The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-25
From the Enemy's Line.

Teddy" wilkins. Sergeant was ly-
Ing on his breast behind heap Of
earth listening to the zip Of Mauser
bullets over his head. The Spanish pie
ket line was sheltered By a group Of
trees not far away. and occasionally
guerilla sharpshooter sent a message
OF defiance from the high branches.
The Sergeant belonged 20 a New
York regiment which had hurried 10
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 10
discover her
Three or four Of the guerlllas had
dropped from the trees and the Span
lsh stragglers had been driven back
toward Santiago By a rattling fire from
the Springfield rides OF the volunteers.
The weather was entirely too hot 70
follow up an advantage gained over a
few rice FED conscripts. and Company
X was resting a bit and wondering n
the comissary department would call
upon them that day.
Teddy" wilkins was smoking the
artistically colored meerschaum which
he had brought from home There had
been no tobacco IN the rich brown bowl
for days. and the Sergeant was con-
tentedly pufing at some Of the dried
grass Of the country.
"Hellol" exclaimed De Jones. Here
they come 10 our pink teal ] won
der how they found out we were re-
ceiving this afternoon. Get out the
Boston waters. sarg., and III hunt up
the souvenir spoons"
They" proved to be a slender young
woman, who walked with a sprlngy
step. and an elderly woman. who was
anything but sylphiike. who seemed
20 roll along the brown earth. There
was a 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. senori" cried the
girl. IN broken English
Tell them 70 SIT down on the sofa
and make themselves at home" sug-
gested De Jones "The young one is
rather good looking. at that"
Sergeant Theodore Wilkins OF Com
pany X bent his stinened limbs. ad-
justed bis cartridge belt. and went to
meet the newcomers.
we beg protection" I" said the young
er woman. I'VE have come from the
city. and We beg 10 be spared BY the
chlvalry OF los Americanos'
wilkins. who remembered somewhat
Of bis Ollendorf. attempted to say
something IN Spanish which be meant
to be reassuring. The girl shook her
head and a puzzled expression came
into her eyes.
DO not spik Spanish more,
Senior" she said y have the English
very WELL went to school In Con-
nocticut"
Whereupon the men had been en-
gagged ia the gentle occupation OF ex-
changing compliments With Spanish
foemen burst into an uproarious guf-
faw. to the g-eat annoyance Of Ser
geant Theodore wilkins
THAT 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 n or
der 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
Americanos' did not make war upon
women and children. He ordered Ser
gean wilkins and q guard OF two men
to escort the visitors out Of harms
way.
Teddy wilkins was young. He was
30 youthful that he had had hard
work IN getting into the regiment
when he enlisted about a year before
He had been educated IN a military
school. and the mechanism OF drill
seemed second nature % him.
He remembered as be escorted the
refugees through the chaparral that
there was a situation IN a grand opera
which was not SO very different from
the one in which be found himself lie
wondered Il Carmen were as beautiful
as the Cuban girl who picked her way
among the fallen branches end he