The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-05-04
CHAPTER XVII.

In the fortnight OF incessani action
that followed the mad attack of that
starlit Sunday morning, there was no
place for Billy Gray. SOrely wounded,
yet envied by many fellow soldier for
the glowing words in which the brigade
commander praised his conduct and
urged his brevet, the boy had been
carried back 10 the great reserve hos
pital al Malate. The breezy wards
were filed with sick and wounded, and
certain of the rooms of the old con-
vent once used for study and recita-
ton had been set apart for officers.
There were three cots in the one 10
which they bore him. and two were al
ready occupied. 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, lay Stanley Arm
strong. Time and again the boys heart
and conscience had rebuked him for
the arrangement that had arisen be
tween him and this man who had
proved his best friend. Time and again
he had promised himself that he would
strive 10 win back that friendship; but
well he knew that first he must rein
state himself in Armstrong; respect;
and how could he hope for that so long
as he surrendered to the destinations
that kept him dangling about the
/ dainty skirts Of Witchie Garrison
/ Oddly enough, the boy had hardly both
cred his head with any thought Ct what
/ Frank Garrison might think OF his at
! tentions or devotions. whatever they
could be called, 10 this very captivating
and capricious helpmate. When hus-
band is so overwhelmed with other
cares or considerations that he never
/ sees his wife from morn till night. so
! ciety seems 10 cOrrespondingly lose
/ sight of him. Down in the depths of
! his heart the boy was ashamed Of him
| self. He never heard Armstrong men
! toned. that he did not vince. 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 ror Mrs. Frank could palliate or
| explain. 1t had not needed that cpl
sode TO tell her that Armstrong held
her in contempt; and yet, when they
CHANGED 10 meet, she could smile up
into his eyes as beamingiy, as guileless-
| ". as though no shadow of sin had
ever darlened her winsome face But
not so Gray. He mOaned in secret over
the loss of a strong mans confidence
and esteem. He longed 10 find a way
10 win il back. He had even thought to
| 90 10 the colonel with his trouble, make
q clean breast of il, tell him the truth
that he had fallen deeply, as it was pos
sible for him TO fall, in love with Amy
Lawrence; had hoped his love was re-
! turned: had found IL was not-that
she had only frank, friendly. kindly
interest in him; and that, wounded
and stung, he had fretted himself into
| a fever al Honolulu, aided by Canker's
aspersiOns, and then-well-any mar
is liable, said Billy to himself, 10 get
smitten with woman who tenderlv
and skillfully nurses him day after
day; and that's just what Witchie Gar
rison did. But somehow the opportun-
ity 10 tell him never seemed 10 come:
and now. now that Armstrong and him
self were thus thrown together with
the prospect Of being in the same room
day and night for the best of the month.
a third officer. q stranger. lay there, too.
and in his presence or hearing any con-
fdeDces would be impossible, even if
Armstrong encouraged them. which
be probably would not. IN this embar-