Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-14


The steam of the 'scape pipe roared
loudly and belched dense white clouds
on high, swelling the uproar. Dusky
little Kanaka boys, diving for nickels
and padding tireless about the ship, |
added their shrill cries to the clamor.
The captain, in his natty uniform of |
blue and gold, stepped forth upon the
bridge to take command, and raised his
banded cap in recognition of the con-
slant cheer from the host ashore and
the throng of blue shirts on the fore
castle head. Then arose another shout,
as veteran officer, in the undress uni
form of general, appeared upon that
sacred bound, and, bowling to the
crowd, was escorted by the captain to
the end overlooking the animated scene
below; and then the signal was given,
the heavy lines were cast off and hauled
swiftly in, the massive screw began
slowly to churn the waters at the stern,
and gently, almost imperceptibly at
first, the Queen slid noiselessly along
the edge of the dock, to the accompani-
ment of little volley OF flowers and
earlands tossed from eager hands, and
a cheer of godspeed from the swarm of
upturned faces. And then there up
rose another shout, shout of mingled
merriment, surprise and applause;
for all on sudden there darted up the
stairway from the crowded promenade
deck to the sacred perch above, defiant
of the lettered warning: Passengers
are not allowed upon the BRIDGE" o
dainty vision in filmy white, and all in
the next moment there appeared at the
generals side, smiling, bowling, blow
ing kisses, waving adieux, all sparkle,
animation, radiance and rejoicing, be-
witching little figure, in the ARREST,
loyeliest of summer toilets. The Red
Cross nurses on the deck below looked
at one another and gasped. Two brave
army girls, wives of wounded officers in
the Philippines, who by special dispen-
sation were making the voyage on the
Queen, glanced quickly at each other
and said-nothing audible. The gen
eral, lifting his cap, but looking both
depreciation and embarrassment, fell
back and gave his place at the white
rail to the new arrival, and colored high
when she suddenly turned and took his
arm. The captain, trying not to see her
or to appear conscious of this infrac-
ton of q stringent rule and invasion OF
his dignity, grew redder as he shouted
rapid orders and swung his big, beauti-
full ship we'll out into the stream. The
guns of the Bennington doomed deaf
ening salute US the Queen turned her
sharp nose toward the open sea; and al
most the last thing Honolulu saw OF
her human freight was the tiny, dainty
winsome little figure in white, waving a
spotless kerchief in fond farewell
Once clear of the narrow entrance the
big troopship headed westward toward
the setting sun, shook free the reins, al
| it were, and, followed by less favored
! craft, sped swiftly on her way, Witchit
/ Garrison, the latest addition to thu
, passenger list, entirely at home, If mo-
, actually in command.
Leaning on the generals arm an houl
later and deftly plotting that Devil
dered veteran up and down the breezy
deck, she came, just as she had planned
10 come, face to face once more will
Stanley Armstrong. Well she knew
: that under the escort of that exalted
rank she was safe from any possibilit,
of cross question or interference. Wei
3 she knew that had he heard of her sud
e den determination to go to Honolulu,
t she could not have escaped stern inter
rogation, possibly something worse
e lied that the man who had gagged he
: shallow nature years before, now hell
? lash over her head in the shape of tn
q paper that mad vanity had prompte'
: her to write and send to the officer o
Z the guard the day that Stewart sailed
: What madness it was, indeed, yet hoy
e could she have dreamed it would fal
8 into the hands of the man of all other
a she feared and respected-the one maj
: who, had, he but cared, could years ag
e have had her love, the man who, be
i, cause he cared not, had won her hate
!, And, now that he held or had held thi
Y paper-nothing less than a forged orde
/, in her husbands name as aide-de-cam
a to Gen. Drayton, she could have COW
O cred at his feet in her terror of hin
Il yet braved him with smiles, sweetnes
: and gayety, with arch merriment an
i joyous words, quitting for the momen
q the generals arm that she might e,
O tend to him both her little white
j. gloved hands. Gravely he took the lei
d in his left while with the right he raise
i. his forage cap in combined salute to til
q woman and to his superior Office
d Gravely and almost instantly he re
leased it, and listened in helpless p;
,. tience to her torrent of playful words
;. but his eyes were on the generals fac
i as though he would ask could he, til
Il general, know the true character of tn
II woman he had honored above all he
r sisterhood on board, in thus taking he
d to the bridge wherein neither office
nor man nor nurse nor army wife ha
! presumed to set foot in all the six day
| run from San Francisco; as though h
: would ask if the general knew just VIII;
l. she was, this blithe, dainty, winson
little thing that nestled so confidingl
n indeed, SO snugly-close to his ba
is tered side, and who had virtually take
9 possession of him in the face of an Ell
/. vious and not too silent circle of he
4 own sex. Truth to tell, the chief woul
"a rather have escaped. He was but a
n Indifferent sailor, and the Queeks Ion,
10 lazy roll over the ocean surges was e,
a citing in his inner consciousness lonl
h ing for cracked ice and champaign
~ He had known her but the few day
8 the Queen remained in port, coaling an
We preparing for the onward voyage acro'
% the broad Pacific; but great function
t. ary of the general government had tol
ii him pathetic tale the very day of Ii
d. first peep at the Royal Hawaiian hote
g. had given him capital dinner at tn;
,e famous hostelry, whereat she appeare
d. in charming attire, and in flow {
" spirits simply irresistible. Her salli'
n of wit had made him roar with deligh'
ar her mimicry of one or two conscientiol
n but calculated danes who had con
III over on the Queen, bound us nurses fl
ID Manila, had tickled him to the vert
Of of apoplexy; but when later she backe
him into the coolest corner of Il
|