Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-01-22
TOMMY ATKINS.

L. l. L. Al
1t was quite romance in tho beginning,
rather funny in the middle, and in the end
positively audacious.
Little Gertie Kingston, driving pony
along a country lane that skirted a big
field in which battalion of soldiers was
exercising, pulled up to watch them, when,
without the least warning, down went the
front rank ON their knees. An officer
shouted "Firen' and off went the pony as
fast as ne could lay his legs to the ground
Remembering very steep, unprotected
declivity not more than mile ahead, the
frightened girl-she was only 13-set her
feet against the splashboard and pulled
desperately. She cut her gloves to ribbons,
but Bob galloped on with speed unabated,
and dashing round corner almost
plunged into company of soldiers
The men sprang right and left-all but
one. He made a leap at the runaway and
caught hold of his bride. Terrified anew,
the pony dragged him some little distance,
but failing to shake him off eventually
gave up the struggle.
OF course Gertie burst into tears when
quite sure the danger was over So the
soldier got up beside her and drove her
half a mile on her way.
''I've only Il shilling" she said, offering
the coin. 81 wish it was a sovereign. If
you tell me your name, Uncle John will
send you one. thank you very much,
and shall never forget that you saved
my life. I"
The soldier took the shilling and eyed it
comically. He was well set up fellow,
and he looked very handsome in his red
coat. So at least Gertie thought.
II can't take this, don't you know" he
said, smiling
And he tossed the shilling into Gertie's
lap.
But won't you tell me your name?"
she urged, thinking the smallness of the
reward was the reason of its nonaccept-
ance.
The soldier laughed merrily.
with pleasure. It's Tommy Atkins,
Private Tommy Atkins. Now, don't you
forget 1t"
And, with another laugh, off he ran,
Gertie watching him, very sorry that the
despised shilling was all she had. The sol
diers formed when Private Atkins' re-
joined them, and turning the corner at the
double passed out of the girls sight
Gertie was visiting her uncle John Ray
nor of Balcomer.
"You will send it, won your" she ask
ed.
"Oh, yes, certainly, my dear" he an
swered, laughing. "To Private Tommy
Atkins of the Hartford fusileers9 1t must
be Dicks regiment. There's no other in
the county. Wouldn't the fellows roar!
But it shall be sent, Gertie. I'll forward it
to the canteen keeper. Then your particular
Tommy will be pretty sure to get share
of the proceeds. +"
Nine years passed by. Gertie was now
expected any such stroke of fortune, but
two male cousins had died, and third had
offended Mr.. Raynor, who, being able to
dispose Of his property us he saw fit, had
bequeathed a few thousands to the Offend
ing nephew and the Balcomer estate to
Gertie.
The girl never, to her knowledge met
this distant cousin Richard, nor, indeed,
was she aware that she had displaced him.
That had been kept from her.
During all those years she had not for
gotten Tommy Atkins, the name by which
she persisted in speaking of the soldier
who had stopped her pony. Although only
private, he was her typical hero, a yeri-
table Paladin.
1t was not surprising, therefore, that one
of her first resolves, on realizing what
seemed to her unlimited wealth, should be
to reward her hero in q proper manner.
Having ascertained that the Hartford
fusileers were stationed at Pembury, she
visited a jewelers. shop and bought an
elaborate gold watch and massive chain
of the same costly metal. The watch she
left to be suitably engraved:
Presented to Tommy Atkins of the
First battalion, Hertfordshire regiment,
by Gertrude Kingston rs mark of graft
tude''
II don't suppose that Is the soldiers
name," Miss Kingston explained, "but
want it put on the watch. He saved my
life and that was the name he gave me-
Having purchased the most expensive
purse the shop contained she placed inside
it five bank notes. When the watch had
been delivered, she set out alone for Penn
bury.
To and fro the door which led to the Of
fcers' quarters at Pembury barracks Pri-
vate CLOSEUP was doing sentry go.
Miss Kingston stopped in her path.
"Can you tell me, she asked, ''if there
is q soldier here named Tommy-Thomas
Atkins?''
Private CLOSEUP grounded his Lee-Met-
ford
"That's my name," he said, with
knowing wink. Then bringing his rife
to the shoulder smartly he marched to the
sentry box, turned right about fhce and
marched back.
At this juncture Sergeant Smith ap-
peared in the doorway, smart in sash,
gloves and sword, and swinging natty
cane Miss Kingston addressed her ques-
ton to him.
Somebody's been having you on toast,
miss lie answered, interrupting the OK
PLANTATION which she had concluded was
very necessary
Stepping aside to make room, he saluted
IN officer, who passed in-tall and hand
some with a face bronzed to copper color.
The battalion had not long returned from
India.
''That is her exclaimed Miss Kingston.
II should know him anywhere viii you
kindly tell him that lady wishes to speak
to hima Stay a moment, she went on,
producing her cardcase. "Give him this
card and say am the girl whose life he
saved near Balcomer about nine years ago
My pony ran away and he stopped II. l