Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-09-01
PRIVATE JOHNSON'S
LOVE AFFAIR =
Copyright. 1908. Du 4. c. Mcclure
By EDWARD MARSHALL

n
| Sst2Sa.sss ~ 4 4 ~ 4 = sapss&1s4ts&s&
Private johnson of G company was
| much in love. But although he daily
| for blissful hour or so did sentry duty
within few feet Of her, he had not
been able to disclose his love. He
could not speak Spanish nor she Eng
| lish. They had been forced to contine
! their evidences of affection he to
smiles and signs, she to the same, sup
plemented by languid movements of
her fan. Private johnson could stand
| it no longer; so that night after he had
sbiked'' with the others of his guard
to the barracks he confided his troubles
to his '.bunkee," Mike Nolan.
I'm stuck on the slickest little Span
ish girl that ever waved fan"
"What is she -Spigady? asked Null
Inns.
mo, she ain't,' said johnson; "and
that's the trouble"
Now it must be explained that when
the American army took possession Of
Havana there were few men in 1t, Ell
speak Spanish. Therefore the residents
Of the Cuban capital, black, yellow and
white. who found it for many reasons
| absolutely necessary to communicate
| with the Americans created new lam
guage.
1t was and is more involved and in
| tricate in its futile limitations Of our
| mother tongue than the "pidgin Eng
lish'' of the Chinaman. And any Gu
ban who can speak this strange patois
announces with much pride, Il spigady
| Inglis." The quick witted Americans
christened all these 'Spigadies."
"l've got to take her home with me-"
johnson said gloomily ''pd rather go
up San Juan hill again than go home
| without her.
Private Mullins pulled reflectively on
long cigarette. Private Mullins had
had his own love affair since he had
| been in Cuba. and it had not turned
| out we'll. He had been imbittered by
it, 1t had merely made him sympa-
| thetic
s'TelI me about it, Johnson" he said.
"WelI, it was this way: When l was
| put on sentry duty down there by the
bank l couldn't help but look in the
windows next door, and I saw her.
| And, oh, Mullins, boy, she's the wonder
of the age. And | smiled, and she
smiled, and Pm in love with her, and
she's in love with me-
"Why don't you write it, you idiotY"
asked Mullins.
you've as much brains as turpen-
tine mango, Mullins, or less" said
Johnson IF could write it / could
| talk it, too, couldn't Ig'
Well" said Mullins refectively, 81
meant that you could get some of the
fellows to write it for you"
You're trying to let me in" said
Johnson, eying him suspiciously. rs
there a man In this regiment you'd
trust to write such a letter for you?"
NO" said Mullins. there amt. But
I'll tell you what. i know an officer in
the rurales rural police who speaks
English and who'd do it. You've got
to hurry, though"
"Whyw asked Johnson.
Were ordered home" said Mullins.
81 heard the general tell the colonel so
today. was on orderly duty at head
/ quarters, you know"
"Hooray!p shouted Johnson, and
some one who was trying to go to sleep
1 threw a canteen at him.
That night the two friends devoted
an hour to the composition Of the great
letter which the lieutenant was to
translate into Spanish.
1t was a plain. straightforward re-
cital of the young soldiers love and
and told her. much to Mullins amaze
ment. that Private Johnson's family
was well to do.
| rs that straight" asked Mullins
doubtfully.
| Sure said Johnson. Il wouldn't lie
to her. you chump."
Mullins said he thought the letter
would be all right after the Lieutenant
had thrown some hifalutin Spanish
phrases into it
The next day Mullins took the letter
to his friend the lieutenant Of rurales
whose name was Linares. The lieuten
ant. loving intrigue as all Spaniards do
said that lie would be delighted tt
serve Mullins friend.
.Shall address the letter alsoT ask
ed the lieutenant
i You'd better" said Mullins. "Ther
1t will be all in the same handwriting.
"You must first give the address,
said the lieutenant.
And Mullins gave 1t to him. If he hat
been quick witted he would have no
ticed an instantaneous change in tn
quality of the smile upon the Iieuten
ants face, but he missed it.
THE taste of your friend is sublime
superb. quite worthy OF an American
soldier"
"you know her, them asked Mul
Inns.
II have seen her. said the lieutenan
as he rolled fresh cigarette. "She
beautiful, very. ! will have the lette
In an hour"
In an boar Mullins went back. Th
lieutenant rapidly translated it to hin
The long, digniied and fowery decls
ration of Private Johnson's love poure
from his lips in sonorous sentences
Mullins wrote them down in Engiisf
When he read them TO Johnson tina
night the latter heaved sigh Of salts
faction
1T takes these dagoes," he said fina
~. ito sling language"
Next day when Private Johnson too
his place on sentry duty his heart bea
4