Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-10-12
CHAPTER XIII.

Like many another mans that sum-
mer and autumn of '9S, Mr.. Gerard
Stuyvesant's one overwhelming ambi-
ton had been to get on to Manila.
The enforced sojourn at Honolulu
had been, therefore, a bitter trial. He
hnd reached at last the objective
point of his soldier desires, and with
all his heart now wished himself back
on the Sacramento with one, at least
or was it at most ?-of the Sacra-
mento's passengers. The voyage had
done much to speed his recovery.
The cordial greeting extended by his
general and comrade officers haG
gladdened his heart. Pleasant quar-
fers on the breezy bay shore, daily
drives, and, presently, gentle exercise
in saddle had still further benefited
him.
He had every assurance that Ma
rion Rays illness was not of an
alarming nature, and that, soon as
the fever had run it's course, her con-
valescence would be rapid. He was
measurably happy in the privilege of
calling every day to ask for her, but
speedily realized the poverty of
oriental marts in the means where
with to convey to the fair patient
some tangible token of his constant
devotion. Once, La Extremena dis
played key of Malaga grapes duly
powdered with cork, and several
pounds of these did Stuyvesant levy
upon forthwith, and, after being
duly immersed in water and cooled
in the ice chest, send them in dainty
basket by a white-robed lackey, with
an unimpeachable card bearing the
legend ''Mr. Gerard Stuyvesant, One
Hundred and Sixth New York In
fantry Volunteers" and much were
they admired on arrival; but that was
in the earlier days of Maidie's con-
va1escence, and DR.. Frank shook his
head. Grape seeds were perilous
stuff, and Mrs. Brent knew they
would not last until Maidie was well
enough to enjoy them, and so-they
did not
Military duty for the staff was not
exacting about Manila in the autumn
days. 1t was the intermission. The
Spanish war was over; the Filipino
yet to come. There was abundant
time for ''love and sighing," and
Stuyvesant did both, for there was
no question the poor fellow had
found his fate, and yet thought it
trembling in the balance. Not one
look or word of hers for him could
Stuyvesant recall that was more
winsome and kind than those be-
slowed on other men. Indeed, had
he not seen with jealous eyes with
what beaming cordially and delight
she had met and welcomed one or
two young gallants, who, having
been comrades of Sandy in ''the
corps at the Point, had found means
to get out to the Sacramento, OBJ
viously to see her, just before that
untimely illness claimed her for it's
own?
Farquhar of the cavalry, scion of
a Philadelphia family well known to
the Stuyvesants Of Gotham and
"trotting in the same GLASS;" had
come over from department head
quarters, where he had billet as
engineer officer, to call on Stuyve-
SAINT and to cheer him up and con-
tribute to his convalescence, and did
SO after the manner of men, by talk
ing on all manner of topics for near
ly an hour and winding up by dis
sertation on Billy Rays pretty
daughter and ''Wally" Fosters in
fatuation. Farquhar said it was the
general belief that Maidie liked Wal
ly mighty well and would marry him
were he only in the army. And Stuy-
vesant wondered how it was, in all
the years he had known Farquhar
and envied him his being a West
Pointer and in the cavalry, he had
never really discovered what bore,
what wearisome ass, Farquhar
could be.
Then just as Miss Ray was report
ed sitting up and soon to be able to
t'see her friends''-with what smiling
significance did Mrs. Brent so assure
him.-what should Stuyvesant's gen
eral do but select Stuyvesant himself
to go on a voyage of discovery to
Iloilo and beyond. The commanding
general wanted competent officer
who spoke Spanish to make a certain
Vinton. Vinton thought another voy-
age the very thing for Stuyvesant,
and so suggested his name.
Tt sent the luckless Gothamite
away just at the time of all others
he most wished to remain. When he
returned, within dozen days, the
first thing was to submit his written
report, already prepared aboard
ship. The next was to report him
self in person at Col. Brent's, to be
asked into the presence of the girl
he loved and longed to see, and, as
has been told, Ssh cred out almost
Immediately, self-detailed, in search
of Sandy.
he had found the lad easily
enough, but not SO the man with the
fit, whom, for reasons of his own
and from what he had seen and
heard, Stuyvesant was most anxious
to oVertake. His carriage whirled