The Iola register., 1900-04-27


fore their sea-legs could reach the
swing and stride of the marching step,
yet, to all appearance, as unconcernedly
at home as though they had been cam
pagning in the Philippines since the
date of their enlistment. This, to be
sure, in the case of more than half
their number, would have given them
scant time in which to look about then,
since raw recruits were more numerous
than seasoned men. But no matter
what may be his lack of drill or prep
aration the average Anglo-Saxon never
seems to know the time when he doesn't
know how to fight. So, with all the
easy assurance of "a veteran. our Yankee
"Tommics" wripgled into their blanket
rolls and trudged away to the posts
assigned them; and once more the army
assumed the aggressive.
There were changes in the compost
ton of the forces even before the move
began. The dudes and the "toughs"
parted company; and the former, with
Stanley Armstrong once more riding
silent at their head, joined forces with
Stewards riddlcd regiment up the rail-
way toward Malolus. Col Frost had
succeeded in convincing the surgeons
that he would be us much out of place
as his name itself in such n cline and
climate, and was in daily expectation
of an order home. Billy Gray, mcrding
only slowly, had been sent to Corregi-
dor, where the bracing breezes Of the
China sea drove their tonic forces
through his lungs and veins, and the
family rising hue of coming health
back into his hollow checks. The boy
had been harder hit than seemed tie
case at first, said the fellows of the
--teenth; but the wise young surgeon
of the second reserve and grave
faced colonel of infantry could have
told of causes little dreamed of in the
regiment--were either given TO telling
the half of what he knew.
That something most unusual had oc-
Cured in the room of MIR. Gray the day
that the sad-faced. kind old general Wis
tied the hospital at least half a dozen
patients could have told; for an at
tendant went running for one Of the
women nurses, and the doctor himself
hurried to the scene. 1t was on his
arm that half an hour later Mrs. Gar
risou slowly descended the stairs, her
himsv white veil down, and silently
bowed her thanks and adieuX as the
doctor closed the door of her carriage
and nodded to the little coachman. 1t
was the doctor who suggested to Col.
Frost that Manila air was not conducive
to his wife'5 recovery, and recommend
ed Nagasaki as the place for her re-
cuperation until he could join her and
take her home The Esmerelda bore
the White sisters over Hong Kong way
within week. and they left without
flourish of trumpet, with hardly the
futter of handkerchief; for, since the
battle Of the 5th of February, neither
had been seen upon the Luneta. Their
women friends were very few; the men
they knew were mainly at the front.
The story got out somehow that Garri-
son had asked to be relieved from fur
ther duty as aid-de-camp and returned
to duty with his regiment, and that
Drayton would not have it. The gem
erals manner toward that hard-work-
ing staff officer, though often preoccu-
pied as of old, grew even kinder. He
did not see the sisters off for China
he was "far too busy" was the expla-
nation; but he offered Garrison fort
nights leave and urged his taking it,
and was obviously troubled when Gar
rison declined. "You need rest and the
change of air more than any man /
know" said hc but Garrison replied
that change of scene and air would not
help him.
There were two young fellows in
khaki uniforms landed from the hospi-
tai launch on the back trip from Correg-
idor one warm March day. One wore
the badge Of a subultcrn oi the -teeuth
regulars, the other The chcvrons OF q
corporal and the hatband Of famous
| fighting regiment Of volunteers; yet
the same carriage bore them swiftly
! through the sentineled streets of the
walled city, and the guards az the AyuL-
tamiento sprang TO their arms and
! formed ranks at sight Of It, then dis
persed at the low-tonod order OF It's
commander when 81 was seen that, in
stead Of stopping at the curb and dis
charging an elderly general officer II
whirled straight by and held two youths
in field uniform.
zone of EMS young Gray, Of the
-teenth; he that was hit In the charge
on the Panay road" said the officer Of
the guard to q comrade. "But who the
devils the other? lie had colporal's
chevrons on. Some fellow just got Il
commission, perhaps" And that was
the only way the soldier could account
for corporal riding with Il commits,
stoned officer in a generals carriage
They had a long whirl ahead Of them
these two; and the corporal told Gray
as he already had the general and Col
Armstrong, much of the story Of his
| friendship for 'Pat" Iati-obe. oe TINT