Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-06-28

me steam of the 'scape pipe roared
loudly and Delched dense white clouds
"a high, swelling the uproar. Dusky
lizzie kanaka boys, diving for Eicl5el-
ard .Pa5dling tireless about the ship,
added their shrill cries to the clar1or.
Tie captain. in his natty Uniform Of
| biae and gold, stepped forth upon the
bridge 10 take command, and raised bis
banded cap in recognition Of the con
slant cheer from the host ashore ard
/ the throng Of blue shirts on the fore
castle head. Then arose another shout,
a- veteran officer, in the undress uni
form OF general, appeared upon that
sacred bound. and, bowling to the
crowd, was escorted by the captain to
the end overlooking the animated scene
below; and then the signal was given.
tie heavy lines were cast off and hauled
! swiftly in, the massive screw began
I slowly to churn the waters at the stern,
and gently, almost inperceptibly at
! first, the Queen slid noiselessly along
the edge of the dock, to the accompani-
ment of little volley of flowers and
garlands tossed from eager hands, and
q OAINNA VI S5OdHlpCC II C4il liz Nv 81 Ii VI
upturned faces. And then there up
rose another shout, a shout Of mingled
merriment, surprise and applause;
for all on a sudden there darted up the
stairway from the crowded promenade
deck to the sacred perch above, defiant
of the lettered warming: Passengers
are not allowed upon the bridge" q
dainty vision in filmy white, and all in
the next moment there appeared at the
generals side, smiling, bowling, blow
ing kisses, waving adieux, all sparkle,
animation, radiance and rejoicing, be-
witching little figure, in the airiest,
loveliest of summer toilets. The Red
Cross nurses on the deck below looked
at one another and gasped. Two brave
army girls, wives of wounded officers in
the Philippines, who by special dispen-
sation were making the voyage on the
Queen, glanced quickly at each other
and said-nothing audible. The gem
eral, lifting his cap, but looking both
depreciation and embarrassment, fell
back and gave his place at the white
rail to the new arrival, and colored high
when she suddenly turned and took his
arm. The captain, trying not to see her
or to appear conscious of this Intrac-
ton of a stringent rule and invasion OF
his dignity, grew redder as he shouted
rapid orders and swung his big, beauti-
full ship well out into the stream. The
guns of the Bennington doomed deaf
eniEg salute as the Queen turned her
sharp nose toward the open sea; and al
most the last thing Honolulu saw of
her human freight was the tiny, dainty,
winsome little figure in white, waving
spotless kerchief in fond farewell.
Once clear of the narrow entrance the
big troopship headed westward toward
the setting sun, shook free the reins, as
il were, and, followed by less favored
craft sped swiftly on her way, Nltchle
Garrison. the latest addition to the
passenger list, entirely at home, II ECt
actually in command.
Leaning ON the generals arm an hour
later and deftly plotting that bewii-
tered veteran up and down the breezy
deck She came, just as she had planned
to come. face to face once more with
Stanley Armstrong. Well she knew
that under the escort of that exalted
rank she was safe from any possibility
of cross question or interference. Well
she knew that had he heard Of her sud
den determination to go to Honolulu
she could not have escaped stern inter-
rogation, possibly something worse;
and her heart failed her when she real
lied that the man who had gagged her
shallow nature years before. now held
a lash over her head in the shape of the
paper that mad vanity had prompted
her to write and send TO the officer of
the guard the day that Stewart sailed.
What madness it was. indeed, yet how
could she have dreamed it would fall
into the hands Of the man Of all others
she feared and resptcted-the one man
who. had he but cared, could years ago
have haG her love. the man who. be-
cause hc cared not. had won her hate!
And. now hat he held or had held this
paper nothing. less than a forged order
in her husbands name A. aiGe-de-camp
to Gen Druyton. She could have COW
cred at his feet in her terror of him,
Yet braved him with smiles, sweetness
and gavety. With arch merriment and
! joyous words. quitting for the moment
! the generals arm that She might eX-
| tend 10 HIM both her little white
gloyed hands. Grayely he took the left
in his left while with the right he raised
lis forage cap in combined salute to the
woman and to his superior officer.
Gravelv and almost instantly he re-
leased il. and listened in helpless pa
thence e her torrent Of playful words;
but his eyes We're on the generals face
as though he would ask could he. the
general. know the true character OF the
woman lie lad honored above an her
sisterhood ca board. in thus taking her
TO the briGee whoreon neither officer
nor man nor nurse nor army wife had
| presumed 10 set foot in all the six days
run from san Francisco; as though he
would ask ii lie general knew Just what
She was. this h!ithe. dainty. winsome