Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-02-02

- Arny Life in 1he Philippines.
copyright, 1899. by F. Tennyson Neely.l
"Other officers, you know, are or
dered home. We have just heard to-
day that Col Frost comes very soon.
His health seems quite shattered.
believe-you knew-of them-slightly
that is to say, Miss Prime, did you
not?" But even with her words she
cast an anxious glance along the dim
reach of the lanai, for the pit-a-pat of
footballs, the swish of feminine dra-
peries was distinctly heard. Two
dainty, white-robed forms came float
ing into view, and, with changing color,
their hostess suddenly arose and
stepped forward to meet them. Just
one second of silence interviewed, then,
all grace and gladness, smiles and cor
diality, both her little hands out
stretched, Mrs. Frank Garrison came
dancing into their midst, her sister
more timidly following.
Dear Mrs. Marsden, how perfectly"
kiss, kiss-"delicious! Yes, this is
the baby sister I've raved to you about.
We go right on with the Doric; but 1
had to bring her out with me that you
might have just one glance at her.
Why! Mr.. Prime! Why, what could
be more charming than to find you
here? And Gov too-you wicked
boy! What won't do to you for never
telling me you were in Manila? And
Mildred!"-kiss, kiss-despite a pal
pable dodge and heightened color on
the part of the half-dazed recipient.
"And you, too, Miss Lawrence?" Both
| hands, but no kiss-one hand calmly
accepted. "Ah, then know how happy
you are, Mr.. Willie Gray!" beaming
arched smiles upon that flushed and
austered young officer. Then, turning
again to Irvine a jeweled arm about the
slim waist of their hostess, to whom
she chung as though defying any eff
fort to dislodge, yet pleading for pro-
lection. "Who on earth could have
foretold that we of all people should
have met out hereof all places? How
long did you say you had been out here
A week? And of course, dear Mrs
Marsden has done everything to make
it lovely for you. 1 should have died
without her." And SO the swift play Of
words went on, the rapid fire Of hel
fluent tongue covering the movement
of her allies and drowning all posi-
bility of reply. 1t was an odd and try
ing moment. Mrs. Marsden, well know
ing, as who in Honolulu did not, Of Mrs
Franks devotion to the young lieu
tenant, barely six months agone, wa'
striving to welcome the shrinking LITTLE
scare-faced thing that blindly ant
helplessly had drifted in in the eide
sisters wake. The introductions tina
followed, after the American fashion
were as perfunctory as well-bred WON
en- can permit. The greetings were al
most solemn, smileless. and, on par
Of Nita, futtering to the verge of
faiRet E;y a and 1nethjng but Witehie'
light flow of airy chat and laughter
carried her through the ordeal. TIL
two young soldiers stood stiffly bach
red-faced and black-browed; the father
pallid and cold, could hardly force him
self to unbend, yet his lips mumbled tn,
name "Mrs. Frost" as he bowed a
| l.
and trembling; Miss Lawrence, will
brave eyes but heightened color. Z,
leave at once was impossible; to re
main was more than embarrassment
Most gallantly did they battle, Mrs
Marsden and Mrs. Frank, to lift tn
wet blanket from the group and reliev
the strain. Reward came to crow
their efforts in strange, unlooked-foI
fashion. Hoofs, wheels and flashing
lights were again at the entrance gate
even as Mrs. Frank, sparkling with
animation, distributing her gay goot
humor over the silent semicircle, sud
denly exclaimed: "Oh, if I'd only know
you were here, I could have provided
the one thing to make our reunion
complete! If I were not going on al
daybreak I should do it yet" Their
hoofs and wheels and lights had come
to stop at the front of the house
and in measured, martial tread mans
footsteps We're heard upon the lanai
Then, all of a sudden, with cry of Joy
| Witchie burst in again: Should dc
It'll shall do it! Said I not l was
the fairy queen9 Behold me summon
my subjects from the ends of the obedi.
ent earth!" And, waving her parasol
as she would wand, gayly pirouetting
as she had that night in the tent at
old Camp Merritt, she danced forward
Sound We the trumpets, slaves! Hail
to the chief! See the conquering hero
comes! Enter Brevet Brig. Gen. Stan
ley Armstrong!-though his arm is any.
thing but strong"
Bowling gravely to the sprite in front
OF him, vaguely to the group in the
shaded light at the edge of the lanai
and Joyously to the little hostess, as
almost Historically she sprang forward
and clasped his hands, the colonel of the
Prlmeval Dudes stood revealed before
them.
Col. Armstrong; How-when did
you get here? What does this mean ?
Is your arm quite we'll again? Why
aldnt you let us know you were com
ing?" were the questions rained upon
MIN by Mrs. Marsden, Immediately fol-
lowed by the somewhat illogical state
ment that she was actually breathless
with surprise.
Shall l answer in their order ?" said
me- smiling down at her flushed and Joy
Gus face. by the Sedgwick. This aft
ernoon. That wished to see you. Do
ing quite well. Because 1 didn't know
myself until two days before we sailed"
Then, as he stood peering beyond her,
she would have turned him to her other
guests had not Mrs. Garrison made in