Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-04-27


AT one OF the hower-decked tables
near the great stage that led To the
main deck OF the transport, group
IOt Dllthe young matrOnS and pretty
girls had been busily serving fruit. cof.
fee and boulllOn aud substantials To
the troopers. man after man, for over
TWO hours There was lively chat and
merry war OF words going on at the
moment between half dozen young
officers who had had their eyes on that
particular table ever since the coming
OF the command, and were now making
the most Of their opportunities be-
lore the trumpetS should sound the
assembly and the word be passed To
move aboard All the heavy baggage
and ammunition had, AT last. been
swung into the hold: the guns Of the
/ battery had been lowered and securely
checked: the fOrecaStle head was
thrOnged with red trimmed uniforms
OF the artillerymen, who lad already
been embarked and were now iealouSly
clamoring that the troopers should be
shut or from the further ministra.
tiUns OF the Red Gross. and broadly IN
timating that it wasn't "A fair deal
that their rivals should be allowed a
whole additional hour of lingering
farewellS.
Lingering farewellS there certainly
were. Many a young soldier and many
lass paired Off" in little hooks and
corners among the stacks Of bales and
boxes, but at the table nearest the
staging all seemed gay good humor.
a merry little woman with >traw-col.
ored hair and pert. tip-tilted nose and
much viyacity and complexion. had
taken the lead in the we'll
are Of chal and fun. Evidently she :
vas no stranger TO most OF the officers "
Utmost as evidently, TO a very close OBJ U
cryer who stood "a few pace, away. S'
he Was no intimate of the group Of "
women who with good right regarded Il
nat table as their especial and per VI
Jnal charge Her Red Cross badge III
'as very new: hergarb and gloves were Id
lst as fresh and spotle>s. She had III
OF been ladling cut milk and cream.
butteriug sandwiches, or pinning ~
Iuvenlr> ON dusty blue blOuSeS ever pl
nee early morning, Other faces vi
lere showed through all their SMILES w
I'd sweetness the traces OF long days IL
unaccuStOmed work and ShortnightS 80
troubled sleep. Marvellous were 80
rs. Frank GMriSon'S recuperatiye 10
'wers, thought they who saw her I'll
ought home in the Princes stylish I'D
rrlage, weak and helpless and shaken iO'
ter her adventure OF the previous u''
y. She had not been at the Presidio an
week and yet she pervaded it. She llis
ID never thought Of such thing as Ii'
e Red Cross until she found it the ue
inter- OF the social ornament after ne
r arrival at San Francisco. and here Vn'
e was the last conner, the foremost Slu
most FORWARD" ! think some one de- res
ribed it in their circle at one OF the "s'
)st prominent tables, absorbing eq'
lch Of the attention most 80 ~ tyI
Try and none OF the fatigue that VII
ould have been equally shared by all. OH'
ADDS. she gaily cried, Is the "aS- SUI
mbly' rang out. loud and clear. and eve
wing their hands and raising their Sol'
pS. the officers FASTENED 10 iuin their qui
"AdoiS, till we meet in Il
inilia. Val
DO you really think Of going u the " IL
Mrs. Carlson" queried Oh
much older cooking yet younger wo. sur
IN "Why, We are told the general rap
q that none Of the stan would be s,d'
owed TO take their wives. airy
Yet there are others laughed Mrs. ues'
rrison, waving "a daiuty handker. was
ef toward the troops now breaking nan
o column Of twoS and slowly clir,h ing
the stage. "Who would want To on
with that blessed old undortol,oro prar
ID by-bon voyage, Geordie," she mas
d. blowing a kiss to tho lio,,,o,,, on r
The head Of the second troop. a
TN who hlusbed ana Iool,od ~ - cisio
I'd at the attention thereby cen III
a upon him and who would fain orIll
e shaken his fist, rather than Uaoi'
ed the one unoccupied hand in iiian
unctory reply. When | go III III u
,se a shin with a hand and h,aad the {
IS, not.any such cramped old canal reeil
as the Portland" plhn
)h' l thought perhaps your hus. WIN
L. began the lady, obviously, but Uiie >
a significant oIanco ~ tho 49, enam
J about her. JACKIE
Who? Frank Garrison? Heavens, 0usVo
vent known what it was TO have never
'band-since that poor dear boy W I'LL
ON staff dutv ~ nromn,I,, per,
pd the dtminu,ivo aoa,d bored
ion, merry neal OF laughter ripu III VI