Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-09
MY SUBSTITUTE.

He wasn't really what Is known in
military parlalioe as a substitute, but I al.
ways regarded him as such. A notice was
tackled up at the foot Of the steps leading
to the little hall in Kingston. The crook
ed characters, laboriously formed, pro-
claimed to the world that a company would
be organized on a certain night. Without
any intention whatever of being present at
the meeting l strolled to the village that
evening and mechanically assembled the
steps, not that l had any intention Of en-
~rolling-none in the world. Kate and I
had been married but three months,
and I knew it would break her heart If I
left her then. And, besides, my profession
required my constant attention. If things
had been SO I could have left, I would
have been among the first to put down my
name-I guess I would. Still, impelled
by some marvellous fascination, I wander
ed in. My old friend Troutman, a fellow
whom I had tolerated with a sort of pat
ronizing Indifference, was making a Wig
orous speech, and the listeners howled ap-
prevail at everything he said, though, good.
ness knows, it was dull enough and VIC
lated every rule of oratory. But l suppose
to their untutored ears 1t sounded very
fine. At its conclusion Troutinan invited
every one who wanted to join the company
to come forward and sign the roll. A
rush was made to the front. ] started to
90 out, when that chump of a Troutman
announced that one more man was need
ed. He waited, and / noticed several
~y~n.oJ - .,o r 1NoIyo1 opny II, n mr.,
and my eyes rested on Jack Hastily. He,
too, was gazing at me with u slight look
of contempt, l thought. With q curious
glance at me he walked to the register.
took up the pen and completed the list by
signing his name. I met him outside,
drew him in a corner and handed him $50.
He took 1t and thanked me with a little
more feeling than l thought one of his
breeding could exhibit. Then / noticed
that he. wasn't such q bad looking fellow
after all. He had a broad forehead, clear
cut mouth and nose, dark, intelligent
eyes, and then he had a resolute air about
him that made you think he was some
thing Of q man, even II he wal q pauper.
After that came the Santiago fight, and
some Of the Kingston volunteers got hurt.
l was sitting in my study, and my
thoughts involuntarily reverted to "my
SUBJ" It was a warm night, and all the
windows were up. I don't know how he
got In, there was no noise Of the door open
ing, but when I wheeled my chair to the
desk / saw seated opposite me the subject
Of my meditation. / was naturally some
what astonished, but welcomed him as
~oourteously as I could under the circum.
stances. He gazed YEARLY around the
room. His complexion wal a curious mix.
ture Of pallor and sunburn. His face was
much thinner than when I had seen 1t
last, and he had the appearance Of n who
had been about starved to death. His eyes
roved constantly, but they lacked luster
and intelligence. I told him I was glad
to zee him and asked how the boys we're.
He jumped all preliminary movements
and began describing the attack on San
Juan and ri Caney heights. His voice
sounded strangely unfamiliar, but I at
tributed IL to his rough experience.
ut won't do to say those Spaniards
can't shoot" he went on, "because as
We went up the air was as full Of bullets
~ bees around . hive. I had never been
So AL