The Little Regiment by Stephen Crane
page 11 of 122 (09%)
page 11 of 122 (09%)
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The corporal made no answer. Presently Dan said: "Billie, where you been?" His brother did not seem to hear these inquiries. He glanced at the house which towered above them, and remarked casually to the man on the horse-hair trunk: "Funny, ain't it? After the pelting this town got, you'd think there wouldn't be one brick left on another." "Oh," said Dan, glowering at his brother's back. "Getting mighty smart, ain't you?" The absence of camp-fires allowed the evening to make apparent its quality of faint silver light in which the blue clothes of the throng became black, and the faces became white expanses, void of expression. There was considerable excitement a short distance from the group around the doorstep. A soldier had chanced upon a hoop-skirt, and arrayed in it he was performing a dance amid the applause of his companions. Billie and a greater part of the men immediately poured over there to witness the exhibition. "What's the matter with Billie?" demanded Dan of the man upon the horse- hair trunk. "How do I know?" rejoined the other in mild resentment. He arose and walked away. When he returned he said briefly, in a weather-wise tone, that it would rain during the night. Dan took a seat upon one end of the horse-hair trunk. He was facing the crowd around the dancer, which in its hilarity swung this way and that |
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