Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-21

sea sent the spray whirling from her {
bows, and Mildred's young man, cast
ing about for dry corner, had depos-
tied his fair charge on bench along
the forward deck house and was scout
ing up and down for steamer chairs.
Armstrong had drawn his close to that
in which Miss Lawrence reclined, her
knitted steamer cap pulled we'll for
ward over her brow. His feet were
braced against stanchion. His eyes
were intent upon her sweet face. He
had no thought for other men, even
those in similar plight. His gaze,
though unhampered by the high peak
of his forage cap, comprehended moth
ing beyond the rounded outline OF that
soft cheek. Her eyes, well-nigh hidden
by her shrouding TAM" saw the
searching son of Albion and told her
his need. The best of women will find
excuse for interruption at such mo-
ments when sure of the devotion of the
man who sits with fateful question
quivering on his lips; and, even when
she longs to hear those very words, will
find means to defer them as kitten
dallies with captured mouse or child
saves to the very last the sweetest NOR
sci of her birthday cake. Not ten min
utes before, when Hon. BERTHE Shafto
had started impulsively toward the va
cant chair by Armstrong; side, firm
hand detained him, and Miss Prime had
hastily interposed. "Not on any &C.
count" said she, imperiously. Cant
YOU see?" And Mr.. Shafto, adjusting
his monocle, had gazed long and fixedly
and then, transferring his gaze to her,
had said:
"Eh-eh-yes. It's not ours, I sup
pose you mean"
But now Amy Lawrence was beckon-
| ing, and he made a rush for the rail,
then worked his way aft, hand over
hand. Every movable on deck was talk
| ing sudden slant to starboard, and the
sea went kissing by almost on level
with the deck as next she spoke.
"Surely soldier needs both arms in
battle, and you oh, certainly, Mr..
Shafto, take that chair" she added.
Armstrong glanced up suddenly.
"Oh! that you, Shafto? Yes; take it
by all MEANS"
Anything, thought he, rather than
that they should come here. The young
Briton stepped easily past between
them and the rail-behind there was no
room-and, swinging the long, awk-
wardly modelled fabric to his broad
shoulder, started back just as huge
wave heaved suddenly under the coun-
ter, heeled the steamer far over to port,
threw him off his balance, and, his foot
catching at the bottom of her chair,
hurled him, load and all, straight at
Amy's reclining form. One instant,
and even her uplifted hands could not
have saved her face; but in thatinstant
Armstrong had darted in, caught the
stumbling Briton on one arm, and the
full force of the shooting chair crash.
ing upon the other, already pierced by
Filipino lead.
When, moment later, she emerged
safe and unscratched, from the con-
fused heap of men and furniture, it was
to cut off instantly the stutter and
stammer of poor Shafto's apologies, to
bid him go instantly for the ships doc
tor, and, with face the color of death,
to turn quickly to Armstrong. The
blow had burst open the half-healed
wound, and the blood was streaming to
the deck.
i Both liner and transport turned back
without Stanley Armstrong, Doric and
Sedgwick sailed unheeded, for the
highest surgical authority of the de-
partment of California had remanded
him to quarters at the Palace and for
hidden his return to duty with an un
healed wound. He was sitting up again
somewhat pallid and not too strong, but
with every promise, said the "medico,'
of complete recovery within two
months. But not month would Arm
strong wait. The Puebla was to star
within the week, and he had made W
his mind. CO." said he, 81 must"
They had been sitting about him, the
night this opinion was announced, il
the parlor of the suite of rooms tn,
Primes had taken. Billy Gray had gon.
with his father to the club, Shafto hat
been hanging about in the agonies of al
Englishman's first love. Gov disap
peared moment and came back will
tickets for the Columbia, bidding Mil
bred get her hat and gloves at once, ant
whispering to Shafto that he had sea
for him. AS the little mantel clocl
struck eight Amy Lawrence, lifting VI
her eyes from the book she was trying
hard to believe she meant to read, saw
that Armstrong was rising from hi!
easy chair, and, springing to his side
laying her white hand on his arm, SHE
faltered: "Oh, please! You know thu
stipulation was that you were not tt
STIR"
But then her heart began to futtel
uncontrollably. The blood went surg
ing to her brows, for all of sudden
as through impulse irresistible, hel
hand was seized in his-in both of his, il
fact-and the deep voice that hat
y pleaded at her behest for the cause O.
Billy Gray was now, in impetuous flow
of words that fell upon her ears like
], some strain of thrilling music, pleading
at last his own. Ever since that day il
the radiant sunshine of the park she
had learned to look up to him as towel
of strength, a man of mark among hi
Il fellows, man to be honored ant
obeyed. Ever since that night at tn,
Palace, when she saw his glowing eyer
fixed intently upon her, and knew thai
he was following her every move, sh.
had begun to realize the depth of hi.
interest in her. Ever since that day
when the China slipped from her moor
ings, with Witchie Garrison singing
him out for lavish farewell favors, she
had wondered why it SO annoyed ant
stung her. Ever since the day she read
the list of killed and wounded in the
first fierce battling with the 'insur
rectos" she knew it was the sight o.
his name, not Billy Gray's, that made
her for the moment faint and dizzy an6
taught her the need Of greater self-con
troll. Ever since that moonlit night up
/. On the Marsdens' lanai, when her hear,
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