Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-09
A LOVE STORY.
w tt DAIHEfi
Genl Pass. Agent, Denver, Colo,


Billings, major, she pretends not to be in
the least sentimentally concerned over her
engagement. Now, every woman is, or
ought to be- for she is in good luck-any
woman who lives-if she gets the man she
wants. But man like Bob Billings can
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 sure!"
The major was silent for long time
and seemed deeply engrossed in the ma
nipulation of cigarette, rolling it carefully
to loosen it's tobacco enough SO that it
would draw easily and not too easily, and
pluoking just enough of the redundant
weed from one end to make proper
mouthpiece of paper. When he had fin
ished this nice and precise work, lighted
the cigarette and blown ring for the set
ter to jump at and swallow.-to his re-
proachful surprise-the major said
thoughtfully, "I'm going to tell you
story about Bob Billings / never told to
but one other person, just to prove to you
that Bob has a right to show some delight
and even surprise in winning the girl he
wants"
"Is it real love story2" Mrs. Max
asked eagerly.
"a real love story, the ma or responded.
"Then wait until get myself perfectly
comfortable, so that won't have to move
bit while you talk" Mrs. Max took an
easier chair, arranged cushions and foot
STOOL settled herself snugly and said,
"Nowr'
"Well," began the major, "when Bob
Joined our regiment, he was only a second
lieutenant and therefore filled with en-
thusiasm when he was assigned to the
company commanded, because was or
dered to chase an ugly band of Indians
back on to a reservation from which they
had wandered in search of scalps 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-overlooked in favor of those
who have been playing tennis and leading
germans in Washington
"Major!" interrupted Mrs. Max, 81
thought it was to be love story"
$40 be sure, to be sure!" continued the
major hastily. 'Is that bottle within
your reach without disturbing you? Thank
you. Well, Bob was young, handsome,
still had his cadet waist, a stunning figure
on horseback, loved fighting and was
adored by the troopers. We had cheerful
game of hide and seek with the Indians
killing few, with the loss of q 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 I arranged to keep the soldiers in
good nature. p
"Our guide was what in the Indian
country is known as 'squaw man'-that
is, he had married an Indian squaw. Hewas
as worthless a scamp as ever went I'M
shot,. renegade from society, but fellow
of considerable education. He served orr
purpose, and as we were ordered to con-
tinuo 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, 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 and bring his daughter back
with him. l thought it remarkable he
could go any distance in the condition of
the country, and l think now that he did
| not--that he brought his daughter from
the camp of the Indians.
| "But he brought her. We were amazed.
| may even say startled-I am inclined to
use excessive language when Pm dry;
| thank you-when we saw that young
woman. He told us she was 16, and pos
sibly he did not lie She was tall, slender,
| straight embodied all the grace and beau
| ty romancers have given to Indian maid
| ems, and the handsomest woman I ever
saw-excepting the lady married. Do
| you suggest another bottle? Well, if you
| will.
For some time she kept closely to her
fathers tent, but gradually, in that de-
| mocracy of intercourse which prevails in
| winter frontier camps and hay rides, we
| by degrees saw more and more of theyoung
woman until Starlight-that was her
name-became part in all the camp life.
| You have guessed the result. Bob fell in
| love with her. He raved about her until
! threatened to no longer share our tent
| with him. Needless to say, l gave him
| good advice; needless to say, he scoffed it.
| Hewould take her to his people in the east
and say: See, have brought You this
magnificent jewel from the heart Of the
mountains. 1t needs but to be polished to
shine as the chiefest glory of our proud
family.
"Whereupon am afraid l said Rats!
| and Robert and held but official speech
with each other for week.
Zone day Starlight strayed from camp
and Bob was missing soon after. My
striker, the parson, was absent, but with
leave to go and hunt game. The parson
returned without any game, but with a
story. Bob had been captured by the In.
dams while outside our camp with Star.
light. Parson suggested the plan | pur.
sued l sent for our guide and told him
that unless Lieutenant Billings was re-
turned safe before shutdown he, the guide,
would be shot at that time. He protested
surprise and indignation. How would he
recover the lieutenant? Send Starlight,
said, at the parsons suggestion.
s'Before shutdown Bob was back in camp,
and when heard his storyI gave the
| guide an hour to clear out with his beauti
full daughter.
| 'sWouldn't Polly Slanguer be furious Il
she knew that storyf" Mrs. Max exclaimed
| when the major ceased.
| "She took it very quietly" remarked
the major.
sShe took It'll"
Eyes, said the major. II told her, at
Bob's request, before he proposed to her y
II suppose that girl had dark hair like
Polly's, 7" Mrs. Max remarked. New York
| journal.