The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-27

make comparatively little beadway to
ward battering them down,
After going through the custom ip
spection1 hurriedly, they went to :
pier whence they soon departed for
the other side Of the bay, as they were
to be assigned TO a company at or near
Cabinla Castle.
After staying at Cabina for q while
the company was moved across the
bay to vedado, where the boys were
kept busy for several days in clean,
ing and polishing up the heavy guns
after which they would stroll on t.
the city or take long walks to the al
moderia river-to sometimes swim
as many Of the boys preferred the
bathing there to the salt water. There
was pontoon bridge there, and the
lads would sit for hours, watching the
cubans dip fish with a, net.
Affairs went along thus for long
time and the soldiers by degrees for.
got their sweethearts in the States.
and began to get acquainted with the
girls Of Cuba. These senoritas would
do to pass the time with, but they
never intended that they should take
the place Of their girls in the State,
and would, in way, atone for the dis.
lance that separated them from home
A man must have company when away
from friends, and they often spent
time with some in whose company they
would not be found in their own coun-
try, under any circumstances,
On a day, such as this, there was
significant happening Jolt1son, in
company with a friend, was strolling
through the beautiful villa of Vedado
one fine evening, when they noticed a
young lady approaching them in a
trap drawn by very spirited horse.
She seemed equal to the occasion, and
was handling the reins with a dexter.
ity that would do honor to an expert
enced horseman. When within fifty
yards of the soldiers, the horse turn
ed suddenly to the left and, instead
of keeping in the beautiful. newly.
graded street, whirled in the opposite
direction. The turn was too short
and the sole occupant instantly saw
that an attempt to control the horse
would be futile. She was prepared to
jump, when Johnson saw the situa.
ton. He fastened to the rescue, and
quickly taking the horse by the bit
with one strong effort, turned the ami
mails body, again bringing it back
into the street.
The lady looked to be one of Cuba's
fairest, and that is saying much, for
there are some OF them who are the
possessors of the finest compilations
to be found anywhere. When the horse
was righted, she thanked Johnson very
kindly, saying that for his timely as
sistance she might have been badly
injured. Johnson lifted his cap, but
was too much confused to say any
thing, as she drove rapidly away. The
boys resumed their walk, thinking
nothing more about It; and no allus.
ion was made to it by either of thc9
for several days.
Some days later, Johnson was in the
city of Havana, on business with the
dentist. After getting through with
him, Johnson strolled leisurely to the
Indias Park, where there we're croco-
dies which occupied a large cistern
built of masonry. After awhile he
grew weary of looking at them and
seated himself on one of the rude
benches surrounding the cistern. For
a long while he watched the crowd
coming and going. One of the boys
who was standing against the iron
railing which surrounded the cistern
lost his hat, it blowing into the els
tern. The youngster did not like the
idea of going down in the place among
the reptiles lest he might become a
supper for one Of the biggest of the
slimy-looklng things. So it seemed