The Republican journal., 1903-12-10

"there were objections and obstacles.
We ran away. OF course, You couldn't
do anything of that sort.
NO" said Raglan, watching the cap-
tain's face intently.
.Well, let's change the subject" said
the officer. abruptly. Those are the
horses of the colonel" He pointed
to the open window, through which
could be seen the colonel's carriage,
presented to him by President Socsin.
The horses could hardly be still for an
instant.
Those horses" continued the cap
tain, watching with much interest a
big lizard on the ceiling, "can beat any
horses in Negros.''
Ooh" cried the captain, suddenly,
regarding that matter, you see that l
can do nothing"
81 understand" replied Raglan. His
spirits seemed to have revived.
''Thank you captain" He saluted and
left, with a trace of a smile on his
face.
Col. Jones, U. S. v, never forgot his
dignity. Even in blue shirt, splashed
with mud from head to foot, in the
trenches, he had preserved his dignity.
When on the skirmish line it had been
necessary to sprawl on his stomach,
he did so, in dignified manner. He
was dignity personified that afternoon,
as he stepped down the stairs to enter
the carriage.
He stopped suddenly and stared
in dignified amaZement. Surely, he
thought, his eyes were playing him
tricks.
The Filipino coachman was thrown
e ok No nd
with distinct grunt. A mestiza girl
in white leaped lightly into the car
riage, and a soldier mounted the
drivers seat. The vehicle disappeared
in a cloud of dust.
An excited sentry discharged his
piece into the air which brought most
| of the regiment and all the idle popu-
latiOn of the town to headquarters in
very few minutes.
"What is the matter colonel" in
auired Capt. Morton, appearing in his
shirt-sleeves, with cigar in his mouth.
''The matter, sir?" replied the colonel,
with dignified indignation. ''The matter
| is that one of your damned gutter
snipeS has stolen my carriage and run
off with the presidents daughter"
| ''The case of Young LOchinvar@'
| began the captain.
damn it, sir!' stormed the colonel,
''your joke is ill-timed. I'll Young
Lochinvar him. Sergeant Allen, take
| your detail in pursuit instantly"
| Fifteen men who had been impro-
vised as trough riders galloped out of
the town at break-neck speed. But
when they had proceeded a little dis
lance l regret to say that the sergeant
ordered Halt"
| Eve are in no hurry" he remarked,
calmly.
But the colonel said" began one
of the men.
You take running jump at your
self, Hungry Hogan said the SER
geant. sharply. 'What in hell has the
colonel got to do with the 'Negros
Light Cavalry? My horse is lame.
There is a padre at Pontivedra. Let
Jim have time to get hitched, seeing
that he is fool enough to want to-.
Damned little amusement he will get
afterward. It's Bilibid prison for keeps
to him, guess.
"It's a shame" said another of the
men. eff man can't keep his loot,
what did he volunteer for?'
Because we were born foolish, l
guess replied the sergeant. ANY
one got bottle?'
Meanwhile Capt Morton had sought
out Jumping Junipero' and explain
ed to him with much difficulty, through
an interpreter, that i'll America Senior
Diego Ragan's social standing was as
high as the colonel's. BY degrees the
president began to be consoed. In the
end he seemed quite happy. He de
sired to embrace his new son-in-law
with all possible speed There re
manned only the colonel to be reckoned
with, but the captain chewed his cigar
obviously.
Just as the last rays of the sun
tinted saffron and crimson the west
side of the volcano Malaspinas, the
rough-riders escorted the carriage con-
tanning the two offenders into town.
Theoretically, they came in disgrace,
but from all appearances their return
was an event to be celebrated. The
soldiers cheered noisily and the natives,
catching the spirit of the thing, shout
ed, ''Vivaw
Blu. suddenly all the clamor ceased.
The colonel stood on the summit of
his stairs, awful in his dignity.
The carriage was driven up to head
quarters, and Raglan assisted Mrs.
james hdgdn tHee SOcSln) W dllXHC.
Together they assembled the stairs,
closely followed by the sergeant.
The sergeant saluted. 1.-The prison.
er, SIR he reported.
VERY WE'LL" said the colonel. ''Wait.
sergeant"
An audible chorus Of growls broke
the silence, low, ominous grOwls. A
volunteer regiment never learns to re-
press its feelings. 1t will achieve the
alleged impossible, and it will undergo
anything, but it maintains the right to
growl
Regular army officers had dubbed
this regiment Lawyer Jones' Hood
lums," and pitied its colonel. Yet it
was reasonable regiment, and far
better behaved than regular army
one. The colonel wanted these men
to preserve the esteem for him which
he believed them to hold, therefore
these growls disturbed him. But they
did not unbend his dignity.
"My man" he began, sternly. The
listeners did not even breathe. ''The
next time you desire to borrow my
carriage, remember to obtain my per-
mission through the proper channels"
Gently, but still in dignifed fash
ion, he bent and kissed the startled
pirl on the forehead econ nermiSO de