Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-29


well. went to school in Connecticut" !"
Whereupon the men who had been
engaged in the gentle occupation Of ex-
changing compliments with Spanish
foemen burst into an uproarious guf-
faw, to the great annoyance Of Ser
geant Theodore wilkins.
'That Spanish of yours is great, "
suggested the corporal.
A lieutenant came up just then. The
two women said that they had just
come from beleaguered Santiago in or
der that they might escape death in
the bombardment which was sure to
come. The lieutenant told them that
they need fear no danger, for "los
Americanos" did not make war upon
women and children. He ordered Ser
geant Wilkins and guard Of two men
to escort the visitors out Of harms
way.
Teddy wilkins was very young. he
was SO youthful that he had had hard
work in getting into the regiment when
he enlisted about a year before. He
had been educated in a military school,
and the mechanism Of drill seemed a
second nature to him.
He remembered as he escorted the
refugees through the chaparral that
there was q situation in grand opera
which was not so very different from
the one In which he found himself.
He wondered If Carmen were as beau
tiful as the Cuban girl who picked her
way among the fallen branches and
the stones which lay in their pathway.
Then he tried to convince himself
that he knew q girl In Harlem who
was far more so. The more he ad-
vanced his proposition to himself the
more was he convinced that it was ut
terly untenable.
''Senor," said the girl, "you are very
kind. Yen are-our very valiant
knight"
Teddy Wilkins' youth often caused
him to speak hastily. He glanced at
the young woman's mother, and, being
convinced by her look Of entire stolidi-
ty that the duenna did not understand
English, he remarked in a low and
supposedly tender voice: 'I wish that
you would say my instead Of our
senorita. 1 should be very happy if
you did"
The young woman laughed and then
checked herself.
"Ah, senor," she said, ST have left
those behird who were very dear to
me. 1 think only of being reunited to
them
Let me go in search of themw e1-
claimed the young sergeant. "I will
go everywhere to find them in order to
win even a smile from you"
"Senor," responded the young wo-
man, there is nothing in our Span
ish tongue to describe one so noble
You are indeed a Sir Galahad. They
came with us and were frightened
from US. I have no doubt that they
have succeeded in also placing them
selves in the protection of los Ameri-
canos. Such is my earnest hope"
The girl stepped back in coquettish
way so that the young sergeant might
walk beside her. The more he talked
with her the more he was convinced
that she was hiding q great sorrow.
There were lines in the classical fore
head which showed that the young
woman was more worried about the
safety of those whom she had left be-
hind than she would tell even the SYM
pathetic sergeant.
Sergeant Wilkins as he walked along
felt a violent attack of jealousy.
"Your sweetheart perhaps" he sug-
gested
The girl shook her head.
"Alas, senor." she said, mot so. If it
were few years ago, could truthful
ly answer yes"
The sergeant was sorry. but at last
they reached the rear. The young
woman and her mother were taken un-
der the protection of a branch Of the
Red Cross. The sergeant remained
near them as long as he could and then
reluctantly started back to the front.
Perhaps we shall meet again." said
the girl just before he went away.
"You give me great hope," replied
Teddy Wilkins. "If can ever be of
service to you, no matter where you
may be, you must let me know"
The girl smiled and said that she
would never forget him. The young
sergeant touched his cap. and. with one
last lingering glance, he went his way.
He was so preoccupied on the way
back that the soldiers with him ex-
changed sly winks and assumed ex-
pressions intended to be exceedingly
love lorn.
Sergeant Theodore Wilkins found lit
tie time that night to think of the fair