Smyrna times., 1899-12-27
FROM
THE ENEMY'S LINE

Sergeant TEDDY" wilkins was lying
on bis breast behind a heap of earth
listening to the zip of Mauser bullets
over his head. The Spanish picket line
was sheltered by a group of trees not
far away. and occasionally a guerrilla
sharpshoOter sent a message of det-
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.
''It 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 a little diversion, a
little of the romance of war"
Well" replied young De Jones, who
formerly marshaled figures on a trial
balaDce sheet. you'll get more ro-
nance than you want if you don't lie
little closer down there"
Three or four of the guerrillas had
dropped from the trees. and the Span
dsh stragglers had been driven back to-
ward Santiago by rattling fire from
the Springfield rifles of the volunteers.
The weather was entirely too hot to
follow up an advantage gained over a
few rice fed conscripts. and Company
X was resting a bit and wondering If
the commissary department would call
npon them that day.
Teddy" wilkins was smoking the
artIstically colored meerschaum which
be had brought from home. There had
bees 40 tobacco In the rich brown bowl
for days. and the sergeant was content
ediy- putting at some of the dried grass
of the country.
"Iiello+' exclaimed De Jones. Here
they come to our pink tea! | wonder
how they found out we were receiving
this afternoon. Get out the Boston
WATERS. Sarg. and I'll hunt up the SOU
yepir spoons"
>"They" proved to be slender young
woman. who walked with a 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 botl
of them. They advanced toward the
American soldiers and held their hands
above their heads.
"lIercy. mercy. senorw cried the girl
in broken English.
Tel them to sit down on the sof.
and make themselves at home" sug
gested De Jones. THE young one
rather good looking. at that"
Sergeant Theodore wilkins of Con
pany X bent his stiffened limbs. ad
1usted his cartridge belt and went
meet the newcomers.
I'VE beg protection" said the youn;
er woman. I'VE have come from til
city. and we beg to be spared by I'll
ehivalry of los Americanos."
wilkins. who remembered somewhi
of his Ciendorf. attempted to say som
thing in Spanish which he meant to
reassuring. The girl shook her hea
and a puzzled expression came into h
eyes.
"Do not spik a Spanish more. senor
she said. II have the English We
well. | went to school in Connecticut
Whereupon the men who had be-
engaged in the gentle occupation OF
changing compliments with SPANS
foemen burst into an uproarious q
faw, to the great annoyance or 81
-geant Theodore wilkins.
Of
suggested the corporal.
A lieutenant came up just then. t
two women said that they had j.
come from beleaguered Santiago In
der that they might escape death
the bombardment which was sure
come. The lieutenant told them II
they need fear no danger. for :
Americanos'' did not make war up
women and children. He ordered 5
geant wilkins and guard of two N
10 escort the visitors out OF harr
way.
Teddy wilkins was very young.
was so Youthful that he had had hi
work In getting into the regiment wi
ne enlisted about a year before.
had been educated in military sch'
and the mechanism OF drill seeme'
second nature TO him.
He remembered as he escorted
refugees through the chaparral
there was a situation in grand op
which was not so very different II
the one in which he found hims
He wondered II Carmen were as be
ffful as the Cuban girl who picked
way among the fallen branches
the stones which lay In their pathv
Then he tried to convince him