day to day he
became more interested in him, and began to wonder what he should do
with the odd little chap when the business with Spain was settled, and
life assumed its ordinary aspect once more.

Perhaps the Colonel's hunger for the Boy up North made him glad of the
companionship; perhaps it was only his noble heart always yearning over
the needy. Be that as it may, the little black boy and the handsome
young Colonel became daily closer comrades.

There was one regulation which Colonel Austin had insisted upon from the
first. G. W., who was to sleep upon a mattress in his tent, was to go to
bed early, as a child should. The men might bribe or coax him for a
dance or a song during the day; but the little soldier had his orders to
"turn in" at eight-thirty, and although G. W. often longed for an hour
more, he obeyed like the hero he meant some day to be. Love and a strong
sense of duty governed the heart beating faithfully under the hot,
trimly-buttoned uniform. He might wish to stay where the fun was, but he
never varied his obedience by an extra five minutes.

When it was possible the Colonel took a few moments from duty or
pleasure at the twilight hour, and followed G. W. into the tent. When
the flap fell to after the pair, not a soldier but knew that the Colonel
was not to be disturbed except upon the most urgent business. When the
Colonel came out of the tent the look in his eyes made more than one man
remember it.

Old General Wallace was once known to have taken off his hat as he came
face to face with G. W.'s Colonel at the tent door, after one of those
mysterious twilight talks. When the older man realized what he had done
he jammed his hat down over his eyes, and, with an impatient laugh,
said, "What in thunder is the matter with you, Austin? You look like a
Methodist camp-meeting!"

G. W.'s Colonel saluted and passed on.

One night when he went into the tent after G. W., he found the boy
divested of his splendid regimentals, kneeling in a very scant and
child-like costume before the table--which, by the way, was composed of
two soap-boxes covered with a flag--and scanning the faces of "the Boy
and his Mother." A strange yearning in G. W.'s eyes caused the officer
to speak very gently.

"What is it, old fellow? Surely you are not envying the Boy up North?
You, a full-fledged soldier of Uncle Sam!"

Envy! why G. W.'s heart just then was filled with pity for that boy
nearly as old as he, who was obli