Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-14
IS Arny Life In The Rnlibbines

that the sadfaced. kind old general Wis
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
rison slowly descended the stairs, her
flimsy white veil down, and silently
bowed her thanks and adieuN 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's 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
flutter of handkerchief; for, since the
battle of the 9Th of February, neither
had been seen upon the Luneta. Their
women friends We're 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 gen
erals manner toward that hard-worli-
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 eNpa-
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 he; 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 subaltern of the -teenth
regulars, the other the chevrons of a
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 at the Ayun-
tamiento sprang to their arms and
formed ranks at sight of it, then dis
persed at the low-toned order of its
commander when it was seen that, in
stead of stopping at the curb and dis
charging an elderly general officer, it
whirled straight by and held two youths
in field uniform.
"one Of 'em's young Gray, of the
I-teenth; he that was hit in the charge
on the Panay road" said the officer of
the guard to a comrade. "But who the
devils the other? He had corporals
chevrons on. Some fellow just got
commission, perhaps" And that was
the only way the soldier could account
for a corporal riding with commits
stoned officer in a generals carriage.
They had long whirl ahead of them,
these two; and the corporal told Gray,
90 he eAlseady l...5 <h.s~----i
friendship r""Pat" Latrobe. of that
poor fellows illness at San Francisco
and all the trouble it cost his friend
and chum. There was strong bond
between them, he explained; and the
blush of shame that stole up in the face
of the narrator found instant answer
in that of Billy Gray. Determined to
see service at the front and not return
to punishment in his regiment, never
dreaming that, in quitting corps
doomed apparently to inaction at home,
and joining one going straight to the
enemy country, he was committing the
grave crime of desertion, "Gov" Prime
had spoken to some men in Stewards
regiment and was hidden to come along
and fetch his friend; for they We're just
as ignorant as he. Having still consid-
cradle money, "Gov" had bought civil
ian clothes and all the supplies they
needed while about town, and hired a
boat that rowed them, with certain
items contraband of war, to the dark
side of the transport as nightfall came;
and they were easily smuggled 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 and
Primes father had been cabling for him
/ W ASboA II aoiiiSb put lHClC WIS lDd w IA
ward matter about the desertion. Gen.
Drayton was trying to have it straight
ened out at Washington, for he had
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 one
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 cared
to interfere where the worsted was con-
cerned, especially as the boy had won
such praise for bravery at Concordia
Bridge. So there the chevrons stood
when the two were ushered into the
| presence of the gray-haired chief, and
he arose, and, stepping forward, held
| out hand to each.
81 want you, boys" said he, ito be
ready to take the 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. It's
matter Of Influence. Tonight you
dine with me here, and 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