Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-23

ic Daughters of America, who, as it happened, looked on in severe disap- proval. She had asked for that very ambulance, that very day to enable her to make the rounds of regimental hospitals in the outlying suburbs, and had been politely but positively refused.
 By that time, it seems, this most energetic woman had succeeded in alternating all others in authority at corps headquarters, to the end that the commanding general declined to grant her further audience, the sur geon general had given orders that she be not admitted to his inner of flee, the deputy surgeon general had asked for a sentry to keep her off his premises, the sentries at the first and second reserve hospital had in- structions to tell her, also politely but positively, that she could not be admitted except in visiting hours, when the surgeon, a steward, or and here was .'the most unkindest cut of all"-some of the triumphant Red Cross could receive and attend to her, for at last the symbol of Ge- II. last Dr. Wells and the sisterhood were on duty, comfortably housed, cordially welcomed, and presumably happy.
 The officials remained in blissful ig- norance of the tremendous nature of the charges laid at their door by Miss Perkins, and Maidie Ray, while duly informed of the frequent calls and kind inquiries of many an officer, and permitted of late to welcome Sandy for little talks, had been mercifully spared the infiction of the personal visitation thrice attempted by her fellow-traveler on the train.
 q don't believe you were ever in- timate friends" said Mrs. Brent, land that she nursed and cared for you in the cars when you were suffering from shock and fright because of a fire. That's what she says, though. What was it, Maidie? Was it there the Luneta and great regiment or volunteers, formed in line of platoon columns, was drawn up on the Campo" directly in front of the house. Sandy had spent his allotted half hour by his sisters side, and, re- mounting, had cantered out to see the parade. Miss Perkins had de- clared on the occasion of her third fruitless call that not until Miss Ray sent for her would she again submit herself to be snubbed. So there seemed no immediate, danger of her reappearance, and yet Mrs. Brent had given Ignacio orders to open only the panel door when the gate bell changed, and to refuse admission, even to the driveway, to certain importunate caller besides Miss Per- | kins.
 Three days previous there had pre- sented himself young man in the white dress of the tropics and hat of fine Manila straw, young man who would not send up his card, but in very Mexican Spanish asked for Miss Ray. Ignacio sent a boy for Mrs. Brent, who came down to recon hotter, and the youth reiterated his request.
 "An old friend" was all he would say in response to her demand for his name and purpose. She put him off, saying Miss Ray was still too far from well to see anybody, bade him call next day when Dr. Frank and her husband, she knew, would probably be there, duly notified them, and Frank met and received the caller when he came and sent him away in short order.
 ''The man is a crank" said he, land I shall have him watched"
 
 of the soldier police guard should be sent to the house to look aftersthe stranger. A corporal came from the company barrack around on the Calle Real, and it was after nightfa1l when next the "old friend' rang the bell and was permitted by Ignacio to enter.
 But the instant the corporal start ed forward to look at him the caller bounded back into outer darkness. He was tall, sinewy, speedy and had 20-yard start before the littlo guardsman, stout and burly, could squeeze into the street. Then tho latter's shouts up the San Luis only served to strtle the sentries, to spur the runner, and to excite and agitate Maidie.
 Dr. Frank was disgusted when he tried her pulse and temperature half an hour later and said things to the corporal not strictly authorized by the regulations. The episode was unfortunate, yet might soon have been forgotten but for one hapless circumstance. Despite her announce ment, something had overcome Miss Perkins sense of injury, for she had stepped from carriage directly in front of the house at the moment of the occurrence, was witness to all that took place, and the first one to extract from the corporal his version of the affair and his theory as to what lay behind it. In another mo- ment she was driving away towards the Nozaleda, the direction taken by the fugitive, fast as her coachman could whip his ponies, the original purpose of her call abandoned.
 As in duty bound, both Mrs. Brent and Dr. Frank had told Sandy of this odd affair. Mrs. Brent described the stranger as tall, slender, sallow, with hiU cavernouS dark eyes that had a