The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-02-12

L
but now"
The plunk-plunk Of guitar close BY
startled them both. Simplicia trembled
violently.
ut is . foolish man who is always
singing to me-" she explained.
A clear, musical voice rose In . song.
and the soldier checked a question to
listen, for the voice and the song
charmed him from the first note. The
song was In Spanish, and, though he
was by no means perfect in the Ian
guage, he caught the meaning and
spirit Of it. It ran something to this
effect:
Bright are the leaves ard the blossoms
that grow In the beautiful lake coun-
try,
They fill the place with Srilliance Of
things celestial.
Some Of them drop or are thrown to the
river,
Helpless they drift on its swift running
surface.
Down past the city through sliminess foul
Out they are whirled to waters eternal
Lost and forgotten forever and ever.
Blossom cherish; I'll hold thee.
Never shalt thou leave the lake country.
But my heart. 1t is sad for the leaves on
the Pasig.
The last words died on the air like
the sob or the faint cry of passing
spirit. The soldier sat mute, like one
bewitched by fairy music. Simplicia's
lips, pressed against his cheek, brought
him back to her.
81 do not care for him. On my soul,
do mott" she whispered. She was
pretty, and her arm frightened coaxing-
ly about his neck. His better nature
was conquered, and the devil In his
blood reigned supreme. The situation
suddenly seemed highly amusing, and
he laughed suppressed laugh of reck-
lessness. To be serenaded by native
poet while the arm of the troubadour's
lady love encircled his neck-verily he
would have q great tale to tell some
day.
There was faint sound of q foot
fall on the deck Of the casco The SOL
der disengaged himself. A face peeped
In through an opening in the thatch,
and the American struck it z sharp
blow with his nst. He would have
rushed after the intruder, but Sim
plicia held him.
"It is only q foolish man." she said,
do not follow him. It would make
Il would not bring you any trouble"
be said. What is the matter? You
1T is nothing" she replied. Il love
you"
The soldiers conscience smote him.
He swore that he loved her, and tried
70 believe that 1t was true. She seemed
almost happy again.
Tomorrow the casco goes up to the
AXE again. and We win be gone three
lays. Oh, that is % long!"
Very long," he assented.
But you viii wait and think Of mo
always"
Eyes. I will watch the leaves on the
1ver-"
mo! no! Do not speak Of them.
dadre del Dios! I hate the river, and
hate the leaves It drags along.
hink hate everything but you"
The soldier was young, and this was
lis first experience with hysteria and
Woman, which combination often dis
urbs even wiser heads. It disturbed
i'm exceedingly. but he soothed her
nally with the widest vows and many
isses.
For the second time she watched the
anoe till 1t glfded into the shadows.
hen she shivered violently, chilled to
be bone
A sergeant Of certain regiment Of
Tnited States volunteers Was prowling
long the brink Of the Pasig, outside
be Quartet Infanteria's walls, looking
y pet monkey that had disappeared.
in the long grass caught his
re and he stopped. HA stepped back
uickly and hurried around the corner
the wall. returning with four SOL
lers.
He parted the grass with his arms.
nd they saw the dead body Of 4 FIJI
'ino girl. Her face was concealed by
disordered mass Of black hair, and,
lnned to her breast by . rudely fash
med knife that was buried to the hilt,
% miniature insurgent nag.
They tenderly bore the body to the
lthway, and the hair fell from the
&c. One Of the soldiers let 90 his
I'D and tottered to the ground. II
"Harrison's softy," grunted one or i
z men. Take hold, sergeant. He'a :
inted. I guess"
The form was placed In an unused :.
nreroom. When the news went round y
e men came to view It, not out OF h
rfosity. but to show respect such q >,
ey would pay to their own dead.
This Is the way make 1t ont" said p
sergeant, sasely. THE GIRL was e,
lied by Aguinaldo's gang, and it must !,
We been because she spoke I rood =
nd for our people" Il
And wen take It out OF their hides =,
len the time comes." said one OF the -
oilers, swapping his jaws together. =
'ich resolution the regiment unani.
'usly adopted Even the chaplain re-
lined from Gliding when he heard =
It He knew his flock.
[nere being no way Of finding out
~ -