The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-02-28
Her Patriotism
BY ELIZABETH WEED

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excitable nature for noble impulses.
When the h-American war broke
out she was nineteen years old and
had been every day reading Of the
tyranny Of General Weyler and the
su6erings Of the Cubans.
Louise had a lover, Gus Saunders, a
plodding, m%ethodical chap, entirely
different from her. Since she could
not go and fight the dons herself she
determined that Saunders should go.
Impelled by the rafting Of drums and
the gathering of the Clans" she went
over to where he was saving wood
and said to him:
"Why, Gus, I'm surprised at you!
Everybody but you is rallying round
| the flag, while you are STOPPING over
a log with a bucksaw. Aren't you 60
ing to enlist?"
enlist? What for?"
"Why to right the Cubans' wrongs"
II don't see why l should right their
wrongs"
Haven't you any patriotism?"
II don't see any occasion for patriot
ISM"
Il do. Our young men are flocking
to the standard by thousands, while
you are content to bend your back
saving wood. oh, that l should have
accepted a.
The young man was deeply in love.
The expression on his face changed to
one Of such pain that Louise was de-
tered from speaking the word that
was on her tongue. Throwing down
his saw, he said:
Louise, 1 love you so we'll that l
will try my best to live up to your
standard. After all, 1t is no more the
duty of others than mine to respond to
the call for volunteers. 1 shall enlist
at once"
spoken like a man." was the en-
thusiastic response, and she impulsive-
~ threw her arms about his neck. II
am sure you will return a hero"
"a what?" asked Gus.
"a hero. Some of Napoleon's mar
shals rose from the ranks, and maybe
you will"
"Just so-that is, If / have time"
Thine? What do you mean by that?"
"Why, how long do you think it
would take Il big cat to kill a very
little mouse?"
ooh, you're always looking on the
wrong side OF things. It's going to be
a great war. Goodby. When you re-
turn with a generals shoulder straps
Just think how proud I'll be Of you"
you'll be true to me?"
'"True to my soldier lover! Why,
yes!
A velley of kisses and he was gone.
A few months later a troopship I'M
loaded a cargo of skin and bone on
Montauk Point. Most of them were
transferred to hospitals, the balance
put in camps. One who had suffered
from every disease known in Cuba was
retained in hospital as long as there
was a hospital at the point, then trans
ferred to q more permanent home for
the sick. He fingered between life and
death till spring, when his doctors con-
Guided that he would have a better
chance for recovery If he could get a
change. He was eager to go, assuring
them that a sweetheart was waiting
for him and his separation from her
was keeping him back. Being dis
charged, he sought the location of his
enlistment and, lettering along the
road, met one who had known him as a
hearty man, but who failed to recog-
nize him.
us Louise Archer alive and wsll?"
asked the ex-soldier.
"Oh, yes, she's alive and well. only
her name isn't Archer any more; it's
Gugliamento."
.Wh-a-a-t?" faltered the stranger
aghast.
"Gugliamento, a dago fruit man,
came along here just after you fellers
went away selling California grapes
for Malagas and such like. He had
big black eyes and long black mustache
and curly hair. He sold Louise some
fruit and got to talking with her. He
told her that the Cubans were all mig
gers, while the Spaniards were brave
men who had owned the island ever
since Columbus discovered It 400 years
ago. She asked him to come in and
tell her about 1t.
"Well, the Teller twisted her right
around. She had been one of the most
patriotic girls of these parts; sent a
lover down to fight these same dagos-
more fool he. And after the fruit man
went away she began to howl about
the iniquity of the Spanish war. The
Teller kept comm round every few
weeks, and about a month ago she
walked of with him."
The stranger stood looking at his in
formant out Of his hollow eyes with
pain and horror.
Louise married q Spaniard" he
gasped. "Why She
ooh, yes, she was full Of fight on the
other side when the thing commenced.
But, stranger. you seem awfully taken
back at hearing about her. If you
have any interest in her you needn't
worry about the Spaniard. She came
back n week ago without him. They
shy he dug out and left her to shift for
herself"
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