The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-21
A LOVE STORY.

Billings, major, she pretends not TO be in
the least sentimentally concerned over her
engagement. Now, every woman is, OF
ought to be, for she is in good luck--nny
woman who lives-if she gets the man she
wants. But n man like Bob Billings con
have any woman for his wife he asks. So
he has no reason to be fool over getting
any woman. And why Polly, I'm surel'
The major was silent for n long time
and seemed deeply engrossed in the ma
nipulation of cigarette, rolling 1t carefully
to loosen its tobacco enough SO that 1t
would draw easily and not too easily, ana
plucking just enough of the redundan;
weed from one end to make "a proper
mouthpiCce of paper. When he had iin
ishcd this nice and precise work, lightet
the cigarette and blown ring for the sot
ter to jump Mt and swHllow.-to his re
proachtul surprise-thc major said
thoughtiully, "I'm going to tell you
story about BG, Billings l never tod tc
but one other person, just to prove to you
that Bob has right to show some delight
and even surprise in winning the girl he
wants.
''Is it real love story?" Mrs. Max
asked eagerly.
"a real love story, the major responded
"Tben wait until get myself perfectly
comfortable, so that won't have to move
"a bit while you talk" Mrs. Max took an
easier chair, arranged cushions and foot.
stool, settled herself snugly and said,
"Nowp'
"Well," began the major, when Bob
joined our regiment, he was only second
lieutenant, and therefore filed with en-
thusiasm, when he was assigned to the
company i commanded, because | was or.
dered to chase an ugly band of Indians
back on to IA reservation from which they
had wandered in search of scalps. l was
not so enthusiastic, for I'd been there be-
fore, and it's all hard work and no glory,
and the officers who do the hard work on
the frontier are always overlooked in Wash
ington when the department. is giving out
soft billets-oyerlooked in favor of those
who have been playing tennis and leading
germans in Washington"
"Major interrupted Mrs. Max, II
thought it was to be love story"
"To be sure, to be sure' continued the
major hastily. as that bottle within
your reach without disturbing you? Thank
you. Well, Bob was young, handsome,
still had his cadet waist, Il stunning figure
on horseback, loved fighting and was
adored by the troopers. We had cheerful
game of hide and seek with the Indians,
killing IA few, with the loss of few of our
men, until we went into winter camp
AS we could not follow the Indians any
further they obligingly made camp in
our vicinity, so that we would not be
without winter sports in addition to those
Bob and / arranged to keep the soldiers in
good nature.
"Our guide was what in the Indian
country is known as 'squaw man'-thut
is, he had married an Indian squaw. He was
as worthless n scamp as ever went I'M
shot, a renegade from society, but a fellow
of considerable education. He served our
purpose and as we were ordered to con-
tinue the campaign whenever the noun
tains became passable, even in winter, If a
freak of the weather should make them
so, as it sometimes does, l kept the guide
with us in camp. gave him permission
for few days leave, during which he
said he would be able to make his way to
his home ard bring his daughter back
with him. / thought 1t remarkable nc
could go any distance in the condition OF
the country, and think now that he did
not-that he brought his daughter from
the camp of the Indians.
"But he brought her. We were amazed.
1 may even say startled-I am inclined to
use excessive language when I'm dry
thank you-when we saw that young
woman. He told us she was IS, and po'
sibly he did not lie. She was tall, slenG,
| straight, embodied all the grace and beau
ty romancers have given to Indian maid
ems, and the handsomest woman l eveI
| saw-excepting the lady l married. Dc
| you suggest another bottle? Well, If you
will.
"For some time she kept closely to hel
fathers tent, but gradually, in that de
mocracy of intercourse which prevails II
winter frontier camps and hay rides, we
by degrees saw more and more of the young
woman until Starlight-that was mel
name-became part in all the camp life
You have guessed the result. Bob fell il
love with her. He raved about her until
threatened to no longer share our tent
with him. Needless to say, gave hin
good advice; needless to say, he scoffed IL
He would take her to his people in the cas-
and say: See, have brought you thi
magnificent jewel from the heart of thu
mountains. 1t needs but to be polished t.
shine as the chiefest glory of our prout
family
"Whereupon am afraid l said Rats
and Robert and l held but Official speech
with each other for week.
"One day Starlight strayed from CAM
and Bob was missing soon after. Nj.
striker, the parson, was absent, but will
leave to go and hunt game. The parsol
returned without any game, but with
story. Bob had been captured by the In
dians while outside our camp with Star
light. Parson suggested the plan l pur
sued. l sent for our guide and told hin
that unless Lieutenant Billings was re
turned safe before shutdown he, the guide
would be shot at that time. He professe
surprise and indignation. How would h
recover the lieutenantY Send Starlight,
1 said, at the parsons suggestion.
Before shutdown Bob was back in camp
and when l heard his story l gave tn
guide an hour to clear out with his beauti
full daughter"
"Wouldn't Polly Slanguer be furious
she knew that storyY" Mrs. Max exclaime
when the major ceased.
"She took it very quietly" remarke
! -