The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-26

that" until We were tired of hearing
of his little Norwegian Apache" as
one of the boys ungallantly dubbed
her one time when Horton was not
present. :ss.;s
But when. after his third visit East,
Horton returned to Silver City, bring
ing with him his mother and the little
Norwegian Apache" what q change
OF heart and surrender of hearts! In.
stead Of m angular, awkward young
person, possessed of points that might
make her, when developed, a beauty
OF the silly" type, behold a>petite
young woman, with wealth of pale
golden hair, beautiful eJes and teeth,
complexion of roses and cream, and a
decidedly vigorous constitution which
called for lots of horseback riding and
other outdoor exercises.
OF course Horton was peroona grata
st the post. having been stationed
there during the major portion of his
brief term OF service as Lieutenant ;
wherefore the wives and daughters OF
the garrison strove to outvie each 9th.
or in their attentions to his beautiful
little protegee, suffering themselves,
on her account, to listen to his moth
er's long dissertations on pedigrees,
especially that Of the Horizons. As a
general thing, the female contingent
of garrison society does its best to dis.
courage ''outsidcrs," as being likely
to prevent the capture, in due form,
ofwhat it considers its own legitimate
prey. But in this instance it was diff
terent-for wasn't it possible that this
merry young stranger might captivate
and marry some penniless subaltern,
thereby leaving the field open for
some spinster to ensnare the very eli
gibie and decidedly wealthy Horton ?
Decidedly SO; and upon this basis
the campaign went on, much to the
evident amusement OF Olga, who, with
womanly intuition and a knowledge OF
the ways Of women far beyond her
years, put two sud two together and
told Horton it was all very funny.
Clancy those army frumps, jack, be-
ing jealous OF me-poor me! jack
this with mock solemnity), ''are you
in love with me?'
"Olga, I wish you would not talk in
that frivolous manner. It isn'S like
You-and you should have enough
consideration for me to believe those
people sincere in their attentions. !"
And Horton turned away WITH a panied
look, but OIga's arms were around his
neck, and her tace WAS close to his,
Us, with wet eyes, she whispered:
"Jsck, dear, have I hurt you?''
Never before had John Horton been
SO tempted. Should he now tell her
what for two years had been in his
heart OF hearts, unknown to any one,
despite his loquacious enthusiasm con.
corning her? Or should he take adj.
vantage OF her dependent position and
her eighteen years, or Whereabouts,
and confess himself?
1t was but q momentary struggle,
then Horton was himself again-a mute
worshiner of the goddess he himself
had created-or found and developed.
eyes, you have, dear. Pleuse don't
speak OF my friends again IN that
way" he said, disengagins her arms.
Olga's mouth dropped, and there
wes piteous look in her eyes as she
replied:
II won't, John" Then, with sud-
den kiss, she walked away as though
she intended to so to her room for q
big, feminine cry; but she didn't. A
half-hour later found her at tdo piano
trying to MARBLE Mexican song while
she fondled the cot with one hand and
picked ont tho accompaniment with
the other.
Horton stood in the gallery for
some seconds, her parting kiss burn
ing upon his cheek, her pathetic face
az she left him still before his minds
eye.
''I'm an old brute!" he told him.
self. "a man OF my age" (ho was
twenty-eight) talking to a buoyant,
irrepressible child in that manner,
merely because I am supposed to be
her guardian! jack, yoa old scoun-
drel, you ought to be ashamed OF your.
selt!"
If Their, was male person in South
western New Mexico who did not fall
down and worship that ''little Nor.
wegian-Apache," he failed, probably
through fear, to declare himself; bus,
Of oil the love-stricken young idiots
that ever commanded FIRST platoon
with cledit) in times of peace end in
times OF war, and fell ignobly before
the initial onslaught ofthe little fellow
with the arrows Of love, Mr.. Dandy, Of
the Nth, WAS the bell-mule.
With him OIgs's affair was Serious
10 the young lieutenant. He all but
neglected his duties to be at her side
when she and Mrs. Horton were stop
ping at tho post.