The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-18
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
1898 BINGHAM SCHOOL 1901 O2


they might die rather than fall victims
to the brutes from whom they could
expect no mercy.
And the strain of this horrible situa-
ton had begun months before the siege
actually set in.
Il tell you, they all hate us" Laura
Conger wrote home some weeks pre-
vious, and would be glad to see every
white person out of China.
Then, one heaven-sent day, came the
rescue party, and, we'll to the front of
it, a tall fearless figure of a certain
young lieutenant. The way bristled
with peril, yet Lieut.. Buchan strobe
over dangers as if he did not see them.
While not actually engaged in obey
ing the orders of his superiors, his only
thought seemed to be the succer OF the
women of the legation. And such COM
fort as one young soldier could give
them Lieut.. Buchan saw to it that
they promptly had.
Lieut.. Buchan is Kansan. HIS
father is w. j. Buchan, well-knoWn
lawyer and politician of Kansas City.
But Frederick Buchan had never
fancy for the dusty stiffness OF law
yer's office. Kansas is state or
dauntless men, and young Buchan's
particular hero happened to be a
doughty little man of the name or
Funston, who has since become famous
and a general. In Funston's footsteps,
therefore, he was determined to tread.
And his heroic conduct at the siege OF
Pekin was the first step toward that
career.
Miss Conger was not the only Ameri-
can who admired the lieutenant's braV-
cry. And so, when the horrors of war
had subsidized somewhat and a few
weeks of comparative quiet having
made a nearer acquaintance possible
between the two, Lieut.. Buchan asked
for Mr. and Mrs. Conger's sanction 10
the engagement, it was cordially given.
Laura Conger's friends now laugh
ingly relate how promptly she recoV-
cred from the hardships of the siege
as soon as she had met and known
Lieut. Buchan, for it was a love-at-
frst-sight affair, and the young peo-
pie diI not confide their secret at first
Indeed, Miss Conger's radiant man
ner was noticed by her own family,
who attributed it to the fact that she
had been relieved from hunger.
Laura is not strong" wrote Minis
ter Conger about this time, but much
better than when the trouble began
Horse meat and rice was the diet she
needed
Which was, of course, simply
quaint instance of parental humor.
Both the Buchans and Congers are
delighted with the engagement and in
terchange of family fluctuations is now
we'll under way.
Minister Conger stopped at Kansas
City recently on his way to visit his
brother in Arizona before sailing on the
18th from San Francisco for China,
and he visited the Buchan family at
the same time. Miss Conger paid her
first visit to the family of her be-
trothed soon after her return from
| China in May, when she spent several
days at the Buchan summer home.
The Congers have a special reason
| to delight in the affair as they re-
gard it in the light of a compensation
| to Laura for a tragedy which she has
already suffered. Miss Conger is 20
years old, tall, graceful. fair haired,
singularly gracious and lovely girl. But
| the sad look that you Will sometimes
notice in her eyes is the result of an
unfortunate marriage which she made
| as a young girl.
Her husband, George Londrum,
| whom she had loved deVotedly, proved
altogether unworthy, and the marriage
turned out a 'deplorable mistake. After
several years of misery, therefore, the
| girl secured a divorce and the right to
return to her maiden name. Since then
she has lived with her own family.
| George Londrum enlisted during the
Spanish war, was wounded and died in
| a Southern hospital.
| Wherever she has been, Laura Con-
ger has been regarded as a brilliantly
accomplished woman. She has been
from childhood something of a mathe-
matical prodigy and was for several
years head bookkeeper in the Iowa
State Treasurers Office. She is close
friend and companion of her father
and accompanied him on his last trip
to Brazil, when he was minister to that
! country.
In Des Moines, where the engage
ment was announced. Miss Conger was
very popular and the announcement
of her happiness has been followed by
| q chorus of CONGRATULATE