Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-11

10
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
The story opens with a scene In the regi-
mental camp Preside Heights. overlook
ing San Francisco harbor. Rumors Of
ing orders Manila and the arrival from
New York of lady visitors at headIuarters
vary the monotony Of camp routine. The Wis
itorS are in search Of 4 runaway hoy, Who Is
believed to have entered the army. and
Lieut.. Gray, the NEST popular yoIng officer
of his regiment. through q supposed acquaiE'-
ance with one Of the visiting party. Miss
Amy Lawrence. Is cnvied by his fellows.
The party. escorted by Col. Armstrong, at
tend. review the dill grounds, and is
disturbed Ivy the sight Of q young prisoner
who breaks away from lis guari near them
and 10y collision among the carriages Mrs.
Garrison. Old acquaintance Of Col Arm
strong. is hut Private Morton is arrested
q charge Of stealing money. lie appeals
To Lieut. Gray of his fraternity for help. and
Gray secures the tail of guard over him.
Tie Jru"P- prepare to- yaI f,r Manila. Mrs.
Garrison Joins tn. Rcd cross Society ana as
s>tS ut the cmhdrkins. Young Norton AMI
three other prisoners escape through a tun-
mel Gray Is arrested. CHARGED with having
aitl'l the prisoners At West Point, the
summer ief1c.. Mrs. Garrison and her young
talk. Mia fell in love with a prominent ca
DEF. Fat Latr,te but Mrs. Garrison took
her away In tia.r tp prevent an el"F"ment
and marriage. IatryEc deserts. aud his
friend, Iouvrenpur Prime, who had been in
fltga.ri with Ms. Garrison. runs away
from A'gIe {, joiu the army At san Francisco.
Mia uprr.cI Col Frost. ana IatTobc FOL
lowed her f.".l place ia place seeking an
interview. uEtu he is located IN san Fran
cisco aHI suspected of heinz, with Morton.
yEiuIbir IasaU-r Of letters Las been lost
fem Gen Dr:s.t1H's tent. Latro5e is
nephew Of tie general. Col Armstrong de
feu,is Gray az the trial ana secures Lis re-
lease. Gray's regiment sails for Manila,
but stopping "a, Hon sIulu. Gray is taken ill.,
Mrs.. Harrison Succeeds IN saiIig., Ga Of
Tho transports. nurses Gray through his i'll
HISS an! goes on III" S&r1" ship with him TO
Manila Coi. Arrst -0ug sees a growing at
tarHuru- between the two. In the battle
ell Manila which occurs not many days
after the landing. Gray diSpl1vs superior
bravery and is wounded !. Latruhc is shot,
tut before lgiug be gives package Of let
tr-~ Z. Gray Ms Garrison tgi,s 10 get
these letters lrgm Gray in Tie hospital.
From that day until this, here on the
hanks Of the swift-runuins Pasig, they had
not met al all; and it seemed TO Gray as
though Armstrong had aged a year. There
was lump in his throat as he went
straight W to the colonel. his blue eyes
never finching. though they seemed to fill
and bravely spoke. col. Armstrong. l have
an explanation that 1 owe 20 YOU. vii
you give M a few minutes on the gallery
Certainly Gray" was the calm reply
and the yoUHEstcr led the way.
II was a broken story. 1t told of his des
peratiOn and misery through Canker's per.
secution. of his severe illness, then of thu
utter weakness and prostratlon: then hel
coming. and with her comfort, peace, re
assurance. gradual return to health. ano
with that. gradual surrender to his nurse!
faSciudtlOnS. Then her demand upon him
her plea, her final insisIence that he SHOULD
prove his gratitude aid devotion by get
ting for her those dangerous letters, an
his weakness in letting her believe he coul'
and would do so That was the situation
when they went on to Manila; and Arm
strong knew the rest-knew that but 70
his timely aid she might have triumphe,
over his repentance, but Armstrong haC
come, had VanquiShed her and poor La
trobes last wishes were observed. TIL
fateful packet containing the three letter
that were most important was placed in hi
unCleS trembling hand.
But how was iU-what was II that so ut
feriy crushed here asked Billy. when tn
colonel had once more extended his hand
The evidences of her own forgery he
own SuIll, Sdll Armstrong EraEely. "On
vas the order she wrote In excellent imi
tatlon Of her husbands hand and signature
authorizing the changing of guard arrange
ments on the wharf the evening Stewar
sailed The other was note in pencil
also purporting to come from him, direct
Ing old keeny-yOu remember the general
Irish Orderly-tO search for q packet of let
tiers that had come by mail. and must b
IN the generals tent. either about his desl
or oEerrOdt, and to bring them at once {
room No 30 and so at the palace O
course neither the general nor Garrison
was there when he arrived with them
but she was. and with all her fascinations
she got the Iris Imam half drunk and toll
him piteOus story and made him swea
he'd ncyer tell the general or anybody. |
questioned he would plead he had gone out
and-"got little full with the boys" Sh
gave him money! big bit. too. and he go
more than full The very vehemence of Inf
denials made me suspect him" said Arm
strong; but he was firm when examined
The general never required him to renal
at the tent at night He could go TO tow
any evening he wished; and to cover hi
appearing at the palace where the genera
long had room. and where he was We
known. he could say he was only in 10 hay
n word with one Of the housemaidS and I
give Mrs. Garrison a handk erchief one q
the ladies must have dropped. But on
thing she failed Injecting the letter bach
kccny had left il at camp In the pocket @
his old blouse and when he sobered up an
all the questions We're asked he hung ont
II In case the truth came ont IN orde
that he might save himself from punish
u@rt, But II broke hin-he got to drinkin
Cftvucr and the general had to send hi
% his regiment: and then when We hear
Of Eanker's charge against you 1 saw tn
WY to wiring the truth out of him. II
warshtred your father, did every Iris
Dragon thai ever rode under him; and
told him you were TO be brought to tia
for the crime Then he broke down an
gave the truth-and her peuciled order-t
ne"
In the silence that followed the soldier G
forty and tn" lad Of only twcnty-oue ga
looking grayeiy into each others face.
was Armstrong who spoke again:
Gray, il was manly in you to tell m
your story and your trouble. / could hcI
you here; but-whO can help you when yo
have To tell tt-ueNt timer
Next urne2-father. do you mean?
queried Gray, a puzzled look in his blu
eyes Il hadn't thought, do you know I
woTry dear ola dad-unless he asked"
Armstrong; grave face grew dark: "Yo
ought TO know what / mean, GRAY. Thi
story may come up wheTr least you thin
for. and-would You have it told Miss Law
rerCe before she hears ii from you?''
Miss Lawrence" answered Billy flush
ing, Isn't I'm the least interested. Il"
DO you mean that you are not-that yo
were not engaged TO her?' The colon,
had been gazing out over the swirlin