The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-12-26

wouru oe wnat they call a 'deserrer,
wouldn't you?" she inquired.
i suppose So. he answered dog
gedly, but flushing in spite of him
self at this word Of disgrace. ANY
way, I'd rather be called even
traitor than 60 back!"
1T seems to me 'deserter' sound,
about as bad ~ traitor, Z" observed
Dorothy. IF
"Oh, we'll. it's all up with m,
now. You'rea girl, and you II 60 ans
tell, and that's the end Of til"
Il shan't tell, even IL lam q eirl!'
she retorted. IAN girls aren't tell
tales. and I'm sure it's none of m,
business II you want to 60 and be {
deserter or any other awful thingl'
With an offended glance she turned
to leave him, but relented at tbs
sight of his doleful countenance.
ut must be pretty bad, though
she said. ito make you want to rur
away"
1T isl It's . slaves life, and il
I've got to be just . common scrut
! prefer to work on dry land. All
that talk about the glory and honor
of the life IL rubbish. I've tried it.
They woa't miss me till they &c
aboard tonight at sunset. But ii
they should catch me tomorrow I'd
be looked in the brig for . week on
bread and waterl"
Though she had no idea what the
brig" was. this sounded very i'm.
pressivs and terrible to Dorothy.
What q brave fellow he must be to
attempt escape In the face Of such
punishment! And yet there seemed
something decidedly questionable
about the sort Of courage that led
him to run away from disagreeable
duty rather than stay and face it.
Nor could she admit that he was ex-
aotly her Ideal Of brave young Amer.
ioa a. he sat in . detected heap at
the far side Of tho dark little cell.
III I had q brother" she began
slowly, her eyes fxed steadily on
tho resentful face before her, "if /
had a brother, I think I should want
him to be either a soldier or a sail.
or. And il he were in the navy and
got to be an officer. how proud /
should b! To have your own broth.
er really helping to protect your
country, how safe II would mako
you feeli
But" she went on sympathetic.
ally. ''if you r sick all the time, /
don't wonder you hate 1t. The
American consul here IL q real nice
old man. know him, and Ill tell
him just how you feel, and I'm sure
he will help you. But" she contin-
ued, with . rad little smile, II am
disappointed. for oil summer since
I've been here / have been watching
these Portuguese boys and girls, and
they don't seem half 80 nice as ours.
The girls just ait around and don't
have any fun, and the boys act 80
stupid and lazy I want to shake
them. I've been wishing they could
come over to America and see our
boys, and-now I Just hate to have
them know that there is a single one
who isn't brave and loyal and true
to his flag"
Silence followed this somewhat
but earnest confession. The
boy sat with his ehin stolidly bsried
in. his hands.
Suddenly . movement In tho court
startled them both, and, glanoing
through the broad arch behind her,
Dorothy saw The bent figures of
some Of the old women, evidently re.
turning from early mass.
Keep Wy back in the dark"
she whispered hurriedly. while fold.
ing up her stool, and don't move,
or they will see you. III como back
after brsakfast and bring you ssme-
thing to eat. Goodby."
Dorothy rstrscsd her steps to the
donkey at the gate and rode
straight to IN openins whence abe
could get = view Of the ha.bor.
There, sure enough. with sails furled,
swinging lazily with the warm sum-
.er breeas, lay the Victory, and
its stern doatsd the most beau
tiful Gag in all the world.
II didn't know I should ever feel
70 worked up ovsrA sight Of that
darling dasl" Dorothy exclaimed,
dancing In her saddle. 81
must tell mothsr!"
Al shs turned back 70 the main
street she found the place alive with
the white suits and sunbuzpsd faces
Of American sailor boys. The old
town WAS reused from its comfort
able slumbsr by light hearted, strong
bodied youth turned loose for a holt
Up and down the streets they
marohsd, their rolling gait assumed
Z not yet acquired, ch~attering
delight ct being ashore snd
buf~tins into a hearty cheer q sight
u the stars and stripes abovs the
.,onsul's ofics.
Here and there we're strsgglers
aeep In the delights OF home letters