Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-09-18
Copyright, 1ooI, 5y ". II. Raiae

g. & & S.. o
She noticed that the Cuban sun and
fever had taken It out OF him n good
, bit He walked as erect as ever, but
his Uniform coat hung loose about-2im
like Il sack and bis step lacked the
buoyant spring that used to distinguish
his approach. He took her pink little
palm in his tanned yellow hand with
n great sigh Of relief
Its good to get back TO Gods coun-
try again." he told her after the first
greetings were past.
u suppose you did miss good many
thiEes down there. 1t must have been
awful. if the newspaper accounts are
trur''
He shrugged his thin shoulSe:s.
1T wasn't exactly a picnic; but. then,
men don't go to war 70. fun-at least
they are not liable to find it If they
do"
And what did you miss most"
A flash of his old audacity leaped to
his eye. "A little girl In New York.
There were other things wanted
lieu AIlIhs. SOllGlu4DS " bA4eAl Nt-o
green, a place to sleep in where the
water wasn't more than six inches
deep-but it was the girl I wanted TO
see most"
She gave him her most suaye smile.
81 didn't know you had any sisters"
Il haven't. This was another mans
sister"
"Ohr
There did not seem to be anything
further to say along that line. so far
as she was concerned. Presently she
asked:
HAS the regiment been ordered
home"
Yes; we're all here-what's left Of
usr' Then he added, Il came homo
to tell this girl love her."
"YesT' she asked with polite inter
est. did you have the regiment or
dered home just for that? Isn't 1t
taking good deal of troubleY'
'.Not too much. That's what I'm here
for-to take trouble. T. can only gain
my end"
She murmured something about hop
ing she would be able to congratulate
him soon.
His big eyes covered her steadily.
'Do you really hope soT'
"Of course But do tell me about the
war I'm just dying to know all about
how 1t feels to be in battle"
There's nothing much to tell" lie
answered, somehow feeling baffled
without quite knowing why. 'Its
awfully hot and dusty, and once in a
while some poor fellow gets knocked
over. There isn't anything much to
see. One gets throat like llmekiln;
no trouble at all to raise a thirst.
That's about all. But there's something
else I'd RI ther talk about"
ooh, yes-the charges against the
government about the feeding and care
of the soldiers" she acquiesced hastily.
"Hang the chargesl I'm not worry
ing about them at all. It's this girl |
want to talk about"
ooh. that girl againr'
Eyes; I'm interested In her."
as she niceT
81 think So"
"And good looklngT
"Well, her looks make a hit with
me-"
Doubtless she would be gratifled to
know it,"
I'm not so sure about that" he an
swered. looking Mt her swiftly. "In
point Of fact, she knows 1t already, only
she preteEds not to. can't seem to
find out where l stand with her. When
/ get ready to tell her. she laughs at
me with the gravest face imaginable.
One can't grow sentimental when
girl is making game of one, you know"
NO. suppose not" she assented de-
murely.
He took a grip on himself and decid-
ed that the time had come to storm
this fortress, to which the run up San
Juan hill appeared mere bagatelle.
'There was once young fellow at
the Point" he began nervously. NAT
urally he thought himself in love. but
the curious thing Is that he was In
love. Fact Is he didn't know any more
about girls than you do about the
native jargon OF the Hindoo. He
never had been with them. But once
wGl, the sister of Il classmate came
visiting at the Point, and after that
she was the only woman in the world
that counted"
She settled herself more comfortably
In the chair and smiled dazzlingly at
him. Never a maiden more uncon-
sciOus Of his Interior meaning.
How charmingly romantlcl Do 20
on. / hope there will be immense diff
eulties In the way-another lover, OBJ
1urate parent, heartrending separation,
mutual vows of undying fealty."
no; there wasn't any obdurate par
ent So far as / could find out her ia
ther hadn't any objections to my-to
this young marrying his daugh-
ter. There were separations enough
He had to play hide and seek with
the Apaches In Arizona for a year or
two, but / never discovered that her
heart was rent"
Perhaps IL was loaned or even given
away" she bubbled.
He paid no attention to this sally,
though no appreciated 1t.
"rherc was another lover" he con
tinued, eyes full on hers. "He was n
man Of good deal of force. had made
his own way In the world and was on
the road to wealth. He could give her
NIL the things that this lieutenant
couldn't give her. the luxuries she had
been used to all her life"
"Oh, | see. He could feed her on
bonbons." This most lnnocently.
"He could provide for her as she
ought to be provided for"
"stll It Is Just conceivable that even
girl might weary of eating sweets
the livelong year In and year out, isn't
IT, she asked, with touch OF nsper-
lty.
I'm not talking about corrections
exactly, but there are decencies to be
observed. \ fellow can't ask n young
woman Of a wealthy family to como
and share nothing with him"
"Oh. no. Much better leave her to
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