Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-09
THE POISON OF LOVE.

The commanding officer was seated In
the adjutant's office in troubled parley
with the officer of the day.
1t was high noon, midsummer, and Ari-
IONA, and, though the adobe was as cool as
only an adobe can be in fiery weather, the
major was mopping his brow in entire dis
comfort.
"That's It'll That's It'll" he calculated
"Think of sending man off on the
very eve of his wedding. The very day be-
fore he Is to be married It's beastly I'M
pleasant thing to have to do. But I'm too
old for a trip like that. Gowan's on the
sick list, Henderson's away, Thompson's
wife may die any minute, Trowbridge
won't be back from Grant until early TO-
morning, and you're half dead
precious hospital we have-and officer of
the day besides. Then, moreover. How
lands about the only one who can handle
those things right and not make mess of
1t. He's got to go, that's all -
II might be able to manage the bust
ness. Suppose you let him take my sabcr
and I'll co., suggested Briggs.
"You look like it, now don't you?
Pretty healthy specimen you'd be to send
on ride like that"
ut wouldn't hurt me, and it might do
me good. I ask it as a favor, major"
''Well, won't. Howland's going" He
rang the bell for his orderly and sent that
unduly erect individual to find Lieutenant
Rowland, give him the commanding Off
GERS compliments and say he would like
to see him in the adjutant's Office imme-
diately.
When the orderly had gone on his way
saluting, Briggs tilted back in his chair,
with its burnt ornament Of @. NJ. D., and
fingered his saber knot and watched the
files circling with faint buzz in the CEN
ter of the room. The commandant turned
his attention to legal cap document much
UNDERSIGNED and lined in red ink and
glanced uneasily at the door. The official
paper did not claim his attention long.
"He can start now and be back by noon
tomorrow.
eyes" said Briggs, she cam"
IT suppose he'll see the reason for It,"
~ suppose so, - assented Briggs.
"He's sensible fellow"
eyes, he's sensible, Z" Briggs agreed.
The major felt that his junior officer
was not exactly encouraging. "What the
deuce would you have me do then?'' he
snapped.
"Let me CO."
"You're as pig headed as a donkey"
Numbered the major. "You shan't go,
tell YOU"
"All right, but I'd rather not be around
when you send Rowland, that's all. It's a
rude interruption of loves young dream.
You've my sympathy, as you've got the
talking to do Here he comes. Shall 1
help you out, or may go?" asked the
brave soldier, rising and looking longingly
toward the door.
go, go by all means and leave me the
nasty job"
Briggs resumed his seat, his saber
clanked, and he knocked down an army
register for 1870. While he was picking 1t
up Rowland came in. He was the most
promising officer in the regiment, and was
tall and strong and homely. He had a
square jaw and straight mouth, and the
jaw looked squarer and the mouth straight
er just now. He foresaw something I'M
pleasant when he caught sight of Briggs
and the major Briggs was small and
thin, the major was short and fat, and
both were unusually impressed with How
lands stature
"E-e-eh," commenced the commanding
officer, and dog cared the legal cap docu-
ment and Strengthened it out again. Eth,
Howland"
"Well sirP"
"Why--eh, I've got to ask you deuced
unpleasant thing, Rowland"
II will try to answer it, major.
"Not a question, not question. It's
something I've got to ask you to do, and,
by Jove, I'd rather be shot"
Anything can do for you shall be
most happy to do"
| tSee here Everybody is sick or away
and I'm SO old and fat and Briggs Is just
out Of fever bed and hardly able to stand,
you know, and some one has to go up to
the agency and quiet fuss among the
bucks about the beef issue. Whoever goes
has got to 60 now and get there in hurry.
I lose my temper too fast--and then I'm
so fat" said the major sadly Briggs in
sists upon going, but you see he shouldn't
/ won't allow him to. Don't you see how
1t isp There's only you available. "
Certainly, sir"
"I've got to ask you to do 1t to prevent
q lot Of trouble I know you are to bt
married tomorrow, and it's the most dis
agreeable thing ever had to do to seni
you away today But you see how it Tsp
he reiterated.
"Of course see, sir, and I'll go-no
exactly with pleasure but still I'll go.
| can get back by noon tomorrow-ant
| that'll give me time to shave and dress, ;
| ho oddnd With n evrivr eyni1a