The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-12-26
aiai FROM
THE ENEMY'S LINE

iiR FROM 3
3 THE ENEMY'S LINE 8
Sergeant TEDDY" Wilkins was lying
on his breast behind heap of earth
listening to the zip of Mauser bullets
over his head. The Spanish picket line
was sheltered by group of trees not
far away, and occasionally guerrilla
sharpshooter sent a message Of def
ance from the high branches.
The sergeant belonged to a New
York regiment which had hurried to
the front almost before congress had
officially declared that the United
States was at war with the proud old
land which had taken the trouble to
discover her.
1T seems to me-" remarked the SER
geant as he casually inspected the
number of cartridges in his belt, that
this business is growing very tiresome.
What we need is little diversion, a
Ol TIE Wlr.
WELL" replied young De Jones, who
formerly marshaled figures on trial
balance sheet, you'll get more ro-
nance than you want If you don't lie a
little closer down there"
Three or four of the guerrillas had
dropped from the trees. and the Span
ish stragglers had been driven back to-
ward Santiago by a rafting fire from
the Springfield rifles of the volunteers.
The weather was entirely too hot to
follow up an advantage gained over
few rice fed conscripts, and Company
X was resting bit and wondering if
the commissary department would call
upon them that day.
Teddy" Wilkins was smoking the
artistically colored meerschaum which
he had brought from home. There had
been no tobacco in the rich brown bowl
for days. and the sergeant was content
edly putting at some of the dried grass
of the country.
Hello" exclaimed De Jones. "Here
they come to our pink tea! wonder
how they found out we were receiving
this afternoon. Get out the Boston
walters, Sarg, and I'll hunt up the SOU
yenir spoons"
'They" proved to be slender young
woman, who walked with springy
step, and an elderly woman, who was
anything but sylph like, who seemed
to roll along the brown earth. There
was look of terror in the eyes of both
Of them. They advanced toward the
American soldiers and held their hands
above thei: heads.
mercy, mercy, senorw cried the girl,
In broken English.
'"Tell them to sit down on the sofa
and make themselves at home" sug-
gested De Jones. 1.-THE young one is
rather good looking, at that"
Sergeant Theodore Wilkins Of Com
pany K bent his stiffened limbs, ad-
justed his cartridge belt and went to
meet the newcomers.
eve beg protection" said the young
er woman. 1--WE have come from the
city. and we beg to be spared by the
chivalry of los Americanos."
Wilkins, who remembered somewhat
Of his Clendorf, attempted to say some
thing in Spanish which he meant to be
reassurlng. The girl shook her head
and puzzled expression came into her
eyes.
do not spik Spanish more. senor,"
she said. 81 have the English very
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 military school,
and the mechanism Of drill seemed
second nature to him.
He remembered as he escorted the
refugees through the chaparral that
there was a situation in a 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 girl in Harlem wAo
was far more so. The more he ad-
yanced his proposition to himself the
more was he convinced that it was ut
terly untenable.
"Senor," said the girl, 'you are very
kind. You are-our very valiant
knight
Teddy Wilkins youth often caused
him to speak hastily. He glanced at
the young womans mother, and, being
convinced by her look of entire stolidi-
ty that the duenna did not understand
English, he remarked in low and
supposedly tender voice: Il wish that
you would say my instead of our
senorita. l should be very happy if
you did"
The young woman laughed and then
checked herself.
"Ah, senor" she said, IL have left
those behind who were very dear to
me. ! think only of being reunited to
them"
Let me go in search Of themv ex-
claimed the young sergeant. 81 will
go everywhere to find them in order to
win even 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 Sir Galahad. They
came with US and were frightened
from us. l 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 30 that the young sergeant might
walk beside her. The more he talked
with her the more he was convinced
that she was hiding great sorrow.
There were lines in the classical fore
head which showed that the young
woman was more worried about the