The Washington herald., 1915-10-10


There was secession of hostilities Just three
days after he was appointed colonel. and got
in three more medals by registered mail, and
shot two Spaniards while they were drinking
lemonade in an ambuscade.
Our company went back to San Augustine
when the war was over. There wasn't any
where else for it to go. And what do you think =?
The old town notified us in print. by wire cable.
special delivery, and niger named Saul sent
on a gray mule to San Antoine. that they was
going to give us the biggest blowout. compli-
mcntary. amentary. and elementary, that ever
disturbed the kildees on the sand-flats outside
Of the immediate contiguity of the city.
! say we. but it was all meant for ex-Pri-
vate, Captain de facto. and Colonel-elect Willie
Robbins. The town was crazy about him. They
notified us that the reception they were going
to put up would make the Mardi Gras in New
Orleans look like an afternoon tea in Bury St.
Edmunds with curates aunt
We'll. the San Augustine Rifles got back
home on schedule time. Everybody was at the
depot giving forth Roosevelt-Democrat- they
used TO be called Rebel-yes There was two
brass bands. and the mayor. and schoolgirls in
white frightening the street Car horses by throw
ing Cherokee roses in the streets. and well.
maybe you We seen celebration by town that
was inland and out of water
They wanted Brevet-CoIonel Willie to get
into carriage and be drawn by prominent citi-
zens and some of the city aldermen to the arm
ory. but he stuck to his company and marched
at the head of it up Sam Houston avenue The
buildings on both sides was covered with flags
and audiences, and everybody hollered Rob
bins! or Hello. Willie!' as we marched up in
files of fours. never saw illustriouser-look-
ing human in my life than Willie was He had
at least seven or eight medals and diplomas
and decorations on the breast of his khaki coat;
he was sunburnt the color of saddle. and he
certainly done himself proud.
They told us at the depot that the court
house was to be Illuminated at half past seven.
and there would be speeches and chili-con-carne
at the Palace Hotel Miss Delphine Thompson
was to read an original poem by James Whit
comb Ryan, and Constable Hooker had prom
ised us salute of nine guns from Chicago that
he had arrested that day.
After we had dsbanded in the armory.
Willie says to me:
Want to walk out piece with me?'
Why. yes. says |, if it amt so far that we
can't hear the tumult and the shouting die
away. I'm hungry myself says |. and I'm
pining for some home grub. but I'll go with
YOU
Willie steered me down some side streets
till we came to little white cottage in a new
lot with twenty by-thirty-f lawn decorated
with brickbats and old barrel staves
Halt and give the countersgn. says to
Willie. Don't you know this dugout? It's the
bird's-nest that Joe Cranberry built before he
married Myra Allison. What you going there
for?
But Willie already had the gate open He
walked up the brick walk to the steps. and !
went with him. Myra was sitting in rocking
chair on the porch. sewing. Her hair was
smoothed back kind of hasty and tied in a knot
] never noticed till then that she had freckles.
Joe was at one side of the porch. in his shirt
sleeves with no collar on. and no signs of
shave, trying to scrape out hole among the
brickbats and tin cans to plant little fruit tree
in. He looked up but never said word and
neither did Myra
Willie was sure dandy looking in his uni
form. with medals strung on his breast and his
new gold-handIed sword You'd never have
taken him for the little white-headed snpe that
the girls used to order about and make fun of.
He just stood there for a minute. looking at
Myra with peculiar little smile on his face:
and then he says to her, slow. and kind of hold
ing on to his words with his teeth:
oh, don't know! Maybe could if
tried!
That was all that was said. Willie raised
his hat. and we walked away.
And, somehow, when he said that. re-
membered, all of sudden. the night of that
dance and Willie brushing his hair before the
looking-glass. and Myra sticking her head in the
door to guy him.
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