Arizona republican., 1902-06-01
CHAPTER VII.

his affaires de amour, but that he was
unable to read il very well himself.
"Yu air a eddicated. man" he jaid
to Biinkie. N ken read writin' better
n l ken. 1 ken read some O tn noos-
papers in tn bran's on er steer, iut
han writin' er tn much fer me- gu
jest read what my sal SEE. Say,
Blinkie, yu shud see Sal; she's es
frisi1y as er two year-ol' steer. n hes
a he'd o hair thet's redder n tn set
tin sun. She hes a few freckles. but
she's es perty gal es yu will fin n
tn hui territory er Arizona. Fire away
On TIL letter II don't SHUTTER more n
~ ken help" He settled back in
comfortable position and waited Cor
Blinkie to read the epistle.
Blinkie cleared his throat and began
reading. He stammered a little, but
we viii omit that:
New River. Ariz.. May 81, 1883
My Dear Friend: I will now under
am only writing now for the reason
that you are about to leave your ma
tive land to fight the battles of "our
country on foreign soil. l admire YOU
for your patriotism, and trust that you
V Ill prove al IOilOE 10 the nag tRdI
YOU fight for I will pray FOL, YOU and
that you Will resist the temptations
that surround you. You are now a SOL
der engaged in unfolding the dignity
of your country: be man as we'll, and
shun those who will lead you into
mischief. 1 know your disposition and
am aware that you are prone to 90
things that you afterwards regret.
Think before you act, and when you
think that you are right, go ahead. Ii
You care for me as You say YOU do. you
will regard my wishes in this matter.
but first of all do your duty as Il SOL
der, and when you can come to me
and say that you have done your duty
by your flag and re, then I am willing
to consider your kind offer to make nle
your wife. You must first learn to
leave liquor alone. I will pardon your
past offenses III that matter, but YOU
may as Well learn now that Sal Meekei'
viii not trust her future to man who
cannot control himself
I would advise you to beware of that
man Morris. He means you harm. I
am in receipt CT a letter from him in
which he took particular pains to poi
son my mind against you. He informed
me that YOU had been under arrest in
Phoenix for drunkenness; also that you
We're in the guard house for neglecting
your duties as a soldier. I have been
Informed of much more that does not
reflect credit on you as a soldier. Nest
of these tales are TO doubt exaggera-
tions and I have made allowance for
Morris enmity toward you [ credit
1it%la -faaf he hoe Lot Int F.,
own sake 1 trust that you will so col-
duct yourself in the future that he will
not have the opportunity to harm you.
I have answered his letter and referred
him to you. Do not take him to task
for it but leave him dig his own grave.
Re advised by me. for no one has vour
interests more at heart than I, and it is
my dearest wish that you will return
from the war safely and that you can
then look me in the face and say that
you are a man and worthy Of my
esteem.
I viii be pleased to hear from Nou
often, and rest assured that when lou
are in Cuba lighting for the relief a
an oppressed nation my prayers viii te
for you and l Will be by your side in
spirit. Good bye. my soldier boy. Il
you should fall on the field l will nave
the consciousness of knowing that -;ou
perished in a noble cause. Your first
dUty is to your country.
Sincerely yours
SAL NJ. MEEK EJf.
When Blinkie finished reading tbs
letter Willie was silent for several mo-
ments. Finally he asked, Air vi sure
she sed dear fren'-didn't she say dea1
Willum or darlin' Willie?'
BIinl1ie replied that it was as he iat
read. Il am diserpinted. answered
Willie with sigh. I guess Sal * II
smart fer an Uneddicated cowpUnchcr
VINO is gettin in trouble all the time
Willie sighed again. lie felt griav-
Dusty disappointed for he did not an
ticipate that Sal would appear so cole
in her letter. He did not have thC
perspicuity to read between the lines
but Riinlie did. and instead OF com
miserating with the forlorn lover brok,
in on the others lamentations with:
''L-loOk h'here. J-JOHsey, Y-you ar,
Il b-bloomin' i-idiot. Can't y-you Sc,
t-that the g-eirl likes -y-you a d-darl
s-sight m-more TITAN YOU die
serve: S-she does not w-Want to com
init h-herself u-untiI she knows VIVA
kind of a m-man you a-are G-goin;
to turn out. S-she is afraid ito sa7
too much" Blinlie looked at his com
panicn with an air of wisdom.
! Wiliies face frightened visibly. 70
that solution o. the apparent luke
warmness Of the epistle had not en-
tered mis- head He had great corf
dence IN BIinkie's knowledge Of ii
world. and felt that if Blinkie said Sc
why, it must Re SO.
The TWO talked over the matter fo
some time. Willie wanted to call Nor
ris TO account. but Biinkie rcm9r
strated and said that WAS just wht
Sal had warned him against doing. u
advised Willie that if he ever expecte
to gain her respect and love he mus
refrain from doing what she woul
surely condemn. Willie promised 20 b
guided by Sal and Blinkie, but h
knew that II he came in contact wit
Morris he would have hard work /
keep his hands from clutching In
othrr's throat.
Hlinkic advised him to write To 81
promising to do everything she sal
and agreed to assist him in the com
position of the letter. That evanin
after retreat Willie wrote at Blinkia'
i IL .