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Fortescue; and then there was no more music from the harp, the Colonel going into his office and Mrs. Fortescue to the After-Clap's nursery. In her own little room Anita was already hard at work on her letter to Broussard. It was a very short and simple letter, telling exactly, and only, what Mrs. Lawrence had asked, and it was signed "Sincerely Yours."
He kissed 'Nita!" shrieked the After-Clap. Broussard and Anita, standing in the circle of eyes, were much embarrassed; Kettle, grabbing the After-Clap, shook him well, saying: "Heish yo' mouth! you didn't see no sich a thing!" This only increased the After-Clap's indignation, and he bawled louder than ever: "I see Mr. Broussard kiss 'Nita! I see him kiss my 'Nita."
Not even the After-Clap's pranks could make him smile, nor were the After-Clap's orders always orders to him that day. In the late afternoon Mrs. Fortescue, seeing Kettle seated in a corner of the back hall, and evidently in an introspective mood, asked him: "What's been the matter with you all day, Kettle?" "I'm a-seekin', Miss Betty," Kettle replied solemnly. "What are you seeking?" Mrs.
"What do you mean, Kettle, by bringing the baby out this time of night?" asked the surprised Anita. "I got him all wropped up warm," answered Kettle, apologetically, pointing to the After-Clap's white fur coat and cap. "But that chile knowed there wuz a hoss show on it's mighty little he doan' know, and after the Kun'l and Miss Betty lef', he begin' to cry for 'Horsey!
But at the door Kettle appeared, carrying in his arms the After-Clap, now nearly three years old, and capable of making a great deal of noise. At once, he sent up a shout for "'Nita!" and Anita, cruelly oblivious of Broussard's claims, took the After-Clap by the hand and ran off to see his Christmas tree that being the After-Clap's day.
McGillicuddy, engaged in one of the comfortable chats that always took place between the Colonel's lady and the Sergeant's wife at the After-Clap's bed-time. As Sergeant McGillicuddy kept the Colonel informed of the happenings at the fort, so Mrs. McGillicuddy, who had great qualifications, and would have made a good scout, kept Mrs.
Fortescue and the Colonel went up-stairs to dress for dinner, and Kettle, on watch in the hall, took charge of the After-Clap, who commanded to be taken back into the office. Kettle, as always, promptly obeyed, and putting the baby on Sergeant McGillicuddy's desk, allowed the After-Clap to wreck everything in sight. It had not been originally designed that Kettle should be the After-Clap's nurse.
"You go 'way!" screamed the After-Clap, raising a copper-toed foot, and kicking Broussard's shins. "You let my 'Nita 'lone, you bad man!" The After-Clap's shrieks brought the chaplain and Kettle and a couple of soldiers quickly out of the chapel.
Then, Kettle and the After-Clap could be reckoned upon as auxiliaries Broussard swore at himself for not remembering the After-Clap's existence that afternoon; Anita was ridiculously fond of the little chap. But Colonel Fortescue would be a hard nut to crack Broussard threw the stump of his cigar into the fire and thought all fathers of adorable daughters highly undesirable persons.
The new baby had taken everybody by surprise, and immediately acquired the name of the After-Clap. He coolly approved of his father and mother, and thought Anita an entertaining person when she got down on the floor to play with him. Naturally he was indifferent to his twenty-year-old brother, whom he had never seen, but Kettle his own Kettle was the beloved of the After-Clap's heart.
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