The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-06
ALL ON ACCOUNT OF TON.

by NJ l. RayHe-l
Among the 400 American teachers who
went to Manila on the transport Thomas
were two Chicago young women, sisters
Their cousin Tom. who had been
brought up in the same family, was in
Tom, the scapegrace. the ne'er-do-well,
who had kept them all on the anxious
took him by the scruff of the neck, shook
him up and gave him such a taste of
pulled himself together and made a very
fair soldier, with occasional doses of
It was after one of those riotous re-
lapSes that in a spirit of penitence Tom
had written to his cousins suggesting that
the government and Incidentally that he
dressing the letter to Georgia
1t was a memorable voyage for those
seen the world outside of the state of Hi
noIs. They were surrounded by re-
Inarkapie company OF teachers, who had
been chosen from the many normal uni
versiteS of the country. all of whom were
strangers to them and to each other be-
fore meeting on the transport at San
Francisco Yet it is a matter of history
engaged and stopped at Honolulu to be
married within period of ten days The
diversion of these hurried courtShips re-
Ieyed the tedium of the voyage for the
little sisters
When the transport was anchored off
the mouth of the PaSig river awaiting the
visit of the American sanitary inspector
before steaming up to the wharf in Ma
Mia town. the two girls, shy and brown
as quails, sat with Toms letter open be-
fore them reading directions and laugh
ing over his promise for their future COM
We're to have gowns of pima CLOTH
said Georgia. reading aloud. with reser-
Vations. and Will ride in a tram
sounds like the wall of a lost SOUL
And he will take US to ride on a quiz
Leg, in which the soldiers 60 on larks-
He won't go on larks any mOre,' said
Georgia, with decision We must make
his life so happy that he will find his best
oh, said Julia referring to the letter
ipino girl to wait on US. She wears short
picturesque gowns and has a braid Of
back and can say a few American words
must have her picture taken and send it
home hopes she likes Americanos-''
I wonder II Tom is as ANXIOUS to see US
No the dear fellow 1t would not be
danger in the past three years. I have
heard teachers are a favorable risk for
life insurance, so few of them die
board with the inspector2'' Georgia was
The boat came out with the inspector.
but Tom He had been ordered
duty, they said to each other, but it was
finally landed in Manila and found no
man in a uniform of the United States
army arm. came running forward from one
group to another. When he saw the two
little women he took his hat of.
WARP he said haltingly.
Yes, he is our cousin" answered Julia,
who, though the youngest, was the
bravest, land he knows we are coming on
this steamer Oh do you know him 2'f
We belong to the same company fought
side by side and drank from the same
canteen- He was my best friend, said
the young soldier Solemnly.
'.Was?' Georgia caught at his use of
the past tense. HAS something happened
to him. Is he
How can I tell you? Oh. why was this
cruel duty put upon ne? May 1 ask
which of you was-was-engaged to mar
~ Tom %
Both of u.s." said Georgia, who did
riot know in the least what she was say
ing
Neither" responded Julia. drawing
''That is we'll" The young soldier gave
a sigh of relief at JuIia's stiff denial
Then you Will not be shocked to hear
that Tom DeWar is
s+Dead?'' Both girls spoke as if one
voice and gasped for breath.
'-NO-married to a. native Filipino girl,
who has taken him home to her peopIei
I'm awful glad you don't mind it. and
since I was Toms friend hope you will
let me be yours and be of some service
to YOU in his absence
1t was manfulIy spoken. and the two
little, lonely. crushed women followed
him mechanically into the new, strange
world of the Philippines, from which the
enchantment of romance, beauty and love
had dropped forever, leaving arid
desert of duty-because of Tom