Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-06-16

boat that rowed them, with certain
items contraband Of war, to the dark
side of the transport as nightfall camel
and they were easily struggled aboard
and into uniform, and then, during the
few days stay at Honolulu, were for
mally enlisted and no embarrassing
questions asked.
And now poor Pat was gone AMI
Primes father had been cabling for him
to return home; but there was that awk.
ward matter about the desertion. Gen
Drayton was trying to have it straight
ened out at Washington, for he hat
been kindness itself the day of his visit
to the hospital, where almost his first
act had been to seek out the wounded
young soldier who had been his beloved
nephew's boon companion, and at ont
time sole support. The sentry was re
lieved of his surveillance, and Corp
Norton transferred to Corregidor to re-
cuperate; and now that both lads were
well on the road to recovery, Drayton
had sent for them. Strictly speaking
some one should have seen to it that
Corp. Norton, of the volunteers, was
shifted back to Private Morton, of the
-teenth, and the chevrons stripped
from his sleeves; but no one had carec
to interfere where the worsted was con
cerned, especially as the boy had won
sach praise for bravery at Concordia
Bridge. So there the chevrons stood
when the two were ushered into th.
presence of the gray-haired chief, and
he arose, and, stepping forward, held
out hand to each.
II want you. boys" said he, ito be
ready to take tho next transport home
The doctors say you need sea voyage.
Gray; so there is the order. The doc
tors say your father needs you. Prime;
and the record will be duly Strengthened
out in Washington-the charge of de.
sertion, no doubt, will be removed. Its
. matter Of influence. Tonight You
dine with me here; and I have asked
your good friend, Col. Armstrong, to
come"
Again the blood rose guilty to Billy's
cheek. Not yet had he made his peace
with his conscience and that valued
counselor and invaluable friend from
whose good graces he seemed to have
fallen entirely. Not once had oppor-
tunity been afforded in which to speak
and open his heart to him. AS for writ
ing, that seemed impossible. Billy could
handle almost any implement better
than pen. But even in the few min
utes left him in which to think he knew
that now at least he must face the mu-
sic," like the man his father would
have him be, even though it took more
nerve than did that perlous dash on the
Tagal works that Sunday morning.
Billy would rather do that twice over
than have to face Armstrong; stern,
searching eyes, and hear again the cold,
almost contemptuous tone in which the
colonel said to him the day the doctor
led his vanquished and hysterical
charmer from the room: Don't try>to
thank, man; try to think what you risk
what you deserve to lose-for putting
yourself in the power of such woman"
From that day until this, here on the
banks of the swift-running Pasig, they
had not met at all; and it seemed to
Gray as though Armstrong had aged
gear. There was lump in his throat
as he went straight up to the colonel,
his blue eyes never tlinchlng, though
they seemed to fill, and bravely spoke.
"Col. Armstrong, have an explanation
that l owe to you. Will you give me
few minutes on the gallery?'
''Certainly, Gray" was the calm re-
ply; and the youngster led the way.
1t was a broken story. 1t told of his
desperation and misery through Cam
ker's persecution, of his severe illness,
then of the utter weakness and prostra-
ton; then her coming, and with her
comfort, peace, reinsurance, gradual
return to health, and with that, gradua;
surrender to his nurses destinations.
Then her demand upon him, her plea,
her final insistence that he should prove
his gratitude and devotion by getting
for her those dangerous letters, and his
weakness in letting her believe he could
and would do so. That was the situa.
lion when they went on to Manila; and
Armstrong knew the rest-knew that
but for his timely aid she might have
triumphed over his repentance; but
Armstrong had come, had vanquished
her and poor Latrobe's last wishes were
observed. The fateful packet contain
ing the three letters that were mostim-
portant was placed in his uncle's trem-
bling hand.
''But how was it-what was it thatso
utterly crushed her?" asked Billy, when
the colonel had once more extended his
hand.
1.-THE evidences of her own forgery,
her own guilt" said Armstrong, grave
ly. Zone was the order she wrote in
excellent imitation of her husbands
hand and signature, authorizing the
changing of guard arrangements on the
wharf the evening Stewart sailed. The
other was note in pencil, also purport-
ing to come from him, directing old
Keeny--you remember the generals
Irish orderly-to search for a packet of
letters that had come by mail, and
must be in the generals tent, either
about his desk or overcoat, and to
bring them at once to room number so
and SO at the palace. Of course, neither
the general nor Garrison was there
when he arrived with them; but she
was, and with all her destinations. She
got the Irishman half drunk, and told
him a piteous story and made him
swear he'd never tell the general or
anybody. If questioned he could plead
he had gone out, and got little full
with the boys She gave him money