The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-06-06

into the hold; the guns of the battery
had been lowered and securely
checked; the forecastle head was
thronged with the red trimmed uni
forms of the artillerymen, who had al
ready been embarked and were now
jealousy clamoring that the troopers
should be shut OFF, from the further
ministrations of the Red Cross, and
broadly intimating that it wasn't fail
deal that their rivals should be allowed
whole additional hour of lingering
farewells.
Lingering farewells there certainly
were. Many young soldier and many
lass 'paired off, in little hooks and
corners among the stacks of bales and
boxes, but at the table nearest the
staging all seemed gay good humor
! merry little woman with straw-col-
ored hair and pert, tip-tilted nose and
much vivacity, and complexion, had ap-
parently taken the lead in the warfare
of chaff and fun. Evidently she was
no stranger to most of the officers. AL
most as evidently, to a very close OBJ
server who stood few PAGES away,
she was no intimate of the group of
women who with good right regarded
| that table as their especial and per-
sonal charge. Her Red Cross badge was
very new; her garb and gloves were
just as fresh and spotless. She had
not been ladlingl out milk and cream,
or buttering sandwiches, or pinning
souvenirs on dusty blue blouses ever
since early morning. Other faces
there showed through All IneIr smiles
and sweetness the traces of long days
OF unaccustomed work and short nights
of troubled sleep Marvellous were Mrs
Frank Garrison's recuperative powers,
thought they who saw her brought
home in the Primes stylish carriage,
weak and helpless and shaken after her
adventure of the previous day She
had not been at the Preside a week
and yet she pervaded it. She had never
thought of such thing as the Red
Cross until she found it the center OF
the social armament after her arrival
at San Francisco, and here she was.
the last conner, the foremost (''most for
ward" | think some one described it,
in their circle at one of the most prom
inent tables, absorbing much of the
attention, most of the glory, and none
of the fatigue that should have been
equally shared by all.
"Adios!" she gayly cried, as the "as-
sembly' rang out, loud and clear, and
waving their hands and raising their
caps, the officers fastened to join their
commands. "Adios, till we meet in
Manila
do you really think of going to the
az
much older looking, yet younger wom-
an. why, we We're told the general
said that none of his staff would be
allowed to take their wives"
Yet there are others!" laughed Mrs.
Garrison, waving dainty handkerchief
toward the troops now breaking into
column of twos and slowly climbing the
stage. WHO would want to go with
that blessed old undertaken? Good
by-bon voyage, Geordie," she cried,
blowing a kiss to the lieutenant at the
head of the second troop, youth who
blushed and looked confused at the at
tention thereby centered upon him and
who would fain have shaken his fist.
rather than waved the one unoccupied
hand in perfunctory reply. when |
go I'll choose ship with a band and
broad decks, not any such cramped old
canal boat as the Portland"
oh! l thought perhaps your hus-
band, began the lady, obviously, but
with significant glance at the silent
faces about her.
who? Frank Garrison? Heavens.
l haven't known what it was to have a
that poor dear boy
went on staff duty" promptly answered |
the dlmlnutive center of attraction, a |
merry peal of laughter ringing under |
the dingy archway of the long, long
roof. "Why, the Portland has only one
stateroom in it big enough for a band
box, and of course the general has to
nave that, and there isn't deck where
one couple could turn slow waltz. No,
indeed! wait for the next fiotilla, when
our fellows go, bands and all. Then
we'll see."
But surely, Mrs. Garrison, we are
old the war department has positively
orbidden officers wives from going on
he transports'-again began her in
errogator, wistful look in her tired
yes. Il know I'd give anything TO Join
Ar. Dutton."
The war department has to take or
ers quite as often as it gives them.
lrs. Dutton. The thing is to know how
be of the order giving side Oh, low"
he suddenly cried. Here are the
rimes and Amy Lawrence-then the
egiments must be coming! And there's
tanley Armstrong;"
Far up the westward street the dis 4
INT roar of voices mingled with the I
wing and rhythm and crash of martial
lusie. Dock policemen and soldiers on 5
uard began boring wide lane through i
lie throng of people on the pier. A hugo /
ack transport ship lay moored along b
lie opposite side TO that on which ,bc +
ms and troopers were embarked. and a
T hours bales, boxes and barrels bao {
EN- swallowed up and stored in her d
pacious depths until now. OVER $
ainst the tables of the Red Cross. 4