Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-21
THE DAILYuOW
SHORT STORY.
A WARRIOR
VANOUISHED

"chl ~ lue CIVIL VIII Ut eighteen
with my funcle. an old regular" as his
orderly, The being held responsible by
my mother that no harm should come
TO me- This was rather remarkable
since I twas going to war. but it was
necessary. / being heir to a large for
tune, land if 1 were killed it would go
a-beSginS.
1uturned out that needed to be pro-
tecaed from something as dangerous,
so mTlnother considered. as the bullet
that is, n sweet. little, penniless country
ghl. ZONE day when riding past small
IgaTltatiOn l espied n young miss with
soft eyes, an immense cable of hair
reaching almost to her heels and a
1.-THE. trim figure. with n peach bloom
in each check. She was standing at
the gate looking ut us soldiers as we
passed. We went into camp near by.
and that night l stole away to find her.
The result was n love affair. which /
confided by letter to my mother.
One morning my uncle called me into
his tent and stormed at me for a young
idiot, threatening that if did not give
up this foolish business he would
break" me and send me home. l told
him that he could not break me without
cause and / would do as l pleased in
the matter.
Every WELL" he said. "T will go to
the girl. These country people are
easily bought off,"
/ kept n close watch on his move
ments. and when he called on my lady
love l was in an adjoining room, con-
cealed by. II curtain. There was tlut-
ter about the house as he rode up. fol-
lowed by two orderlies. looking as grim
as if he were about to engage the en-
envy.
Whereas your daughter?" he thun-
dered to/the meek little mother as he
stalked into the house to the jingle of
his spuLS and the rattle of his sword.
"Oh. general" cried the poor woman,
''takGSeverything, but do not burn the
housed 1t is our only home"
Nonsense; I'm not going to harm
You. want to speak with your daugh-
ter"
THE silver is In the well. Take it
Only leave us in peace"
My good woman. do you take me
for a robber? All wish is to speak
few words to your daughter concern
inG-well, concerning a private mat
ter"
''She is in there. Don't hurt her.
general. She is only a child"
BY this time my ferocious uncle had
discovered that he had TO deal with n
different kind of enemy from what he
had been accustomed TO. He twirled
his mustache nervously as he stepped
into the room. where he was confront
ed by Il delicate girl of seventeen.
"You-I-I mean that young idiot OF
Il. nephew of mine
had seen the general. advancing at
the head of his troops. suddenly
brought up by an enemy in force. but
Now he was paralyzed ut
facing a young girl. He pulled himself
together and continued his volley of
words:
The match Is not to be thought OF.
My nephew is young fool
The general faltered. His enemy was
with her hands crossed de-
before him, her eyes bent on
the floor. looking up occasionally at
the warrior to see If he were going TO
run her through with his sword.
MY nephew. l say" he started o.
again. sis nothing but a boy with
with COMPOUNDED good taste, the young
rascalr'
Having made failure in a direct
he concluded TO attempt to &C.
complish his ends by strataGem.
MY dear child" he said. there are
n great many reasons why you should
be good little girl and give up this
boy. who hasn't sense enough to keep
out of an ambush OF idiots. Now,
what 1 want you to do is to PROMISE
The general stopped. stalled. The
girl looked up at him as much as to
ask. what is it you wish me to prom
IseY'
Gle will be very rich" pursued the
general. and you, of course, will be-
well, you are not rich. you know
The general halted to bring up his
guns, but before he could do so his little
enemy raised her shrinking figure and,
looking him squarely in the face. said:
General, you may tell him that he is
free. l am a poor country girl. He is
heir to a fortune. No one shall ever
say that r.
She burst into tears.
n SuOMeE VI DuIielS Is uOI leTflDle |
hing to an old soldier, because he has
become accustomed to them, but "a
showers of tears is quite a different |
matter. The general was thrown into |
l panic. His infantry was in confu-
sion; his guns were spiked; his army !
was routed.
''By the great horn spoon" he mutter- |
I'd, what sort of disgraceful fix is |
his? Dry your tears. little one. That |
scapegrace isn't good enough for you. |
put if you want him you shall have him |
Ind every unmarried man in my bril- |
yade to bootr'
He seized both the "little ones"
hands. in which her face was buried. |
ind. pulling them away. drew her to-
ward him. and her head rested against |
lis breast
General" 1 said. stepping out from
no curtain sif I vvora in commend