The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-06-04
BEL LE 0FsSAIN| !.
PEDRO SPRIN GS

over. Silently the vast assembl y of
men stood at parade rest, while the
flag fioated out In the soft. mesquite.
scented breeze. The spell was brok-
en- by the sunset gun. Down came
the flag. The hand played the Star
Spangled Banner" and the men stood
with heads uncovered.
Leslie Somers watched from the
broad porch of her fathers cottage.
Suddenly out Of the growing dusk a
man S face appeared a proud. clear.
cut face, with full red lips, and large,
dark eyes that held her own by a
strange magnetism. Black hair,
es Gaping from an unbecoming cap,
waved softly on his broad forehead.
She gasped and drew back in the
shadow OF u post until the man, evi
IDENTIFY strayed recruit, had passed,
Leslie sighed. How like Tom Howe's
had been the face in The dusk. Then
she smiled as her eyes caught CLEAN
Of white fire from tue ring Lieutcn-
ant Grayton had placed On her hand
The mind Of Tom Howe was trou-
bled by no doubts. He knew the
fair haired girlon Col. Somers' porch
was his one time sweetheart, Leslie
Somers. She could not recognize, in
an enlisted man, the son of New
York merchant and the heir to a
large fortune. Alas! his father had
died bankrupt, and he had hidden
himself in the great military ma
chine. A blue uniform is an excel
lent disguise. Tom had some mis-
fortune-proof friends who were try
ing to obtain commission for him
in a regiment forming for service in
the Philippines.
Toms mind went back five years
to his last year at the Bayliss Mill
tary School. He was then lad of
IS. George Grayton came to the
school asdrill master. He had spent
two years at West Point. Leslie
a beautiful Texas girl, was visiting
her uncle, Col. Bayliss, proprietor
OF the school She had willingly
accepted the attentions of the young
heir, until George Grayton appeared
on the scene He was q, and his
age and experience gave him an adj
vantage over his Weather rival.
The early maturity OF the South
made Leslie appear older than
sixteen. She was BATTERED by tie
devotion OF the older man. lie had
an eye 10 his own Advantage. At
tentions to the pretty daughter Of
a colonel in the regular army would
not be wasted.
Leslie mad promised to meet
Tom in s,he moon.lis hted glen Que
Nav evening but she met George
Grayton instea d. after that the
INA jor" as the drill master was
caleb, had an undsputed held and
Leslie Sommers departed Tor her
Southern home without QUE VOID
OF farewell IRON Tom.
George Grayton made good use OF
his time, IIes enlisted passed an
| examination after two years ser
| vice and received commission as
! Lieutenant. Then he was trans-
ierred TO Oo!onei Somnsrs's reg l.
ment where he speedily engaged
himself 10 Leslie.
Every brlgh, morning Leslie
had her horse lsaddled and canter-
ed ont 10 The beautiful San Pedro
Park ard Springs.
She seemed to prefer time when
her tiance was on duty and could
not accompany her. She was we'll
I known as a graceful and fearless
rider. People spoke of her with
pride as the Belle of San Pedro
Springs" Her beauty was the deli
cate lovliness OF the tea rose.
This lovely May morning the
greenness of the park seemed to en-
ter the soul of Leslie as Black Prince
trotted under the stately oaks, Pecan
trees anu graceful shrubbery caught
her nature-loving eye. The freshly
cut green grass framed small mir
rors of quiet lakes, rejecting the
blue and briiliauce of a Texan sky.
Birds sang in the trees or drank and
| tilted to let the cool draught from
clear springsdrain their tiny threats.
What was that passing with Il
roar and hiss on the gravelleu
drive. Black Prince had not made
the acquaintance of racing automo-
biles. He SHE'D and began to rear
Leslie could not control the spirited
animal. Tearing down the road ct
record breaking speed went the
frightened horse with the plucky
! girl clinging to his neck.
You will be killed" shOnted the
crowd, but the warning fell unheed-
ed to the ea1s of Tom Howe. White
and desperate he managed to stop
the terrified beast. Others tenderiy
| lifted down the almost unconscious
! girl. They laid her ON the grass
and presently Tom had his reward.
Leslie opened here yes and said
family Thank you, Tom"
Tom disappeared in the crowd.
He was an enlisted man and dared
not raise his eyes to his colonel's
daughter; besides she was tho prom
ised wife of his hated rival.
Leslie kept the secret OF her
rescuer's identity. believing this to
be the best way ofsliowing her graft
tude. She knew that she had treat
ed him badly, but pride had stood
in the way when she wanted to ask
his forgiveness. With her tardy rs'
| morse the old love for her boy sweet
heart returned. She was strangely
changed, more Indifferent 10 her
| finance, more Aflectionatc to her
father. None guessed these we're the