Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-12

knew the rest-knew that but for his timely !
aid sho might have triumphed over his re-
pentancc, but Armstrong had come, had van
quished her, and poor LNtrobe's last wishes
wero observed. The fateful packet contain
ing the three letters that were most i'm
portant was placed in his uncles trembling |
hand.
But how was it--what was 1t that so
utterly crushed herr" asked Billy, when the |
colonel had once moro extended his hand.
"Tho evidences of her own forgery, her
own guilt" said Armstrong gravely. "one
was tho order she wrote in excellent imita-
tion OF her husbands hand and signature,
authorizing the changing OF guard arrange
menta cu tho wharf the evening Stewart
sailed The other was a note in pencil, also
purporting to come from him. directing old
Keeny-you remember the generals Irish
orderly-to search for packet Of letters
that had come by mail and must be in the
generals tent, either about his desk or over
coa;, and to bring them at once to room
number so and so at the Palace. or course
neither the general nor Garrison wac there
when ho arrived with them but she was,
and with all her destinations. She got the
Irishman half drunk and told him piteous
story and made him swear he'd never tell
the general or anybody If questioned he
could plead ho had gone out, and got
little full with tho boys" She gave him
money-a big bit, too, and he got more than
full. The very vehemence of HE denials
made me suspect him." said Armstrong;
'but he was firm when examined The gen.
eral never required him to remain at the
tent at night. He could go to town any
evening he wished; and to cover his appear
ing at the Palace, where the general long
had a room, and where he was well known,
he could say he was only in to have word
with one of the housemads and to give Mrs.
Garrison a handkerchief one of the women
must havo dropped. But one thing she
failed in-getting the letter back. Keeuy
had left it at camp in the pocket OF his old
blouse and when he sobered up and all the
questions were asked he hung onto it in
case tho truth came out, in order that he
might save himself from punishment. But
it broke him-he got to drinking oftener
and the general had to send him to his regi
ment; and then when we heard of Canker's
charge against you 1 saw the way to wiring
the truth out of him. He worshipped your
father, as did every Irish dragon that ever
rode under him; and told him you were to
be brought to trial for the crime. Then he
broke down and gave the truth-and her
pcncled order-to me-
In the silence that followed the soldier OF
40 and the lad of only 81 sat looking gravely
into each others face 1t was Armstrong
who spoke again:
Gray, it was manly in you to tell me
your story and your trouble. l could help
you here; but-who can help you when you
have to tell it-next time?"
Next time?-father, do you mean?"
queried Gray, a puzzled look in his blue
eyec. Il hadn't thought, do you know, to
worry dear old dad-unless he asked"
ARMSTRONG; grave face grew dark: You
ought to know what / mean Gray. This
story may como up when least you think
for, and-would you have it told Miss
Lawrence before she hears it from you?"
Miss Lawrence" answered Billy, flush
iug, isn't in the least interested"
do you mean that you are not-that you
were not engaged to herr" The colonel had
beon gazing out over the swirling river, but |
now, with curious contraction of brows with |
a strong light in his eyes, he had turned
full on the young officer.
Engaged to her Do you suppose l could |
have been-been such an ass if she would |
have had me? No! She-she had too much ,
sense"
1t was full minute before Armstrong
spoke again. For a few seconds he sat mo-
tionless, gazing steadily into Grays hand
some blushing face, then he turned once
more and looked out over the Pasig and tho
Scared level of the rice fields beyond. And
the long slant OF the sunshine on distant |
towers and neighboring roofs and copse and
wall, and the unlovely landscape seemed all |
tinged with purple haze and tipped with |
gold. Tho blare OF bugle summoning the
mon to supper seemed softened by distance.
or some new, strange intonation, and gave
to the ugliest of all our service calls the
effect of soft sweet melody, and there was
sympathy and genuine feeling in the deep
voice as he once again held out his hand
to Billy.
Forgive me, lad for l judged you more
harshly than you deserved"
One lovely, summer-like evening" some five
weeks later in long, heaving surges the
deep bluo waves Of the Pacific came lazily
rolling toward the palm bordered beach at
Waikiki, bursting into snowy foam on the
pebbly strand and, softly Kissing, swept
like a fleecy mantle up the slope OF wet,
hard beaten sand, then broke, tapping and
about the stone supports of the
broad lanai OF one OF the many luxurious
homes that dot the curving line of the bay
to the east Of Honolulu. Dimly outlined in
the fairy moonlight the shadowy mountains
of the Waianai range lay low upon the west
ern horizon. Eastward the bare, bold vol
canic upheaval Of Diamond Head cleaned in
bold relief. rejecting the silver rays. Here
and there through the foliage shone the soft
coored fires of Chinese lanterns and farther
away, along tho concave shore distant cleo
tric lights twinkled like answering signals
to the stars in the vault of blue, and the
riding lights" OF the few transports or war
ships swinging at anchor on the tide
From little grove Of palms close to the
low sea wall came the soft tinkle OF guitar,