The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-08-14
CHAPTER !.
rHE SOLDIERS AND THE MINERS

Of crystal clearness into food us
thick, black, and forbidding- looking as
the Styx itself. It was some years ago
that charming stretch of hill and val
ley In Arizona, America, fell under the
ban Of the gold-seeker. Birds, flowers,
trees, and heritage disappeared almost
In day. The uncouth habitations and
rude fixtures Of mining camp sprang
up nearly in single night, amid the
yelling, singing, and shouting OF the
excited multitude which, with intlamed
eyes and haggard faces, fell upon mo her
earth as if bent upon tearing her very
heart out. This place Of Dissertation is
called Camp Tampa, taking it's name
from that Of a military station close by.
One object in the afternoon landscape
Is in contrast to the rude disturbance.
and it is girl of IL, who sits in plain
ly condemnatory mood, as she gazes
from the hillside into the valley where
the miners are ruthlessly at work.
Eleanor Lorley may gain in rarity by
being the only girl at Camp Tampa, yet
she would be lovely among any number
Of her sex. She is the daughter of Col.
Lorley, the commandant of the army
post, and has acquired something Of
imperiousness by having enjoyed year
of queenly homage from the small COM
rany Of soldiers. Now that horde of
miners have invaded the pretty valley.
she feels that she ought, and might,
Issue an effective edict of exclusion.
When the long shadows disappear with
the sunset, Miss Lorley bethinks that
1t is time to go back to the barracks,
and, with a last hateful glance at the
quite unconscious miners in the dis
lance, she quits the scene.
Next morning, when Colonel Lorley
shouts for his orderly, before getting
out of bed, there is not the usual re-
sponse by a quick and obsequious
servant in the guise of soldier. The
commandant makes an cutlery with
some profanity in it. In the middle of
bis eloquent but rather highly spiced
peroration his daughter opens the door.
She comes to him across the room in
her usual free and graceful manner and
On airily seductive costume suggestive
Of slumber. She sinks into chair and
twines her pretty arm negligently round
The parental pillow.
what is it, my aear?" asks the COL
mel, excitedly, raising himself on his
elbow. why doesn't Sanders answer?
Why are you here?"
MY dear, says Eleanor, drawing her
dainty frilled white cambria garment
more closely round her with touch of
old Roman grandeur that almost trans
forms it into toga, you have only
lived to be Colonel with no command
Sanders and the rest of the men have
deserted, and joined the gold Hunters.
"Eh?" says the Colonel. His elbow
gives way and he sinks back upon his
pillow.
Merely that, says his daughter. 1t
cannot be said but that there is sense
Of suppressed enjoyment in her tone.
Now, don't take a wrong view Of it,
dearest. Regard it as I do-rather as
distinction to be compelled to court
martial your whole army"
AS that army has consisted of only
thirty men for month, the rest of the
regiment having been scattered to other
Arizona outposts, the matter is 1t of
vast dimensions.
Besides" Eleanor continued, "the
miners have sent word that they want
the very ground we're camped on, and
we've got to cot out
"Eh?"" says the Colonel again, in a
somewhat dazed fashion, being las he
himself would have told you) thoroughly
dabbergasted by the wholesale de-
scrtion.
Don't give in," repeats the slender,
fragile, white-robed figure in the chair,
leaning forward SO as the mole effect
ually to emphasize her remarks with
slim but determined foreinger, and to-
coming more and more the Roman mat
ron every moment. Stick to your
principles; defy these miserab be fellows.
Be yourself with increasing force, as
though she fears there is instant dan
ger of his becoming somebody else.
"Glve in! What dye mean, child?'
says the Colonel, ind gnantly. And in
deed her backing up is plainly thrown
away, as the warrior, scenting the bat
tle from afar, has aphorcally
speaking) buckled on his armor and is
ahead charging the host. Il must got
up" says he.
Pm afraid you can't have any one to
help you to-day, says the daughter, re-
Sretfully.
Are they all gomez
Everybody except Surgeon Brannard.
And you couldn't ask him to do your
orderly's work"
"Well, I'll get up, says the Colonel
again, as though the subject is beyond
him. DO you mean to tell me that all
the men have gomez"
Every one Of them; as daylight came
they melted. They took all the provis-
Ions along, too. But get up now,
there's dear heart, and let US have
breakfast and consultation, with what
appetite we may"
She carries herself and the pretty
trilled robe out of the rough barracks
room, with an air of unflinching deter
mination, albeit she is but a slender,
lissome creature. She is very pretty,
very high spirited, and just a little
spoiled. Her mother died when she
was barely five, and ever since the Col
onel has had to think great many
times before daring to say "No" 10 her /
about great many things.
The girl is assisted in her preparation |
M on upoonronI1y ,I,;,, \, l-f,c+ -.