The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-04-20

and stung, he had fretted himself into
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
and skillfully nurses him day after
day; and that's just what Witchie Gar
rison did. But somehow the opportun-
| ity to tell him never seemed to 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. stranger, lay there, too,
and in his presence or hearing any con-
fidenceG would be impossible, even II
Armstrong encouraged them which
he probably would not. In this embar-
rassment Biiy's wish was thaUthe colo
mel were fifty miles away. 1t was fate.
and hard one, thought he, that
brought him there-an eyer-present re-
proach 1t was luck of the worst kline
that they should be confronted under
such circumstances, since neither could
retreat. lie submitted in anxious
silence to the keen, quick examination
of the sNillful surgeon in charge and
to the redressing of his wound. He
could have been proud and happy but
for that shadow on his life, of which
Armstrong; presence would so con-
stantly remind him. lie could not even
think how his dear old drugoon daddy
would rejoice in the congratulations
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-how Margaret Gar
rison might be impressed, forgetting
that, to the army girl who has lived
long years on the frontier, tales of
heroism are the rule, not the exception.
He wondered how long it could be be-
fore she would come to him to bring
him comfort. Surely by this time she
knew that he had been seriously, pain
fully wounded. He did not know, how
ever, that at the very first sound of
battle Frost had bundled the sisters
aboard his launch and steamed away
| W Aht AldilNl lblASs ] fls W nat fpllllOlN
could her visit bring to him with that
stern censor lying there, seeing and
hearing all? Billy Gray that Monday
night could almost have wished that
Armstrong; slumber might be eternal,
never dreaming that before a second
Monday should come he would thank
heaven with grateful heart for Arm
strong's presence, vigilance and inter
ventiou.
in three days the colonel was able &c
sit up. Within the week he was per
mitted to take air and exercise in The
spacious court of the old college, his
sword arm in its sling. But Gray and
the young officer of volunteers were toe
seriously wounded TO leave their pill
lows. The -teenth had occupied new
line far south of the old one; but, at one
time, several of Billy's brother officers
had dropped in to see him and tell hin
regimeptal news; and one of them. tn,
young West Pointer who had broker
down at sight of the dying face tina
stirring Sunday morning, told him o.
Latrobe's soldier funeral and of Gen
! Drayton's presence and speeches.
grief; and Billy's hand CROPPED beneath
the pillow for that little blood-staineC
packet still undelivered He haC
promptly caused the information TO IL
conveyed to the veteran commander
that it was his own lost nephew VIII,
had died his soldier death in front o
the firing line; but the packet still re
manned in his hands; and even before tn
2 tiny thermometer confirmed his views
the keen eye of the surgeon saw tina
something had heightened Billy's fe
yer that day; and so, when just at sun
set there came driving into the cour
the most stylish equipage in all Manila
3. and Mrs. Garrison futtcred up tn
broad stairway and confidently asket
D to be announced to Mr.. Gray, the stew
ard in charge of the door was very, yer,
sorry, but-the doctor had given in
j structions that no more visitors shoul
see the young gentleman that day
> Mrs. Frank smiled indulgently, ant
I asked for the doctor himself an,
beamed on him with all her witcher
o and begged for just few words; bu
j. the suaye, placid, yet impenetrable doc
Noi ohlA llNi lOO was SullN -sOIIN ina
: Mr. Gray was not able to see anyon
= else, but such was the case. Mrs. Gan
{ rison said she thought if Mr.. Gray kneN
3 that it was-but perhaps DIR. Fran
i didn't know il was she who had nurse
y Mr., Gray so assiduously at Honolulu
e DR.. Frank did know that and more; bu
3 he did not say so; neither did he yielt
g There were tears in her eyes as sh
; sprang into her carriage again; bu
VI they were tears of anger and defea
i She dashed them away the very next in
o slant and smiled joy and congratull
o ton, even adulation, at sight of the tai
y stalwart officer, his arm in sling, VIII
stood the center of a staring group O
q her carriage flashed by, She would hay
e ordered stop; but while the rest of tn
p party had gazed as they lifted thei
s. caps, Armstrong; uninjured hand pc