Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-05

CTApTER XVII
In the fortnight OF incessant action that
followed the mad attack OF that starlit Sun
day morning there was no place for Billy
Gray Sorely wounded, yet enved by many
a fellow soldier for the glowing words In
which the brigade commander praised his
conduct and urged his brevet, the boy had
been carried back to the reserve hospital at
Malate. The breezy wards we're filled with
sick or wounded and certain OF the rooms
OF the old convent once used for study and
recreation had been set apart for officers.
There were three cots in the one to which
they bore him, and two were already occu-
pied Even in his pain and weakness he
could hardly suppress a cry OF dismay, for
there, with his arm bandaged and in splints,
his face white from loss Of blood, his eyes
closed in the sleep OF utter exhaustion, lay
Stanley Armstrong. Time and again the
boys heart and conscience had rebuked him
for the estrangement that had arisen be-
tween him and this man, who had proved MS
best friend. Time and again he had prom
ised himself that he would strive to win
back that friendship, but he we'll knew that
first he must reinstate himself in Arm
strong's respect, and how could he hope for
that so long as he surrendered to the fasci-
nations that kept him dangling about the
dainty skirts of Wtchie Garrison? Oddly
enough the boy had hardly bothered his head
with any thought OF what Frank Garrison
might think OF his attentions or devotions,
whatever they could be called, to this very
captivating and capricious helpmate. Wnen
| a husband Is so overwhelmed with other
cares or considerations that he never sees
his wife from morn till night society seems
correspondingly to lose sight OF him. DOWN
| in the depths of his heart the boy was
! ashamed of himself. He never heard Arm
| ,la he
| knew and she knew that, coming suddenly
upon them as Armstrong had that tropic
night on the Queen he must have heard
her words must have realized that some
compact or understanding existed between
them, which neither Gray nor MRS.
Frank could palliate or explain. IL
had not needed that episode to tell
her that Armstrong held her In contempt
! and yet, when they CHANGED to meet, she
could smile up into his eyes as beamingiv'
| as guilelessly as though no shadow OK SIN
had ever darkened her winsome race. but
not so Gray. He moaned in secret over the
loss of a strong mans confidence and es-
TEEN. He longed to find way to win It
back He had even thought to go to the
colonel with his trouble, make clean
! breast of 1t, tell him the truth-that he
| had fallen deeply as it was possible for
! him to fall, in love with Amy Lawrence;
had hoped his love was returned; had found
it was not-that she had only frank
friendly, kindly interest in him and that,
wounded and stung, he had fretted him
self into a fever at Honolulu, aided by
Canker's aspersions, and then-Well-any
man is liable, said Billy to himself, to get
smitten with a woman who tenderly ana
skilfully nurses him day after day, ana
that's Just what Witchie Garrison did. But
| tho ortu fO tell him never
seemed to come; and now, now that Arm
strong and himself were thus thrown to-
gether with the prospect Of being in the
same room day and night for the best OF
the month, a third officer, stranger lay
there too, and in his presence or hearing
any condolences would be impossible, even
IL Armstrong encouraged them, which ne
probably would not. In this embarrassment
Billy's wish was that the colonel were
fifty miles away. 1t was fate and hard
one thought he, that brought him there
an ever-present reproach. 1t was luck OF
the worst kind that they should be con-
fronted under such circumstances. since
neither could retreat. He submitted in
anxious silence to the keen. quick exami-
nation OF the skillful surgeon In charge and
to the re dressing of his wound. He could
have been proud and happy but for that
shadow on his life, OF which Armstrong s
presence would so constantly remind him.
He could not even think how his dear old
dragon daddy would rejoice in the con-
gratulations that would surely greet him
when the story Of the brave dash OF the
-teenth, Billy among the foremost should
reach the states. He could not even dream
how it might affect her-Amy Lawrence.
He was beginning to be ashamed now In
this presence to think how that other
| bnu Maro Garrison mipht he impraS6el
forgetting that, to the army girl who has
' lived long years on the frontier, tales OF
5 heroism the rule, not the exception
g He wondered how long 1t could be before
G she would come to him to bring him com
v fort. Surely by this time she knew thai
d he had been seriously, painfully wounded
= He did not know, however. that at the
= very first sound of battle Frost had bundled
!, the sisters aboard his launch and steamed
. away to the transports. Yet, what comfor
d could hei visit bring to him with that sterI
n censor lying there, seeing and hearing all
= Billy Gray that Monday night coulG al
t most have wished that Armstrong; slum
ber might be eternal, never dreaming tha
q before a second Monday should come h
| would thank heaven with grateful heart TO
a Armstrong; presence, viSilance and inter
vention.
In three days the colonel was able to 81
up. Within the week he was permitted t
take air and exercise in the spacious cour
= OF the old college, his sword arm in Its sling
l, But Gray and the young officer of volunteer
q were too seriously wounded to leave thei
pillows. The -teenth had occupied a ne'
k line far south of the old one, but. one at
y, time, several OF Billys brother officers ha
dropped in to see him and tell him regi
: mental news, and one OF them. the youn
West Pointer who had broken down at sigt