The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-02-08

guerilla sharpshootor sent message
OF defiance from the high branches.
The Sergeant belonged to a New
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
Sergeant, as he casually inspected
the number of cartridges in his belt,
''that this business is growing very
tiresome. What we need is q little
diversion; little of the romance OF
war"
"Well," replied young De Jones,
VINO formerly mar5haled figures ON a
Vial balance sheet, you'll get more
romance than you want if you don't
lie little closer down therer'
Three or four of the guerillas had
dropped from the trees and the Span
ish stragglers had been driven back
toward Santiago by a rafting fire
from the Springfield rifles of the vol
unteers. The weather was entirely
too hot to follow up an advantage
gained over few rice fed conscripts,
and Company K was resting bit and
wondering if the commissary depart
ment would call upon them that day.
TEDDY" Wilkins was smoking the
artistically colored meerschaum which
he hal brought from home. There
ho1 @<l L, l..
bowl for days, and the Sergeant was
contentedly putting at some of the
dried grass of the country.
"Hello" exclaimed De Jones.
"Here they come to our pink tea! L
wonder how they found olt we were
receiving this afternoon. Get out the
Boston waters, Sarg., and I'll hunt
up the souvenir spoons"
They" proved to be slender
young woman, who walked with a
springy stop, 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 their heads.
Mercy, mercy, Senorr" 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 X, bent his stiffened limbs, ad-
justed his cartridge belt and went to
meet the new corners.
'We beg protection, said the
younger woman. ''We have come
from the city, and we beg to be spared
by the chivalry of los Americanos."
Wilkins, who remembered some
what OF his Glen orf, attempted to say
something in Spanish which he meant
to be reassuring. The girl shook her
head and puzzled expression came
into her eyes.
EDO not spik a Spanish more,
Senor," she said. II have the Eng
lish very well. I went to school in
Connecticut.
Whereupon the men who had been
engaged in the gentle occupation of
exchanging 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.
.he 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
'los Americanos" did not make war
upon women and children. He or
dered Sergeant Wilkins and a guard
OF two men to escort the visitors out
Of harms way.
Teddy Wilkins was very young. He
was 80 youthful that he had had hard
work in getting into the regiment
when he enlisted about year before.
He had been educated in q 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 situation in 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 path
way. Than he tried to convince him
self that he knew girl in Harlem
who was far 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 valiant
knight"
Teddy Wilkins youth often caused
! him to speak hastily. Heu be left ~,
inc young ~ y0 4R2ggceouver- glanced at
al Aid als~A--.- mother, and, be-
CIV Convinced by her look of entire
stolidity that the duenna did not un-
derstand English, he remarked in a
low and supposedly tender voice, 81
wish you would say my instead OF
our senorita. I should be very
happy II you did"
The young woman laughed, and
then checked herself
"Ab, senor," she said, II have left
those behind who are very dear tc
me. think only of being united 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 smile from you"
| ''':enor," responded the young wo-
man. "there is nothing in our Spanish
| tongue to describe one so noble. Yo,
! are indeed Sir Galahad. They cam,
with US and were frightened from us
have no doubt that they have sue
ceeded in placing themselves in pro
lection of los Americanos. Such i
my earnest hope"
l The girl stepped back in coquet
fish way so that the young sergean
might walk beside her. The more h