The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-16
SOLDIERS OF
BY RICHARD HARDING DAVIS.

I Hope said she did not know why; she
was not given to analyzing her impress
sions or offering reasons for them. BE
cause the panther looked so unhappy" she
explained. deubtfully. and restless; and he
kept pacing up and down all the time, and
hitting his head against the bars as he
walked as though he liked the pain. Nine.
Alvarez seemed to me to be just like that
as though she were shut up somewhere and
wanted to be free"
had Joined the men, they all
walke together to the terrace.
and the visitors waited until the
President and his wife should take their de-
parture. Hope noticed. in advance of the
escort of native cavalry. an auburn-haired.
fair-skinned young man who was sitting
an English saddle. The officers eyes were
blue and frank and attractive-looking even
as they then were fixed ahead of him with
a military lack OF expression; but he came
10 lie very suddenly when the President
called to him. and prodded his horse I'D to
the steps and dismounted. He was intro
ouced by Alvarez as Captain Stuart OF
my household troops. late of the Gordon
Hishianders. Captain Stuart" said the
PRESIDENT. laying his land afrectionateIy
on the younger mans epaulette, takes
care of NV life and the safety of my home
ana family. He could have the
OF the army II he wished; but no. he il
fond Of us. and he tells ME we are in more
need OF protection from our friends at home
iran from our enemies on the frontier.
Ierhaps ne knows best. l trust him, Mr..
Langham.' added the President, solemnly,
try"
Il am very glad TO meet Captain Stuart
1 am sure" said Mr.. Langham, smiling.
ana appreciating how the shyness of the
Englishman must be suffering under the
praises OF the Spaniard. And Stuart was
lnoeed SO embarrassed that he flushed I'M
ae. nus tan. and assured Clay. while shak-
ing hanos with them all. that he was de-
.Ehteo TO make his acquaintance; at which
.he otners laughed and Stuart came to
niniseii suffictently to laugh with them and
10 accept Clay's invitation to dine with
mem later.
Ihey found the two boys waiting in the
ale OF the restaurant where they had ar
iahseo 10 meet. and they assembled the steps
eose'ner 10 the table on the balcony that
Clay mad reserved for them.
me young engineer appeared at his best
as most. The responsibility Of seeing that a
haif dozen Others were amused and content
sat well upon him: and az course followed
course and the wines changed. and the can
oies left the rest OF the room in darkness
ana showed only the table and the faces
around II. they all became rapidly more
merry ara the conversation intimately ia
ihIiiar.
" SS hiho VI eooic-ldlh TO WnlCn
the 'Langhams were accustomed. and used
the material around his table in such a way
mat the tax there was vastly different.
FROM King he drew forth tales of the
buried cities he had first explored. and then |
ronned OF their ugliest idols. He urged Mac |
Wiiiiams to tell carefully edited stories of |
lie along the Chagres before the Scan
oai came. and of the Businesses of the |
ANDES, and even Stuart grew Drawer and |
emem9ered something OF the same Sort
ne had seen at Fort Nit. in Upper Burma. |
VI course was Clay's comment at the |
conclusion of one Of these narratives, ..be-
ing an Englishman. Stuart left out the
point Of the story, which was that he blew |
in the gates Of the fort with a charge of
dynamite. He got a D. S. o. for doing 1T"
encourae ingiv on the co,ao, upe,
Stuart. The naturally would leave that out"
Mr.. Langham and his daughters formed
an eager audience. They had never before
met at one table three men who had known
experiences, and who spoke of them
as though they must be as familiar in the
r-~-