Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-07-26

! and she knew that, coming suddenly
upon them as Armstrong had that
tropic night on the Queen, he must have
heard her words, must have realized
that some compact or understanding
existed between them, which neither
: GRAY nor Mrs. Frank could palliate or
explain. 1t had not needed that cpl
sode to tell her that Armstrong held
her IN contempt; and yet. when they
CHANGED to meet, she could smile up
into his eyes as beamingiy, as guileless-
". as though no shadow of sin had
ever GarkeHed her wiEsome face. But
not so Gray He moaned in secret ever
the loss of strong mans confidence
and esteem. He longed to find way
to win il back. He had even thought to
20 to the colonel with his trouble. make
a clean breast of it, tell him the truth
that he had fallen deeply. as ii was PCS
sible for him TO fall, in love with Amy
Lawrence; had hoped his love vas e.
turned, had found it was not-tl.a
she had only frank, friendly, kindly
interest in him; and that, wounded
and stung, he had fretted himself into
! Il
aspersions, and then-well-any man
is liable, said Billy to himself, to get
s!nitten with a woman who tenGerly
ard skillfulIy nurses him Gay after
day; and that's just what Witchie Car
rson did. But somehow the opportun-
ity 10 tell him never seemed to come;
ard 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 that the colo
mel were fifty miles away. 1t was fate
and hard one, thought he, that
brought him there-an everpresent re-
preach. 1t was luck of the worst kind
that they should be confronted under
such circumstances, since neither could
retreat. lie submitted in anxious
silence to the keen, quick examination
of the skiilful surgeon in charge and
to the rcGressing 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
would rejoice in the congratulations
that would surely greet him when the
story of the brave dash Of the -teenth,
| Billy among the foremost, should
reach the states. He could not even
cream how it might affect her-Amy
Lawrence. He was beginning to be
ashamed NOW in this presence to think
how that other-how Margaret Car
risen might be impressed, forgetting
lhat, 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 it could be be-
tore 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 a second
MONDAY should come he would thank
heaven with grateful heart for Arm
, strong's presence, vigilance and inter
yention.
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 toe
seriously wounded 10 leave their pill
: lows. The -teenth had occupied new
; line far south &C the old ~e; but, at one
time, several Of Billy's brother officers
had dropped in to see him and tell him
regimeEtal news; and one of them, the
young West Pointer who had broken
down at sight OF the dying face that
stirring Sunday morning, told him OF
Latrobe's soldier funeral and of Gen
5 Drayton's presence and speeches,
5 grief; and Billy's hand CROPPED beneath
+ the pillow for that little blood-stained
( packet still undelivered. He hat
promptly caused the information TO h(
conveyed 10 the veteran commander
that it was his own lost nephew who
had died his soldier death in front o.
the firing line; but the packet still re
I manned in his hands; and even before tn,
tiny Thermometer confirmed his views
the keen eye of the surgeon saw thai
something had heightened Billy's fe
: yer that day; and so. when just at sun
!, set there came driving into the cour
the most stylish equipage IN all Manila
e and Mrs. Garrison huttered up tn,
l broad stairway and confidently asked
i TO be announced TO Mr.. Gray. the stew
n ard in charge of the door was very. yer,
o sorry, but-the doctor had given in
structions that no more visitors shout,
see the young gentleman that day
Mrs. Frank smiled indulgently, an,
asked for the doctor himself. an,
. beamed on him with all her witcher,