Willmar tribune., 1900-05-23
CHAPTER XIJI.-CoNT1NUED.

the souls of these bereaved ones.
Transports would not go without
troops, and Mrs. Frank could not go
without transports, the journey was
far too expensive. They wished her no
evil, of course; but if they were them
selves forbidden how could they rejoice
that she should be permitted? They
were actually beginning to feel bit
charitable toward her when the Queen
of the Fleet herself came in Honolulu
with the latest news. The fifth expedi-
tion had been halted there and put in
camp. The hospital held several Of
ficers. Billy Gray was down with brain
fever, and there had been a furious
scene between him and his peppery
colonel before the breakdown; and by
that same steamer Mrs. Garrison had
got letter that had made her turn
white and &remble, as Mrs. Stockman
saw and told, and then shut herself up
in her room an entire day. Now for
nearly a fortnight the lovely guest had
been daily limiting that she really must
90 home, ''dear Witchie'' was surely
tired of her; and Witchie disclaimed
and protested and vowed she could not
live without her devoted friend. But
then had come that letter and with it
change of tone and tactics. Witchie
ceased to demonstrate or reprove Mrs:
Stockman, and the latter felt that she
must go, and Witchie consented with
out demur.
In no pleasant mood Armstrong
mounted and trotted for the east gate.
The road was lined with camps and VOL
unteers at drill. Vehicles were fre-
quently moving to and fro; but the
sentry at the entrance had kept track
of them, and in response to question
answered promptly and positively Mrs.
Garrison's carriage had not come that
way. ''But,' said he, ''the wagon with
the lady's baggage did. Isaw the name
on the trunks"
The colonel turned in saddle and
coolly surveyed him. 'Do you mean
Mrs. Stockman's name?" he asked, in
quiet tone. 'How many trunks were
there?''
"Oh, some of them might have had
Mrs. Stockman's name, sir; but the two
OF three that saw were marked NJ c.
This was unlooked-for news. To her
next-door neighbor Mrs. Garrison had
said nothing about going away with
Mrs. Stockman, and Armstrong had
grave need to see her and to see her at
once. The train for Los Angeles did not
leave until evening. Possibly they were
lunching somewhere spending the
afternoon with friends in town. He
rode direct to headquarters. Some of
the staff might be able to tell, was his
! theory; and one of them justified it.
"Did I happen to meet Mrs. Garrison?
Yes, I just saw her aboard the China"
Aboard the China!" exclaimed Arm
strong, with sudden thrill of excite
ment. 'D'you mean she is going?'
Didn't ask her. They were hustling
everybody ashore, and I had only time
to give dispatches to the purser; but
she was on deck with friends when I
came away"
People wondered that day at the
speed with which the tall officer, fol-
lowed by his orderly, clattered away
down Market street. In less than ten
minutes Armstrong was at the crowd
ed pier and pushing through the throng
to the China's stage. Too late! AL
ready it was swung aloft, the lines were
cast loose. and the huge black mass
was just beginning to back slowly from
its moorings. The rail of the prom
enade deck swarmed with faces, some
radiant, some fearful. Words of adieu,
fluttering kerchiefs, waving hands
tossing flowers were there on every
side. Two officers, Honolulu bouno.
shouted Armstrong; name, and a
CHEEKY good-by; but he did not seem to
hear. A gentle voice, the voice of all
others he most longed to hear, repeat
ed the name and strove to call atten-
ton to his gesticulating comrades on
the upper deck; but he was deaf to
both. Eagerly, anxiously, incredulous-
~ he was searching along that crowded
rail, and all on a sudden he saw her.
Yes, there she stood, all gayety, grace
and animation, stylishly gowned and
fairly burdened with roses; and it was
right at him she was gazing, nodding,
smiling, all sweetness, all confiding,
trusting joy; with just little of tri-
umph, too, and a tinge of sentimental
sorrow in the parting. Apparently, it
was all for him; for her blue eyes never
faltered till they fixed his gaze, and
then, kiss after kiss she threw to him
with the daintily gloved little hand,
and, leaning far down over the rail,
lowering it toward him as much as pos
sible, she finally tossed to him, stand
ing there stern and spellbound, a
bunch of beautiful roses she had torn
from her corsage. It fell almost at his
feet, for in his astonishment and ris-
ing wrath he made no effort to catch it,
A man, STOPPING quickly, rescued and
handed it to him. Mechanically he
said: THANK you," and took it, a
thorn, pricking deep into the flesh as
he did so; and still his eyes were fixed
on that fairy form now surely, swiftly
gliding away, and over him swept the
consciousness of utter defeat, of exas-
peration, of dismay, even as he strove
to fathom her motives in thus singing
him out for such conspicuous-evena af-
Observation-Disclosures. Triumph
and delight he could have understood,
but not, not this semblance of conf
dental relations, not at least until he
felt his arm grasped by cordial hand,
heard his name spoken by friendly
voice, and Mr.. Primes pleasant in
quiry: ''Have you no greeting for other
friends?" Then the hot blood rushed
TO his face and showed even through
the bronze as, turning, his troubled
eyes met full the clear, placid gaze of