The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-18

fresh. rosy. radiant with health and exercise. rode in toward noon! Oh, what blank amaze and innocence shone in her bonny face as she listened to the storm of sororal reproach and vim l dictive! Oh. what depth of duplicity did she not disclose when permitted at last to say word. Mrs. Blaine had l the audacious. barefaced. consummate. disgraceful. etc.. etc. Gan alphabet ar- ray of adjectives even Mrs. Drigss might ervy). effrontery to declare: Why. Carrie Steele. I never thought of such thing! I supposed of course you felt a little ashamed of leaving us out and sent over Q mesa of fnush- rooms to make up. If I'd dreamed for | a minute
 But the last was lost in the tempest. Now. all this happened the autumn before the outbreak of the late war, and led to an interview between the | husbands. who. being young in matri- monial experience. had not learned how coiorless were feminine accounts | of events. Blair and Blaine did not l know each other for a month; parted without a word when the former was ordered East on recruiting duty: ex- changed no line from that time on, | and met as anything but friends when | they faced the foe at San Juan hill. The sisters. left to their own devices. at home. had long since made up. as | sisters will. Their scores were even though their lords were at odds.
 And now 1t happened that. when | they landed at Daquiri, Blair and Blaine were commanding companies in | the same battalion, that both went in under Chaffee's eager eyes at a vital hour in the battle and critical point on the line. It was Blair's luck to get shot through both legs and sprawled like a log. and Blaine's to go on full rush for the crest and to reach 1t, col ors in hand. Blaine fought like hero that blistering day. was made major of staff forthwith and lieutenant col | onel of volunteers a short time later, while Blair got nothing but sympathy and surgical attention when he might have done just as we'll as did his broth er-in-law if Fate hadn't stretched him foremost in the fight.
 Of course Cherrie didn't see 1t in that light. In her sisterly condolences 1t was her wont now to say to Carrie that while Captain Blair might be first in peace time 1t was Colonel Blaine who forged to the front in time of war. and 1t was time of war between them for long months thereafter-until, in out at Manila.
 Blair commanding his battalion of regulars and Blaine his regiment of volunteers. had sailed in for all they were worth to punish the insurgent brigade that. after a month of unre- turned insult and abuse of the Ameri- cans-officers and men-had finally dared & fierce and sudden attack in force. It was over In a very few min- utes after the longed-for permission came to advance and end 1t. In full view of each other the brothers -in-law had cheered on their rushing lines, and. share and share alike this time. had won the praise of friends and the guns of the foe.
 A few days later. the lines re-estab- lished beyond the field of their fam ous fight Colonel Blaine. Captain Blair and three other officers were bidden to dine with the brigade commander, and accepted. as matter of course. There was a slight hesitancy and em- barrassment as the brothers in law met face to face in presence of their commander. but courteous. If some what stiff. good evenings" were ex- changed Whats the matter with those two?" queried the brigadier of a confidential aide. a moment before they took seats at table. Married sisters" whispered the aide. Haven't spoken for over a year. We supposed you knew this and this was your plan to fetch them together"
 Never even heard of it!" said the chief. What caused it?"
 Row about mushrooms.' was the hurried answer, for whom in the line didn't know that story?
 The dinner opened famously. There were a dozen loyal soldiers of Uncle ian commissioners. Good appetite, good humoR and cordiality were the sauce of the feast, which in itself was meager enough, for the Manila market afforded next to nothing. The com missary and a Chinese chef were the main reliance. and tinncd meats and vegetables the pabulum. Soup and fish had been disposed of. and then smiling An Lung marched in with the piece de resistance-a huge platter of cariboo beef smothered in mushrooms fresh canned at Frisco not five months previous. The table was long and narrow. Blaine sat on the gen. erals right with an LID. facing him. Blair fianked the LID. and faced the junior commissioner. The broth ers-in-law were so near they could readily clasp hands across the table. yet still so for that. across the chasm of their pride. they would not. Health and toasts were being informally pledged, for there was no course to follow, even q salad being there inn possible. Good trenchermen were they all and An Lungs pet dish was being drawn on second time when. someS where out toward the front. sweet, soft and clear. bugle sounded taps. and the chat ceased a mom ant as men stopped to listen. Then the voice of a staff officer was heard: Wait" he said. you'll hear the Filipino echo"
 Sure enough. faint and distant, but sweet and clear. there rose on the night from afar over the tapping Wa ters the same beautiful soldier watch call. plaintiff, pathetic and prolonged. It died away at last. but the silence fingered.
 Beautiful" finally said the LID. That's harmonS in jarring world - peace amid war"
 Fact" said the general, thinking ot q plan he was maturing to nab that same Tagal trumpeter. Blair you're not eating. Blaine. what's gone with your appetite? Have some mush- rooms both of you? Best thing in
 the world to correct a bad -" and then he stopped short, against and re- morseful. but 1t was too late. There was an instant of silence. then a shout
 of laughter that grew until 1t fairly hook the bamboo rafters in the midst of which Blaine. blushlng and smiling arose. leaned over the table and witf tow to his chief. held forth his hand , to Blair. who grasped it in hoth his