TOMMY ATKINS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2168, 6 August 1897, Page 4

TOMMY ATKINS.

it was quite a romance at the beginning, rather funny iu the middle, and iu the end positively audacious.

Little Gertie Kingston, driving a pony along a country lane that skirted a big field iu which a battalion of soldiers were exercising, pulled up to watch them. when, without the least warning, down went the front rank on their knees. An officer shouted "Fire!" and off went the pony as fast as lie could lay his legs to the ground. Remembering a very steep, unprotected declivity not more than a mile ahead, the frightened girl, who was only 13. set her feet agaiust the splashboard and pulled desperately. She cut ber gloves to ribbons, but Hobs galloped on with speed unabated, and. dashing around a corner, almost plunged iuto a company of soldiers. The men sprang right ami left—all but one. He made a leap at the runaway, and grabbed the pony by the bridle. Terrified anew, the pony dragged him some little distance, but. failing to shake him off, finally gave up the struggle.

Of course. Gertie burst into tears when quite sure the danger was over. So the soldier got up beside her. aud drove her half a mile on her way. "I've only a shilling." she said, offering the coin. "I wish it was a sovereign. H you tell me your name. Uncle Jolm will send you one. I thank you very much, and 1 shall uever forget that yon saved my life."

The soldier took tiie shilling, and eyed it comically. He was a well-set-up fellow, and he looked very handsome in his red coat. So. at least. Gertie thought. "I can't take this, don't von know."

he said, smiling. And he tossed the shilling into Gertie's lap. "But won't you toll me your name ':" she urged, thinking the smallncss of the reward was the reason of its nou-accept-ance. The soldier laughed merrily. "Willi pleasure. It's Tommy Atkins. Private Tommy Atkins. Now. don't you forget it." And. with another laugh, off lie ran. Gertie watching him. very sorry that the despised shilling was all she had. The soldiers formed when "Private Atkins" rejoined them. and. turning the corner at the double, passed out of the girl's sight. Gertie \va*s visiting her uncle. John Raynor. of Balconier. '•You will send it. won't vou V" she asked.

"Ob. yes. certainly, my dear." lie answered, laughing. "To Privntc Tommy Atkins, of the Hertford Fusiliers V It must he Dick's regiment There's no other in the county. Wouldn't the fellows roar! Bill it shall lie sent. Gertie. I'll forward ir to the canteen-keeper. Then your particular Tommy will lie pretty sure to got n share of the proceeds." Xine years passed by. Gertie was mow Miss Kingston, of Baleomer. She had not expected any such stroke of fortune, bm iwo male cousins had died, and a third had offended Mr Raynor. who. being able to dispose of his property as lie thought lit. had bequeathed ■•i U'\v thousand to the offending nephew and the Baleomer estate to Gertie. The girl never, to her knowledge, met (his distant cousin. Richard; nor. indeed, was sue aware that she had displaced him. That had been kept from her. During all those years she hud not forgotten Tommy Atkins, the name by which she persisted in speaking of tb« soldier who had stopped her pony. Although only a private, he was her typical hero, a veritable Paladin. it was not surprising, therefore, that one of her first resolves, on realising what seemed to her unlimited wealth, should l»e in reward her hero in a proper manner. Having ascertained thai tin' Hertford I'usiliers were stationed at Pciubury. she visited a jeweller's shop, and bought an elaborate pdd watch and a massive chain of the same cosily metal. The watch she left to be suitably engraved: "Presented to Tommy Atkins, of the First Battalion. Hertfordshire Regiment, by Gertrude Kingston, as a mark of gratitude." "I don't suppose that is the soldier's name." .Miss Kingston explained, "but I want it put on the watch. He saved my life, and thai was the name lie gave me."

Having purchased the most expensive purse the shop ctmtaiued. she placed inside it. live bank-notes. When the watch had been delivered, she set out alone for lVinbiiry. To and fro before the door which led to the officers' quarters at Pembury bar-

racks, Private Glcssup was doing sentrygo. Miss Kingston stopped in her path. "Can you tell me." she asked, "if there is a soldier liere named Tommy—Thomas Atkins ?" Private Glovssup grounded his Lee-Met-forrt. "That's my name," he said, with a knowing wink: then, bringing his rifle to the shoulder smartly, ho marched to the sentry box. turned right about face, and marched back. At this juncture Sergeant Smith appeared in the doorway, smart in sash, gloves and sword, and swinging a natty cane. Miss Kingston addressed her question to him. "Somebody's been having you on toast, miss,'" lie answered, interrupting the explanation which she had concluded was very necessary.

Stepping aside to make room, he saluted an officer, who passed in—tall and handsome, with a face bronzed to copper color. The battalion had not long returned from India.

"That is he!" exclaimed Miss Kingston. "I should know him anywhere. Will you kindly tell him that a lady wishes to speak to him ? Stay a moment" she went on, producing her card case. "Give him this card and say I am the girl whose life lie saved near Balcorner about nine years ago. My pony rau away, and he stopped it. I dare say he will remember." He conducted her to an orderly room, gave her a chair, and entered his commanding officer's quarters. Lieut-Col. Graham. almost the youngest officer of that rank in the British army, had just taken off his gloves, when the sergeant entered, and, saluting, gave him the card. "Lady Avauts to see you." he said. The colonel started. "Miss Kingston. Balcomer Hall!" he exclaimed, in tones of surprise. "What the dickens does she want with me? I won't see her. Tell her—tell her—don't tell her anything. It wasn't her fault—" This to himself. "Did she mention her business •:" "Not exactly, sir. I was to say that you saved her life about nine years ago: stopped a runaway pony, sir. She asked for a soldier of the name of Tommy Atkins—begging your pardon, sir." added the sergeant, with au ill-concealed grin. Colonel Graham pondered for a moment. "By Jove! I remember." he cried at length. "She must be the little girl in a short fnx-k. who wanted to give me a shilling, and begged me to tell her my name. You say she asked for Tommy Atkins r "Yes, sir. And she recognised you as him—lagging your pardon again, sir," "Then she doesn't kuow roe V I'll see her. What a coincidence! And she really thought I was a private V Did <-; be have a good look at me when I passed ?" "Not more than a glimpse. I should say. .sir." "Amen! Crockett!" A smart soldier servant entered front an inner room. "I want you to change tunics with me.' said the colonel; "or lend me yours. anyway. You are about my size. I think." When .Miss Kingston entered. Colonel Graham was standing at attention, with his thumbs pressed tightly against the seams of his trousers, in the stiffest I've-just-swallowed-a-bayonet attitude that he could assume. Bur his eyes said: "Awfully pretty girl." as plainly as eyes could speak.

"I'm so plart !o nicer you again." she said. "I've never forgotten you. and I've brought.you a lit lie gift, if you will ueeent it." Colonel (ri'aiiain executed a half-right ruru. and faced Private Crockett.

"is it against the regulations* to receive n reward for doiug my duty, sir V" he asked. •i—l—l don't think so." stammered Crockett, almost sis red ;us the tunic thai covered Ins manly breast. Miss Kingston looked at him in surprise, then glnuced inquiringly at her hero, whose bronzed features wore the most wooden expression that he could summon up. Evidently she suspected something. But she produced the watch and chain and purse, and presented them with si few graceful words.

"I had the name you gave me engraved on the watch," she said: "but that is no correct. I think."

"No. miss." replied the colonel. glancing sit the case; "that w;is a joke. But Tommy Atkins wili d«> very well. I am very much obliged." It w.is a rather singular coincidence that, on the day following her return to Baleomer. Miss Kingston should receive si visit from Miss Raynor. a spinster sister of the late squire, who had hitherto for some reason or other held aloof, and that this white-haired old lady should silmost at once introduce the subject of her nephew. Richard.

"You don't know him. 1 think, my dear." she said. "He is lieutenantcolonel of the army, and I must tell you that he was always led to believe (hat he would succeed to Baleomer. Unfortunately for him. he quarrelled with your uncle, said, in consequence, you are here." "1 never heard a word of it. Why did he quarrel V" "My uncle wished him to marry a certain lady, and Hick did not sec his way." "Wliul si shame:" exclaimed the girl. deeply interested. "1 nm so sorry! I feel that I have no right to Ralcomer. Can't something be done i Is it possible lo divide the property ?" Miss Rsiynor smiled. "Wouldn't that be rather quixotic my dear V" she asked. "I don't know." was the reply. "I think 1 ought to do it." Miss Raynor soon afterwards took her leave. But si week later she paid another visit to Ralcomer. "I have heard from Dick." she said, "and he'll call on you the lirst time he is in the neighborhood. He says he doesn't resent your being here in the least, and he wili be very pleased to know you."

Miss Uaynor hail scarcely been at Baleomer fifteen minutes—devoted to praises of her nephew. Dick—when that gentleman arrived, and sent up his card.

"Lieut-Col. Uichstrd Graham. First Battalion. Hertfordshire Regiment." exclaimed Miss Kingston, residing from the card. "Why. I was sit lVmbiiry tea days ago, and 1 saw " "Dick!" interrupted Miss Raynor, blandly.

"I don't know. I saw Private Tommy Atkins, and. I think, his colonel. It's very funny. The colonel looked ami spoke like ;i prince ami Tommy Atkins like a gentleman." The footman retired. Next moment the colonel came in. ami Miss Kingston stood face to face with Iter hero, across whose white waistcoat Ihe massive chain she had given him was proudly displayed. "Why-why " she began. Mushing almost as red us Private Crockett, when seated in Hie officer's chair, "we are old acquaintances." "And cousins." said the colonel, bowing.

"Von saved my life!" 'it pleases you ro say so. I huro come to thank yon for your offer to share the Kalcotner with inc."

"It would be a pity to divide Balcomer. my dears," interposed Miss Rnynor, shaking her white ringlets archly. "Isn't there a better way to put tnlDgs straight'.-" -"Answers."