The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-12

1t was full a minute before Arm
strong spoke again. For few seconds
he sat motionlees, gazing steadily into
Gray's handsome, blushing face; then
he turned once more and looked out
over the Pasig and the SCARED level OF
the rice fields beyond. And the long
slant of the sunshine on dist IT towers
and neighboring roofs and copse and
wall, and the unlovely landscape SEEM
! ed all tinged with purple haze and
J tipped with gold. The blare of a bugle
summoning the men to supper seemed
softened by distance, or some new,
/ strange intonation, and gave to the ug-
I lest 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 I judged you
more harshly than you deserved.
One lovely. summer-like evening.
some five weeks later, in long, heavlng
surges the deep blue waves CT the Pa
! cific came lazily rolling toward the
! palm-bordered beach at Waikiki, burst
/ ing into snowy foam on the pebbly
strand, and, softly kissing, swept like
| heecy mantle up the slope If wet, hard
beaten sand, then broke, tapping and
whirling about the stone supports OF
the broad lanai of one Of the many lux
urlous homes that dot the curving line
of the bav to the east of Honolulu.
Dimly outlined in the fairy moonlight,
the shadowy mountains of the Wal
anal range lay low upon the western
horizon. Eastward the bare bold vol
canic upheaYal of Diamond Head
CLEANED in bold relief, rejecting the
silver rays. Here and there through
the foliage shone the soft-colored fires
of Chinese lanterns, and farther away,
along the concave shore, distant cleo
trio lights twinkled like answering sig
nails to the stars in the vault of blue,
and the riding lights" of the few
transports or warships, swinging at an
Choir on the tide.
From a little grove of palms close to
the sea wall came the soft tinkle of
guitar and now and then a burst of
joyous song. while under the spreading
roof Of the broad portico, or lanai, the
murmur of voices. the occasional rip
pie of musical laughter the floating
haze of cigarette smoke. told where
party of worshipers We're gathered, re-
joicing in the loneliness of nature and
the night.
1t was a reunited party, too, and in
the welcome of their winsome hostess.
in the soft, soothing influence of that
summer cline. and through the healing
tonic of the long sea voyage. faces that
had been saddened by deep anxiety but
a few weeks gone, smiled gladness into
one another now. a tall, gray-haired
man reclined in an easy lounging chair.
his eyes intent on the clear-cut face of
a young soldier in trim white uniform.
who. with much animation, was telling
of an event in the recent campaign. BY
his side. her humid eyes following his
every gesture, sat a tall, dark, stylish
girl. whose hand from time to time
crept forth to caress his-an evident
case of sister Worship Close at hand
another young fellow in spotlesS white
his curly head bent far forward, his
elbows on his knees, his finger tips
joining. was studying silently the eff
feet of his comrades story on another
a fair girl, whose sweet face. serene and
composed. was fully illumined by the
silvery light of the unclouded moon
Coming by transport, via Honolulu -
COWS" cabled message had brought
father and sister to meet him at these
famed Gross roads of the Pacific" and
whittier they journeyed Amy Lawrence.
too. must go. said they: and. glad of
opportunity to see the land of Deren-
NAL bloom and sunshine. and wearied
with long. long months of labor in the
service of the Red Cross the girl had
willingly accepted their invitation.
Coaled and provisioned. the transport
had pushed on for the seven-day run
of his long-lost son and the soft. re-
poseful atmosphere of the lovely, yet /
isolated island group, had so benefited
Mr.. Prime that in family council ii had
been decided wise for them to spend
week or ten days longer at the Royal
Hawaiian: and the boys had found no
difficulty in holding over" for the !
Sedgwick that followed swift upon the |
heels Of their own shin. Five joyous
days had they together, and this, the /
fifth had been spent in sightseeing be- |
yond the lofty Pail of the northwarG |
side. The 20. & O." liner was coming |
in from Yokohama even as they drove
away: and as they sat at dinner on /
the open lanai. long. hours later. il had
been mentioned by their host that the |
too. had reached the harbor /
during the afternoon. and that army /
people were passengers on both liner /
and transport. Billy Gray. for one, be- /
gan to wish that dinner were over. He |
was eager to get the latest news from 1
the Philippines. and the Sedgwick left (
Manila full a week behind their slower
craft.
"Did you hear who came with herr"
he somewhat eagerly asked. "or on the
Doric?" he continued, with less en-
thusiasm.
Il did not" was the answer-"that is,
on the Sedgwick:" and the gentleman
halted lamely and glanced furtively
and appealingly at his wife. There was +
that embarrassing. interrogative silence
that makes one feel the futility of con-
cealment. It was Miss Lawrence who
quickly came to his relief and dispelled
the strain on the situation.
Il should fancy very few army people
would choose that roundabout way
rom Manila when they can come direct
oy transport, and have the ship to
themselves.
''Well-er-yes; certainly, certainly"
the helpless master of the
house. lodging now the warning and
in the eyes of his wiser mate
1t the other end of the table. The crack
If a coachman's whip and the swift
peat of trotting hoofs on the graveled
Dad in front could be heard as he fall
cred on. The CLEAN of cab lights came
ioating through the northward shrub
)ery.' Except, of course. when they
happen to be-er-already, well. you
Know. at Hongkong or Nagasaki," he
amely concluded.
There was an instant hurried glance
between Gray and Prime
Then. up. spoke in silvery tone their
hostess:
.Other officers. you know. are ordered
lome. We have just heard today that
Colonel Frost comes very soon. His +;
health Seems quite shattered. / believe
you knew-of then-slightly that is ;
o say. Miss Prime, did you not?" But
ven with her words she cast an anx-
Gus. furtive glance along the dim
each of the lanai. for the pit-a-pat of
ootfalls, the swish of feminine draper- ]
es was distinctly heard. Two dainty. {
rhite-rODed forms came floating in 70