The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-10-14

{ PRIVATE JOHNSON'S
: LOVE AFFAIR ~
I BY EDWARD MARSHALL
\ Copyright, 1905, bp T. C. Mcclure
BY EDWARD MARSHALL
Copyright, 1905, bp 7. C. Mcclure

Dccu uDlS W ulSCloSt HIS ioNN' hS
could not speak Spanish nor she Eng
lish. They had been forced to confine
their evidences of affection he to
smiles and sighs, 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
'biked'' 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 a fam"
what is she-SpigadyY asked Null
Inns.
mo, she amt" said Johnson; "and
that's the trouble"
Now it must I've explained that when
the American army took possession OF
Havana there were few men in II, Ell
Their officers or privates, who could
| 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 n new IAN
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, 81 spigady
Inglis.' The quick witted Americans
christened all these "Spigadies."
1--WE got TO take her home with me-"
Johnson said gloomily. I'D rather 20
up San Juan hill again than go home
without her"
Private Mullins pulled reflectively on
Il long cigarette. Private Mullins had
had his own love affair since he had
been in Cuba. and it had not turned
out well. He had been imbittered by
it. 1t had merely made him synipa-
thetic.
Tell me about it. Johnson" he said.
"Well, it was this way: When l was
put on sentry duty down there by the
bank | couldn't help but look in the
windows next door, and l saw her.
And, oh, Mullins. boy, she's the wonder
of the age. And | smiled, and she
smiled, and I'm in love with her, and
she's in love with me-"
why don't you write it, you idiot?'
asked Mullins.
you've as much brains MS n turpen-
tine mango, Mullins, or less" said
Johnson. ~ | could write it l could
talk it, too, couldn't r.
We'll" said Mullins reflectively, Il
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 Il man in this regiment you'd
trust to write such Il letter for your
mo" said Mullins, there amt. But
I'll tell you what. | know an officer in
the rurales rural police who speaks
English and who'd do it. You've got
to hurry. though"
"Why?" asked Johnson.
Were ordered home" said Mullins.
Il heard the general tell the colonel so
today. l was on orderly duty ut head
quarters, you know
"Hooray!" shouted johnson, and
some one who was trying to 30 to sleep
threw Il canteen ut 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
circumstances. 1t described his home
and told her. much to Mullins amaze
ment. that Private Johnson's family
was well to do.
as that s~traight?' asked Mullins
doubtfully.
"Sure," said Johnson. 81 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 rs all Spaniards do,
said that lie would be delighted to
serve Mullins friend.
"Shall | address the letter also?" ask
ed the lieutenant.
you'd better" said Mullins. "Then
it will be all in the same handwriting"
You must first give the address,"
said the lieutenant.
And Mullins gave it to him. If he had
been quick witted he would have no.
ticed an instantaneous change in the
quality of the smile upon the lieuten-
ants face, but he missed it.
"The taste of your friend is sublime,
superb, quite worthy of an American
soldier"
"You know her, then?' asked Null
Inns.
Il have seer her" said the lieutenant
as he rolled a fresh cigarette. "She is
beautiful, very. I will have the letter
in M hour"
In an hour Mullins went back. The
lieutenant rapidly translated it to him.
The long. dignitied and flowery decla-
ration of Private Johnson's love poured
from his lips in sonOrous sentences.
Mullins wrote them down in English.
When he read them to Johnson that
night the latter heaved q sigh of salts
faction.
at takes these dagoes," he said final
ly, "to sling language"
Next day when Private Johnson took
his place on sentry duty his heart beat
faster. 1t seemed an age before the
shy but smiling face of the charming