Barton County democrat., 1901-11-01
CHAPTER XIII.

Like many another mans that sur
mer and autumn of S9S, Mr.. Gerard
Stuyyesant's one overwhelming ambi-
ton had been to get on to Manila.
The enforced sojourn at Honolulu
had been, therefore, bitter trial. He
had reached at last the objective
point of his soldier desires, sand 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 had
giaddened his heart. Pleasant quar-
ters 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-
yalescence 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 keg of Malaga grapes duly
powdered with cork. and several
pounds of these did Stuyvesant'levy
upon forthwith, and9 after being
duly immersed in water and cooled
in the ice chest, send them in dainty
basket by a white-robed lackey, with
oo1, HI or-I hoo ri ~
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-
ratescence, and DR.. Frank shook his
head. Grape seeds were perilous
would not last until Maidie was well
enough to enjoy them. and eso-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 ewas abundant
time for ''love and sighing,"o 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
ne not seen with jealous eyes with
what beaming cordiality 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
siously to see her, just before that
untimely-illness claimed her for its
own?
Farquhar of the cavalry, scion OF
Philadelphia family we'll known to
the Stuyvesants of Gotham and
-trotting in the same GLASS;" had
come over, from department head
quarters, where he had a 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
II an hour and winding up by a dis
sertation on Billy Rays pretty
daughter and ss.Wally" Fosters in
fatuation. Farquhar said it was the
.-eneral belief that Maidie likedoW
ly>mighty well and would marry hin
were he only in the army. And Stuy
vesant wondered how it was. in al
the years he had known Farquha1
and envied him his being a West
Pointer and in the cavalry, he baf
sever really discovered what bore
what a wearisome ass. Farquhal
could be.
Then just as Miss Ray was report
ed sitting up and soon to be able ts
..see her friends''-with what smiling
Significance did Mrs. Brent SO assurs
himi what should Stuyvesant's gan
eral do but select Stuyvesant himsel
toA go on a voyage of discovery t.
Ilo6lo and beyond. The eommandins
general wanted competent officer