Morris tribune., 1899-12-16
''rhat 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
order that they might escape death in
the bombardment which was sure to
come. The lieutenant told them that
they need fear no danger, for clos Am
ericanos" did not make war upon wo-
men and children. He ordered Ser
geant wilkins and guard Of two men
| to escort the visitors out Of EARNS
| 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 year before.
He had been educated in 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 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 beautiful
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
ne knew a girl in Harlem VINO was
Tar more so. The more he advanced
this proposition. to himself, the more
was he convinced that it was utterly
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 woman's mother, and, be-
ing convinced by her look Of entire
stolldity that the duenna did not I'M
derstand English, he remarked, In a
low and supposedly tender voice, II
wish that you would say, N.Y. instead
OF our, senorita l should be very
happy if you did
The young woman laughed. and.
then checked herself
"Ah, senor," she said, 81 have left
those behind who were very dear to-
me. / think only of being reunited to
them"
"Let me go in search of them" 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 Spanish.
tongue to describe Fone so noble. You
are indeed Sir Galahad. They came
with us and were frightened from US.
l have no doubt that they have sue
ceeded in also placing themselves In
the protection of los Americanos. Such
Is my earnest hope"
The girl stepped back in a coqueo-
tish way so that the young sergeant
might walk beside her. The more ne
vinced that she was hiding a great
sorrow. There were lines in the Gas
steal forehead which showed that the
young woman was more worried
about the safety of those whom she
had left behind than she would tell
even the sympathetic sergeant
Sergeant Wilkins as he walked along
elt violent attack of jealousy.
''Your sweetheart, perhaps?" he sus-
rested
The girl shook her head.
ttAlas, senor," she said mot so. II
were a few years ago could truth
ully answer yes.
The sergeant was sorry, but at last
hey reached the rear. The young wo-
nan and her mother were taken under
he protection of branch of the Red
ross. The sergeant remained near
hem as long as he could and then re-
started back to the front
perhaps we shall meet again" said
he girl, just before he went away.
"You give me great hope" replied
Teddy Wilkins. IF / can ever be OF
ervice to you no matter where you
nay be, you must let me know"
The girl smiled and said that she
would never forget him. The young
ergeant touched his cap and with one
asst lingering glance he went his way
lie was so preoccupied on the way
Jack that the soldiers with him ex-
hanged sly winks and assumed ex-
ressions intended to be exceedingly
ove-lorn
Sergeant Theodore wilkins found
title time that night to think Of the
air senorita. The Spaniards advanced
nd dit took all the vigor of the ex-
austed volunteers to hold them in -
heck. Yet even when 'the Mausers
lied the air with weird songs, there
anne to Teddy wilkins the vision Of a
ace framed in dark hair and the
ound of a voice which was musical
nd low.
DAYS of hard fighting followed, and
rhen it was all over Sergeant Theo-
ore wilkins went in search Of her
no had called him Sir Galahad. He
,und her, too, within the protection
{ the American lines, sheltered by
Re Red Cross and happy, because she
ad been reunited with her own-her
usband and her four children.
American Soldiers Praised.