The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-01-02


landing having been made, the Ameri.
cans prepared to return to their yes.
sells.
Bugles sounded the half-starved SOL
diers lined the trail once more, and
the procession started upon its de-
scent. AS Admiral Sampson was about
TO leave he turned to Garcia as though
struck by sudden thought, and placed
his hand on Holton's shoulder.
Mr. Ogilve, Of the London Stand
ard. who has been with me, wishes to
view a part at least of this campaign
from the Cuban standpoint, and |
promised him should speak to you.
Can you take him for awhile?"
Garcia regarded Holton with pene-
trating black eyes and then bowed
slightly.
Il should be most happy to have
him with u.s." he smiled. II am afraid
our fare will be most humble and our
life without even the little comforts
one expects in war"
"Oh, I'm sure Mr.. Ogilve will not OBJ
ject.'
Thank you, not at ALL" Holton inter
jected
He produced a batch of credentials
which had been handed him by the ad-
nirars aide an hour or so before, and
gave them to General Garcia.
The Cuban, however, declined to ex-
anime them, returning them with an
air of winning politeness.
That night in a Cuban camp, with
the stars overhead, Holton sat with
General Garcia and his officers and
listened with quick sympathy while
Garcia told Of his imprisonment by
the Spaniards ten years before. and
of the sufferings and cruelties which
eventually led him to shoot himself
in the head in an effort to end 1t all.
His release and the long fight for the
freedom of his country sounded like
romance.
And now, after all the discourage
ments and all the travail he had this
day entertained high officers of ma
ton greater than Spain who had come
here to assist in the cause so dear to
him.
Mr.. Ogilve," he said, Il feel tonight
that I have not lived in vain. The
end is now near. have prayed l
might some day see this. Now my
prayers have been answered"
Holton nodded with great sympathy,
and thereafter his attitude towards
this war underwent a change Former
ly his spirit, like that Of many of his
brother officers, had been one Of aloof-
ness, so far as Cuba was Immediately
concerned. 1t was the war itself, the
chances Of glory, the prospects for
quick promotion, the opportunities for
putting into practice that which they
had learned, which had carried the
great appeal, the cause Of Cuba re-
naming very much In the abstract.
Now Holton saw the situation in
different light. He could feel intimate
ly that he was engaged in a work for
humanity; that he was to be one OF
those who were to be concerned in
actively bringing into the world a
new nation.
Then, filled with the heavlness OF
the climate, he spread his blanket up
on bed of boughs, and lulled by the
signing of the leaves, he closed his
eyes and was soon asleep.
He must have slumbered an hour.
when he awoke suddenly. Ordinarily
he was a sound sleeper and he knew
that his awakening was due to. some
outward cause
He lay for moment wondering, and
then the sound of low voices gave him
the cause of his rousing. A glance to-
ward General Garcia's quarters re-
vealed to him the figure of that SOL
der, gazing thoughtfully into a small
fire. A second glance showed that
the old soldier was c0nversing with an
officer whom he had not noticed be-
fore.
Holton wound himself snugly II his
blanket and was about to fall asleep
when sentence arrested his mind and
brought him wide awake.
IL DO not ask you, general, what
your convictions as to the United
States are. tell you merely what
circumstances may arise and ask yoa
what you would do in that event"
Garcia shook his head slowly.
Il decline to- discuss improbabilitisA,
or rather impossibilities," he answered.
1.-THE United States has acted nohly,
and will so continue to act"
(TO BE CQNTINUED)