Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-10-29
81 rom-rom Traglni hore 2"

"Is Tom-Tom Fraglni horeT q. y.
The answer came from big soldier,
who epraug TO his feet and leaped to-
ward the old man. t,iy-
'Tra grandfather, "a ] llyo!" he
called OUT, kissing ;ae veteran pnlbnth
cheehs. 81 saw sister IN town, JaBd
fhe said you'd be at the gate hs we
marched BY"
Dldn't wait pt no gatel Marched
right up TO you!" said grandfather.
''Narehed up With my uniform and
medal on! Stand or there, Tom, SO
| can see you. My world You're big
germ your father, but not bigger'n l
was! No. sir, not bggorn ! was in
my day before that wound sort o. bent
me over. They say it's the lead in the
blood. I've still got the bullet!"
The old mans trousers were thread
bare but well darned, aud the holes in
the uppers of his shoes were carefully
patched. He had a merry air OF op-
timism, which his grandson had in
herited.
well, Tom, how much longer you
got to server" asked grandfather.
six months" answered Tom.
"One, two, three, four" grandpa
Their counted the numbers OF on his
fingers. That's good. You'll be in
time for the spring ploughing. My,
how you have filed out! But, some
how, can't get used to this kind Of
uniform. Why, don't see how grid
be attracted to you fellows, at ALI"
isThey have to. for we're the only
kind Of soldiers there are nowadays.
Not as gay as in your day, that's sure,
when you were in the Hussars, eh?"
YES, | was in the Husears-in the
Hussarsl l tell you with our sabres
a-gleaming, our horses bits a-jingling,
our pennons a-iying, and all the color
of our uniform-I tell you, the girls
used to open their eyes at US. And we
went into the charge like that-yes,
sir Just that gay and grand. Colonel
Galland leading!"
Military history said that 1t had
been a rather foolish charge, fine
example of the vainglory Of unreason-
ing bravery that accomplishes nothing,
but no one would suggest such skepti-
cism of an immortal event in popular
Imagination in hearing of the old man
as he lived over that intoxicated rush
OF horses and men into battery of
the Grays. :"'" r.
swell, didn't you find what l said
was true about the lowIanders?" asked
grandfather after he had finished the
charge, referring to the people Of the
southern frontier of the Browns, where,
the SD had just been garrisoned. i,
mo, / kind of liked them. made
lot Of friends" admitted Tom. They're
very progressive" s9 < @'ft ~" =
pS"Eh, Ell? You're Joking To 'iiReo
the people OF the southern frontief'was'
only less conceivable than liking the
people Of the Grays. That's because
youa didn't see deep under them,
They're all on the outside-a Eighty
lot! Why If they'd done their, part
in that last war we'd have licked the
Grays until they cried for mercy! IT,,
theft army corps had stood its ground
, $50 you've always said" interrupted
Tom.
"And the way they cook tripe! l
couldn't stomach it, could you? And
II there's anything am partial to it's
u good dish of trtpe! And their light
drinking froth! And their
bread why, it amt bread! It's chips!
iTaiut fit for civilized folks!" -" =
,,r "But l sort Of got used to their
ways.n said Tom.
".Eh, eh?" Grandfather looked at
grandson quizzically, seeking the cause
81 such heterodoxy in northern man.