Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-09-16
CHAPTER W.
Times Have Changed.

The 53d of the Browns had started for La Tir on the same day that the 12Sth of the GrayS had started for | South La Tir. While the 12Sth was going to new scenes, the 53d waa re- turning to familiar ground. It had de- trained in the capital of the province from which it's ranks had been recruit ed. After a steep incline, there was a | welcome bugle note and with shouts of delight the centipedes legs broke apart. Bankers, laborers', doctors, valets', butchers, manufacturers and judges sons threw themselves down on the greensward of the e1nbankment i to rest. With their talk of home, of relatives whom they had met at the station, and of the changes in the town was mingled talk of the crisis.
 Meanwhile, an aged man was ap- preaching. At times he would break into q kind of trot that ended, after a few steps, in shortness of breath. He was quite withered, his bright eyes twinkling out of an area of moth patches, and he wore frayed uniform coat with medal on the breast
 "Is this the 53d?" he quavered to I the nearest soldier.
 Tt certainly isl" some one answered. Come and join us, veteran!"
 'ls Tonl-Tom Fragini here?" The answer came from big soldier, who sprang to his feet and leaped to- ward the old man.
 Its grandfather, as l ive!" he called out, kissing the veteran on both cheeks. T saw sister in town, and she said you'd be at the gate as we marched by
 Didn't wait at no gate! Marched right up to you!" said grandfather. Marched up with my uniform and medal OH! Stand off there, Tom, so 1 can see you My word You're big ger'n your father, but not bigger'n was! No, sir, not biggern l was in my day before that wound sort O bent me over. They say it's the lead in the 1 blood. I've still got the bullet!"
 The old mans trousers were thread bare but well darned, and the holes i'll the uppers of his shoes were carefully patched. He had merry air of op- timism, which his grandson had in- ] herited.
 Well Tom, how much longer you got to serve?" asked grandfather.
 "Six months," answered Tom. One, two, three, four" grandfa- ther counted the numbers off on his fingers. That's good. You'll be in time for the spring ploughing. My, how you have filled out! But, some how, I can't get used to this kind Of uniform. Why, don't see how girld be attracted to you fellows, at ali!"
 They 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 Hussars-in the Hussars' I tell ycu with our saores a-gleaming, our horses bits a-jingling, our pennons a-fying, 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 rather foolish charge, fine example of the vainglory of unreason- ing bravery that acccmplishes 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.
 Well, didn't you find what l said was true about the lowlanders?" asked grandfather after he had finished the charge, referring to the people of the southern frontier of the Browns, where the 53d had just been garrisoned. No, l kind of liked them.. I made lot of friends" admitted Tom. They're very progressive"
 "Eh. eh? You're ioking!" To like the people of the southern froatier was | only less conceivable than liking the people of the Grays. That's because you didn't see deep under thegf. They're all on the outside-a f1isatv ! lot! Why, if they'd done their rast in that last war we'd have licked the ] Grays until they cried for mercy If  1 their army corps had stood it's ground ct Volmer-'
 ! ''So you've always said" interrupted l Tom
 And the way they cook tripe! l 1 couldn't stomach it, could you? And if there's anything I am partial to it's I a good dish of tripe! And their light 4 beer--like drinking froth! And their bread--why, it ain't bread. It's chips! Faint fit for civilized folks'" ! But I sort of got used to their l ways said Tom.
 "Eh eh?" Grandfather looked at Il grandson quiZzically. seeking the cause of such heterodoxy in northern man. "Say, you ain't been falling in love:a he hazarded. "You-you Sint going to |. bring one of them southern girls homer"
 { "No." said Tom, laughing. : "Well, I'm glad you ain't, for they re naturally light-minded 1 remember
 em we'll" He wandered on with his | t.Ic Coo