The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-29

was far more VI. The more he ad-
yanced his proposition to himself the
more was he convinced that 1t 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 ut
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: II wish that
you would say my instead of our
senorita. ! should be very happy II
you did"
The young woman laughed and then
checked herself.
"Ah, senor," she said, II 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. II will
go everywhere to find them In order to
win ven a smile from you"
"Senor," responded the young wo-
man, there Ia nothing In our Span
ish tongue to describe one SO noble.
You are indeed n 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"
1N1,c rplV1 ,%N>,>, l>nu1, l., - .>,,A<&foL
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 a 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 a few years ago, | could truthful
ly answer yes"
The sergeant vas sorry, but at last
they reached the rear. The young
woman and her mother were taken un-
der the protection Of n branch Of the
Red Cross. The sergeant remained
near them rs 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 aver 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 preoccupled on the way
back that the soldiers with him ex
changed sly winks and assumed 'ex-
pressions intended to be exceedingly
love lorn. d.
Sergeant Theodore Wilkins found lit.
tie time that night to think of the fair
senorita. The Spaniards advanced,
and It took all the vigor Of the exhaust.
ed volunteers to hold them In check
Yet even when the Mausers filed the
air with weird songs there came to
"Teddy' wilkins the vision Of a face
framed in dark hair and the sound of a
voice which was musical and low.
Days Of hard fighting followed, and
when 1t was all over Sergeant Theo
dore Wilkins went In search Of hel
who had called him a Sir Galahad. HI
found her, too, within the protection Of
the American lines, sheltered by til;
Red Cross and happy, because She
been reunited with her own-hea Us
band and her four children 3orl
Herald.