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18 full name was Porclnl Wil- q), I lam Willlmholhe plchedup the other nomeln o nor-cry hook. and chit. wee the end of the christened on... Bk mother‘scuuh called him Willie-Bow. but on he ne'er paid the (gluten. “tenuous to “yelling am. an ouch sold. her window did not help mum-I. ~~ Hie tether was the colonel oi the l95th,‘flld as soon as Wee Willie Winkle was old enough to understand what Military Discipline mam, Colonel Williams put him under it. There was no other way of amazing the child. When he was good for c week. he drew food-conduct pay; and when he w“ . he was deprived of his good-conduct stripe. generally he was bad, for India 03ers, so many ‘ chances of going wrong to little six-year-olds. Children regent familiarity from strangers, and HIGHLAND‘PARK fiNEWS-LETTERX» Three weeks after the beaten] of his yomhful affections on Lieutenant andisâ€"Jnenceiorwurd to 3351;; Jeog;?13;9;.;n. of m.“ Willie Winkie was deskincd to behold strange thin“ and Jar beyond his comprehension. LEE WILLIE WINK] Volume 1 7 Coppy returned his liking with interest. Coppy ;; By R Up TARD KIPLING HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS, MAY 13, 1905 had let him wear for five rapturous minutu his own his swordâ€"just as tall as We Willie Winkic. Coppy had promised him a terrier puppy, end Coppy had permitted him to witness the miraculous open- iion of shaving. ”.morA-rflopw had said that even he, 'Wee Willie Winkie, would rise in time to the oWnership of a box of .shiny knives, a silver map-box, and a silver-handled “ sputter-balsh," as Wee Williemlled it. Decidedly, there was no one earcept his own father. who could give or take away good-emduet hedges gt zplegisiire, .haif \ so wise strong. “maxim as Com'wim'tbe Afghan» and Egyptian medals ctm'his breast. rWhy, then, should Com be guilty of theunmaiily weakness o‘f kissinz Uhaeri-drdifi'ary "ciréumstames “he wquid‘ havé spoken to his father, but' he felt insthxcfiv'ely'that this was a matter on which Coppy ought first to be consulted. ' " “I’ve been fining nothing had," said be,‘cur11ng himself into a long chair with a studious Effectation of the Colonel’s langgm after a. hot pa‘rade He buried his. heckled nose in a tea-cup and, with eyes Staring roundly over the rim, asked: “I say, Coppy, is it pwoper to kiss big ’giris?" V‘ _ ' “ By Jove! You“ re beginning early. Who‘ do you want to kiss?” . - “No oné My muvver’s always kissing me if I don’t stop her. If it isn’t pwopct, how was you kissing Major Allardyce’s big girl last mbming, by ve ennui? " f ‘Cappy’s brow wrinkled. He and Miss Allardyce had, with great craft, managed to keep their engage- ment secret for a' fortnight. There were urgent and imperative réasons why Major Alhrdyce should not know how tuners stood for it least mother month, and this am“ marplot had discovered a m dual too much . “I saw you." said We: Willie‘Winkic, calmly. “ But ve sait‘didn‘t we; II said 'Hu: in." ’ “Oh, yon had that much sense, you you: rip," groaned poor Coppy. hm amused and hat! way. “And how‘many people may you In" WM it?” ' . , {POnly mtmyself. You didn’t an m I mud- [N ' wwldoubulflom-gpouym lune; sad I fougnz you wouldn't -" like ‘ “ kaic," aid Coppy, enthusiastically, sinking the small hand, “ you re the but of good fellows. 2 Look here. you can't undenmd all these things. One of (has: daysâ€"hang it, how- can I make you «c " .. itlgl‘m main: to marry MinAlhrdnc, :31th . she’ll be Mrs. Com, as you say. If your you: mind is so madaliged at the idea of lusting big ‘ jf‘; mrlu, go md tell your father ” 243113 “What wiillhappcn?" Said Wee' Willie Winkie. who firmly believed thit his father Wu mtipomt. “'I shall get into trouble," said Coppy, playing his -truiitp card with an appaling look at the holder of the ace. “ Ven I won’t,” said We Willie“ Winkie, brm “ But my fawc: says it' s an mm 1y 201:: 31x15: ing, and I didnt fink you'd do vst, Coma? W3, 1 man: nnx youa no VII, LOW-1" “ I’m not nlways kissing, old chap. It'-s only on and then, and when you‘ re bigger you'll do at‘bo Your fame: mean! it’s not good {or link but” “A111" hid We: Wilhe Winkle, mifiy onus lighten“. " t’f like ve waiter-truth?” ' “' ”a. "Exactly, " said Coppy gravely. ‘ ' ' fl; "But Iy don’t fink I'll ever want to kiss big girls, nor no one, ’ccpt my mower. And-a1 must do , vat, you know.”- , e" _ . e There waé a long pause, broken by Wéc Willie. Winkie. * me 9‘” “ It’ s fin a difiermt way," said Coppy‘. " Yowm. one of these days Miss Allardyce will belong 'to me, but You’ll grow up and command the fagiment and «41" sorts of things. It'§<quite~di’i’fegem, you see!" “ Very well,” said Wee Winie Winkie,’ rising; “ If you’ re fond of ve big gin-1, I won’t tail any one I must go now.” Copp'y rose and escorted his small guest to the door, adding-4‘ You re the he'st of iittle (allows, Winkie I tell you what In thirty days from now‘ you can M! if you likeâ€"tell any .one you like." Thus the secret of the Brandis-Ailardyce engage- ment was dependent mi a little child’s word“ Coppy, who knew Wee Willie Winkie’s idea of truth, was at ease, for he felt that he would act break promâ€" tees. We‘e Willie W mkte betrayed a special and un- usual interest in Miss Allardyce and, slowly revolv- in; round that embarrassed youhg.1ady,_,was haul.» to regard her gravely with unwink'mg eye. He was trying to discover why Coppy should have kissed her. She was not half to nice as his own mother On the either hand. fie m Guppy’s property, and would in time km to fiat. Therefore it beâ€" "hoowd him’to twat her with as much respect as w “I sword or shiny pistoi V J’ Timid“ that he stared agmt secret in common with Cow: kept Wee W'imc Winkie unusually virtuous for three weeks. Then the Old Adam bmka Are you fond of via big girl, “Com?" ‘ t ‘ Awfullyl". said Coppy. ‘ ' chder vah you are of Bell qr ,vc 3W mummy}- zo‘bc away: 1635' Number 24.