !
ler cheeks burned as she read his /
thoughts In judicial tones she de-
handed: Sir. when one is caught i'm /
he act of theft what is done with him?"
He is arrested was the rueful reply. |
And further"
Taken 10 court.
And them"
Sent up"
Correct. sir. see that YOU have been
there. March ahead Of me TO the smoke
house.
But what's the sentence
Two hours under lock and key
The soldier said no, more, and a minute
ater was a prisoner behind brick walls.
Two hours to the minute, sir" called
he girl.
When time was up she sent her brother
Tom, ten years old, to 'iberate the pris-
,ner, and the lad reported:
Il guess he don't feel very bad. for he
vent away with grin on his face.
Did he say anything when you let him
,ut?" was asked.
Not much of anything. He gave me
lalf a dollar and said he'd have made
twice as much il he had the bones"
Bones
Yes, the sugar-the dough-the spondu-
ics.''
BY which expressions it will be seen
hat Master Thomas Willets considered
imself a hard case. or course, he had
listed the camp, and though he was
threatened with a tanning IL he went
gain, he intended running away that
cry night. He did run away, and he got
he tanning
At 3 o'clock in the evening, when Il
ras discovered that Master Tom was
ot in his little bed. his sister Bessie +!
olunteered to go out and look for him.
I was pretty plain that he had made
or camp, and the way to find him was :
'hese Original Poems by John KendrIcl