Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-11-25
"S'POSE IT'S SATAN"

IL WIS Only lIlo SIOullu Ou WAlCiA IAAo
100 boys of DR.. Kellar's school disported
themselves. But besides the boys pres
ent there were at least 100 demons and
angels OF ambition, envy, loyalty, peril
dy and truthfulness.
The doctor himself, in new suit Of
tweed, seemed to the boys to be far more
approachable here in the midst of their
sports than when in academic cap and
gown he cast gloom through their ranks
by stalking along with that searching
eve of his well turned on the discount
ture Of evildoers. However, even at
these grewsome times, the boys admitted
among themselves that Kellar was gen.
tleman, and that they'd rather take
hiding from him than punishment drill
from cad any day.
For they were proud of Kellar's, loyal
to the school, and ready to battle to the
bitter end against any common foe who
dared to asperse it in the slightest de-
gree.
A little lad of 10 had just run light
heartedly on the ground when the afore-
said searchlight fell on him, and stimuli
taneously the head master shouted out:
"Colville two, thought you had de-
tention?"
Colvilletwo, q redheaded, merry faced
boy, smiled cheerfully, as if detention
were good joke to which he was well
accustomed, and replied with pleasant
promptness:
$50 have, SIR"
"Then what brings you out here"
II s'pose it's Satan. He's always do
ing it."
doing what?"
Making me naughty" said Colville
two, with pathetically fearless frankness.
Then Kellar's little daughter went up
and kissed him.
Twelve years later the battle Of Tamai
was being fought, and Colville two was
in the thick Of it. He had been slightly
wounded in an attack that had been
made upon McNeil's Zareba few days
previously, and his colonel had men,
toned him in dispatches and recon-
mended him strongly for the "V. c."
for personal gallantry.
On the strength Of this Lieutenant
Colville had written to the girl he was
engaged to, who was at Cairo with her
mother, telling her that he would not
wait to marry her day after he had got
his company.
eve always been lucky fellow,
though I've been in no end of scrapes all
my life," the boy wrote, "and now the
browning luck of all is that shall win
you and the Victoria cross at the same
time. Heaps of fellows deserve it just
as much as do, only happened to be
in front, you see, and was lucky enough
to be able to make myself target for
the concealed enemy, who had been
picking off our men like ninepins. The
Arabs turned their fire on me, and our
fellows were able to see where the beg
CARS fired from. I must bear charmed
life, think, for the ground was riddled
all around me. Bob Dob was her broth
cry and / fought shoulder to shoulder for
hours, and we shall again many q day, !
hope"
The girl who got this letter was
worthy of the gallant, light hearted boy
who wrote it, and she sent him pages OF
such loving, proud, encouraging words
as only proud, loving woman can
write.
II wish were your wife that l might
90 to the front and dress your wounds
myself, my own love. Even as it is
am capable of dressing as a boy and 60
ing to the camp. quite understand
Constance de Beverley's bowling her
pride and riding for three long years in
Lord Marmion's train. Only, Jack,
there would be no 'bowing of pride in
my case. should be prouder than ever
if I could only do. something to show the
whole camp, the whole world, how dear
ly love my boy"
Then she went on to tell how regularly
she wrote to his mother, keeping her
posted up in all that Jack was doing and
suffering and winning. "She is my be-
loved mother, and only she can fully
understand how dearly / have loved you
ever since that day when I went and
kissed you because you said you 's'posed
it was Satan made you naughty"
Violet Kellar had fought hard fight
before she had gained her fathers con
sent to become engaged to penniless Jack
Colyille. The girls brilliantly good
looks. attractive manners and general
cleyerness had brought far more eligible
men to har feet. But she had beer
faithful to her first love through it all.
II hate poverty, but I love Jack" she
would say, when her father pointed on,
TO her how far more sensible it would be
of her to marry man who could give
her q good establishment in which hs
could stay at home in ease with her thar
/ to link her lot with that Of mere sub
altern in marching regiment.
.Probably after they have settled THU
disturbance in Egypt his regiment viii
be sent off to India for three or foul
wears, and as he can't marry on his pa,
YOU will be left behind to mediate OF
your folly in having engaged yourself"
II shall marry him as soon as Thu
affair is over in Egypt, papa, and If h
can't give me bread and water enough
to support me I'll beg 1t from some ont
who can. I don't want good estab
lishment or a husband who'll stay a