The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-02-20
Ole Belle g San
Pedro Springs .
by Carrie Elizabeth Logan >.

Copyright, 1902, by w. r.. Hearst.)
Dress parade and the review was over
Silently the vast assembly of men stood
at parade rest, while the flag floated out
in the soft, mesquite-scented breeze. The
spell was broken by the sunset gun. Down
came the flag. The band played the
Star Spangled Banner" II the men
stood with heads uncovered.
Leslie Somers watched from the broad
porch of her fathers cottage. Suddenly
out Of the growing dusk a mans face APP
peared, arproud, clear-cut face, with full,
red lips, and large, dark eyes that held
her own by a strange magnetism. Black
hair, escaping from an u~nbecoming cap,
waved softly on his broad forehead. She
gasped and drew back in the shadow of
a post until the man, evidently a 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
a CLEAN Of white fire from the ring Lieu
tenant Grayton had placed on her hand.
The mind Of Tom Howe was troubled
by no doubts. He knew that the fair
haired girl on Colonel Somer's porch was
his one-time sweetheart, Leslie Somers.
She could not recognize, in an enlisted
man, the son Of a New York merchant
and the heir to a large fortune. Alas.
his father had died bankrupt, and he had
ANNS iiiioS IA liC Ill llli-
chine. A blue uniform is an excellent dis
guise. Tom had some misfortune-proof
friends who were trying to obtain a COM
mission for him in some volunteer regi-
ment, forming for service in the Philip
pines.
Toms mind Travelled back five years to
his last year at the Bayliss Military
school. He was then a lad of is. George
Grayton came to the school as drill mas
fer Hnl hnH snant fu,n. ,,ao r- 90 Jyvo.t
Point. Leslie Somers, a beautiful Texas
girl, was visiting her uncle, Colonel Bay
liss, the proprietor of the school. Leslie
had been willing to accept 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 han 16. She was flat
tered by the devotion of the older man.
He had an eye to his own advantages.
Attentions to the pretty daughter of a
colonel in the regular army would not
be wasted.
Leslie had promised to meet Tom in the
moonlight glen one May evening, but
she met George Grayton instead. After
that the major" as, the drill master was
called, had an u~ndisputed field and Les
lie Somers departed for her southern
home without one word of farewell from
Tom.
George Grayton made good use of his
time. He enlisted, passed an examina-
ton after two years service, and received
a commission as a lieutenant. Then he
was transferred to Colonel Somers' regi-
ment, where he speedily engaged himself
to Leslie.
Every bright morning Leslie had her
horse saddled and cantered out to the
beautiful San Pedro park and springs.
.'You will be killed." shouted the crowd
but the warming fell UNDECIDED to the ears
She seemed to prefer a time when her
fiance was on duty and could not accom-
pany her. She was w%ell-known as a
graceful and fearless rider. People spoke
of her with pride as the belle of San
Pedro Springs Her beauty was the del
icate loneliness of the tea rose.
This lovely MAY morning the greenness
and brightness of the park seemed to
enter the soul of Leslie as Black Prince
trotted under the stately oaks Pecan
trees and graceful %shrubbery caught her
nature-loving eye. The freshly-cut green
grass framed small mirrors of quiet lakes,
rejecting the blue and brilliance of a
Texan sky. The sun poured its golden
radiance on a happy world. Birds sang
in the trees or drank and tilted to let he
cool draught from clear springs drain
their tiny threats.
What was that passing with a roar and
a hiss on the graveled drive? Black
Prince had not made the acquaintance of
racing automobiles. He SHE'D and began
to rear. Leslie could not control he
spirited animal. Tearing down the road
at record-breaking speed went the fright
ened horse with the plucky girl clinging
to his neck.
Of Tom Howe. White n desperate he
managed to stop the terrified beast. 9th
ers tenderly lifted Town the almost I'M
conscious girl. They laid her on the cool
grass, and presently Tom had his re-
ward: Leslie opened her yes and said
family, Thank you, Tom
Tom disappeared 1n.the crowd. He was
an enlisted man and dared not raise his
eyes to his %colonels daughter; besides
she was the promised wife Of his hated
hyal.
~ show;ns her a1.t 81, She ~ 1knew t Hat
she had treatad him badIv h,+ nriGe had
stood N tha wav nhen ebn wanted ~ as,-
h,e eara,,-a y @a' WIZ han 80" ~
ths l "a 49, e. ~ hn avi .aaay ~ - % 80
Lie OId H1OSS .lOIH Cl.UO SWScll1cdll - IL