Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-01-26

NrY4IX ~
"Give to-Gen. Drauton-promise-"
she had only frank, friendly, kindly
interest in him; and that, wounded
and stung, he had fretted himself into
a fever at Honolulu, aided by Canker's
aspersions, and then-well-any man
is liable, said Billy to himself, to get
smitten with woman who tenderly
and skillfully nurses him day after
day; and that's just what IVitchie Gar
rison did. But somehow the opportun-
ity to tell him never seemed to come;
and now, now that Armstrong and him
self were thus thrown together with
the prospect of being in the same room
day and night for the best of the month,
a third officer, stranger, lay there, too,
and in his presence or hearing any con.
fidences would be impossible, even if
Armstrong encouraged them, which
he probably would not. In this embar-
rassment Billy's wish was thatthe colo
mel We're fifty miles away. 1t was fate
and hard one, thought he, that
brought him there-an everpresentre-
proach. 1t was luck of the worst kind
| that they should be confronted under
such circumstances, since neither could
retreat. He submitted in anxious
silence to the keen, quick examination
of the skillful surgeon in charge and
to the redressing of his wound. lie
could have been proud and happy but
| for that shadow on his life, of which
| Armstrong; presence would so con-
stantly remind him. He could not even
| think how his dear old dragon daddy
that volta aiiaais Sc. in the eongratuatio 9ns
story of the brave dash of the -teenth,
Billy among the foremost, should
reach the states. He could not even
dream how it might affect her-Amy
Lawrence. He was beginning to be
ashamed now in this presence to think
how that other-how Margaret GAR
rison might be impressed, forgetting
that, to the army girl who has lived
long years on the frontier, tales of
heroism are the rule, not the exception,
He wondered how long ii could be be-
fore she would come to him to bring
him comfort. Surely by this time she
knew that he had been seriously, pain
fully wounded. He did not know, how
ever, that at the very first sound of
battle Frost had bundled the sisters
aboard his launch and steamed away
to the transports. Yet, what comfort
could her visit bring to him with that
stern censor lying there, seeing and
hearing all? Billy Gray that Monday
night could almost have wished that
Armstrong; slumber might be eternal,
never dreaming that before second
Monday should come he would thank
heaven with grateful heart for Arm
strong's presence, vigilance and inter-
| vention.
In three days the colonel was able to
Sit up. Within the week he was per-
mitted to take air and exercise in the
spacious court of the old college, his
sword arm in its sling. But Gray and
the young officer of volunteers were too
seriously wounded to leave their pil-
lows. The tenth had occupied new
line far south of the old one; but, at one
time, several of Billy's brother officers
| had dropped in to see him and tell him
| regimental news; and one of them, the
young West Pointer who had broken
down at sight of the dying face that
SURFING Sunday morning, told him of
Latrobes soldier funeral and of Gen.
Drayton's presence and speechless
grief; and Billy's hand CROPPED beneath
the pillow for that little blood-stained
packet still undelivered. He had
promptly caused the information to he
conveyed to the veteran commander
that it was his own lost nephew who
had died his soldier death in front of
the firing line; but the packet still re-
NAMED IN his hands; and even before the
tiny thermometer confirmed his views,
the keen eye of the surgeon saw that
something had heightened Billy's fe-
yer that day; and SO, when just at sun
set there came driving into the court
the most stylish equipage in all Manila,
and Mrs. Garrison futtered up the
broad stairway and confidently asked
to be announced to Mr.. Gray, the stew
ard In charge of the door was very, very
sorry, but-the doctor had given in
structions that no more visitors should
see the young gentleman that day.
Mrs. Frank smiled indulgently, and
asked for the doctor himself, and
beamed on him with all her witchery
and begged for just few words; but
the suave, placid, yet impenetrable doc
lot said he, too, was sorry-sorry that
MI. Gray was not able to see anyone
else, but such was the case. Mrs. Gar
riSon said she thought il Mr.. GRAY knew
that it was-but perhaps DIR. Frank
didn't know it was she who had nursed
Mr. Gray SO assiduously at Honolulu.
DE-. Frank did know that and more; but
ne did not say SO; neither did he yield.
There were tears in her eyes as she
sprang into her carriage again; but
they We're tears of anger and defeat.
She dashed them away the very next in
slant and smiled Joy and congratulate