The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-08-01
Copyright. 1899. by F. Iennyson NeeIy.l

Oily among the foremost, SnOuiC
reach the states. He could not even
dream how it might affect her-Amy
Lawrence. He was beginning to be
ashamed now in this presence to think
how that other-how Margaret Gar
rison might be impressed, forgetting
that, to the army girl who has lived
long years on the frontier, tales of
heroism are the rule, not the exception.
He wondered how long it could be be-
fore she would come to him to bring
him comfort. Surely by this time she
| knew that he had been seriously, pain
fully wounded. He did not know, how
ever, that at the very first sound of
battle Frost had bundled the sisters
aboard his launch and steamed away
to the transports. Yet, what comfort
could her visit bring to him with that
| stern censor lying there, seeing and
hearing all? Billy Gray that Monday
night could almost have wished that
Armstrong; slumber might be eternal,
never dreaming that before a second
Monday should come he would thank
heaven with grateful heart for Arm
strong's presence, vigilance and inter
vention.
In three days the colonel was able to
sit up. Within the week he was per-
mitted to take air and exercise in the
! spacious court of the old college, his
sword arm in its sling. But Gray and
the young officer of volunteers were too
seriously wounded to leave their pill
lows. The -teenth had occupied new
1.,,o To-, I. r 1. 4
time, several of Billy's brother officers
had dropped in to see him and tell him
regimental news; and one of them, the
| young West Pointer who had broken
down at sight of the dying face that
stirring Sunday morning, told him of
Latrobe's soldier funeral and of Cen
Drayton's presence and speeches.
grief; and Billy's hand CROPPED beneath
the pillow for that little blood-stained
packet still undelivered. He had
promptly caused the information to be
conveyed to the veteran commander
that it was his own lost nephew who
had died his soldier death in front of
the firing line; but the packet still re-
NAMED in his hands; and even before the
| tiny thermometer confirmed his views,
the keen eye of the surgeon saw that
something had heightened Billy's fe-
yer that day; and so, when just at sun
set there came driving into the court
the most stylish equipage in all Manila,
and Mrs. Garrison futtered up the
broad stairway and confidently asked
to be announced to Mr.. Gray, the stew
ard in charge of the door was very, very
sorry, but-the doctor had given in
structions that no more visitors should
see the young gentleman that day.
Mrs. Frank smiled indulgently, and
asked for the doctor himself, and
beamed on him with all her witchery
and begged for just a few words; but
the suave, placid, yet impenetrable doc
tor said he, too, was sorry-sorry that
Mr. Gray was not able to see anyone
else, but such was the case. Mrs. Gar
rison said she thought if Mr.. Gray knew
that it was-but perhaps DR.. Frank
didn't know it was she who had nursed
Mr.. Gray so assiduously at Honolulu.
DR.. Frank did know that and more; but
he did not say so; neither did he yield.
There were tears in her eyes as she
sprang into her carriage again; but
they were tears of anger and defeat.
She dashed them away the very next in
slant and smiled joy and congratula-
ton, even adulation, at sight of the tall,
stalwart officer, his arm in a sling, who
stood the center of staring group as
her carriage flashed by. She would have
ordered stop; but while the rest Of the
party had gazed as they lifted their
caps, Armstrong; uninjured hand per-
formed its duty, his cap had been lifted
with the others, but not so much as
a glance went her way; and Margaret
Garrison, bitter in spirit, drove on down
past the old Quartet to her luxurious
quarters where Nita, piteous shadow
OF the sweet girl graduate Of the year
before, was awaiting her coming. With
the insurgents retreat and the advance
of the American lines there had been IA
gradual return of the refugees among
the transports; and Frost had finally
brought his birding back to shore; but
Mia dare not drive, she said, for fear
of again seeing those stern, reproachful
eyes. The guard at the gate had re-
ceived orders to admit no more of the
rank and file, even whNn they came as
messengers; and so the child was safe,
said Margaret. AS for herself, she must
drive, she must see VIII Gray.
But the instant she reentered the
house Mrs. Garrison knew that during
her brief absence some new trouble had
come. Good heavens, could she never
leave Nita's side that harm did not be-
fall her! At the head of the broad flight
of stairs stood her brother-in-law, a
black frown on his brow.
go in and do what you can for her, u
he briefly said. II thought-she'd be
glad to know that-that-fellow would
trouble her no more"
THAT fellow" she gasped. "You
mean"
Il -Latrobe-killed and
buried whole week ago."
"And you told her!" she cried clinch-
ing her little hands in impotent wrath.
"You-brute!"
Another week rolled by The tide of