The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-24
A LOVE STORY.

"since Polly slanguer accepted Bo
Billings, major, she pretends not to be /
the least sentimentally concerned over be
engagement. Now, every woman is @
ought to be- for she is In good luck--an
woman who liyes-if she gets the man sh
wants But man like Bob Billings cal
have any woman for his wife he asks. S
he has no reason to be fool over gettin,
any woman. And why Polly, I'm sure ?
| The major was silent for long tim
and seemed deeply engrossed in the ma
nipulation of cigarette, rolling it carefully
to loosen It's tobacco enough 50 that i
would draw easily and not too easily, ant
piuoking just enough of the redundan
weed from ono end to make a propel
mouthpiece of paper. When he had fin
ished this nice and precise work, Lighted
the cigarette and blown u ring for the set
ter to jump at and swallow-to his re
proachful surErise-the major sniG
| thoughtfully, I'm going to tell you O
story about Bob Billings / never told tc
| but one other serson, just to prove to you
that Bob has q right 70 show some delight
and even surprtlo in winning the girl he
wants"
''Is it real satSe storyp' Mrs Max
asked eagerly.
"a real love story the jor 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,
"Nowp'
well, began the major, "when Bob
Joined our regiment he was only q second
lieutenant, and therefore filled with en-
thusiusm when he was assigned to the
company l commanded, because | was Or
dered to chase an ugly band Of Indians
back on to O reservation from which they
had wandered in search of scalps. was
not 50 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-oTerlooked in favor of those
who have been playing tennis and leading
germans i'll Washington"
"Majorl" interrupted Mrs. Max, II
thought it was to be a love story
ITO 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, a stunning figure
on horseback, loved fighting and was
adorod by the troopers, We had a cheerful
game of hide and seek with the Indians,
killing Il few, with the loss of a 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 Got be
without winter sports In addition to those
Bob and l arranged to keep the soldiers in
good nature.
"Our guide was what In the Indian |
country Is known as 'squaw mHn'-that |
Is, he had married an Indian squaw. He was
rs worthless scamp as ever went un-
shot, renegade from society, but 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, II
freak Of the weather should make them
SO, as 1t sometimes does, kept the guide
with us in camp. l gave him permission
for a few days leave, during which be
said he would bo able to make his way to
his home and bring his daughter back
with him. I thought it remarkable he
could go any DISTANCE in the condition of
tho country, and think now that he did
not-that he brought his daughter from
the camp Of the Indians.
"But he brought h0r. We were amazed
/ 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 10, and pos
slbly 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 l ever
the lady married. Do
you suggest another bottlep Well, If you
will.
"For some time she kept closely to her
fathers tent but gradually, in that de-
of intercourse which prevails in
winter frontier camps and hay rides, we
by degrees saw more and more of the young
woman until Starllght-that was her
part In all the camp life
You have guessed the result Bob fell In
ove with her. He raYed about her until l
threatened to no longer share our tent
With him. Needless to say, gave him
good advice; needless to say, he scoffed 1t.
he would take her to his people in the east
md say: SEQ, havo brought you this
jewel from the heart Of tho
1t noeds but to be polished to
hine as the chiefest glory of our proud
amily.'
"Whereupon am afraid said 'Ratsp
md Robert and held but official speech
With each other for week.
"One day Starlight strayed from camp
nd Bob was missing soon after. My
triker, the parson, was absent but with
cave to go and hunt game. The parson
eturned without any game, but with O
tory. Bob had been captured by the In.
ians while outside our camp with Star
ght. Parson suggested the plan I pur-
ued. l sent for our guide and told him
hat unless Lieutenant Billings was re-
lrned safe before sundown he the guide,
Tould be shot at that time. He professed
lrprse and indignation. How would he
eoover the lieutenant Send Starlight,
said, oh the parsons suggestion.
Before sundown Bob was back in camp
nd when heard his story I gave the
uide an hour to clear out with his beauti-
Ii daughter !
Wouldn't Polly Slanguer bo furious If
10 knew that storyf" Mrs. Max exclaimed
hen the major ceased. 1
"She took it very quietly" remarked
10 major
"Shs took I'll"
eyes, " said the major, II told her, at
obs request, before he proposed TO her "
~ suppose that girl had dark hair like
olly's," Mrs. Max remarked. New York
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