Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-15

But the department commander had party of friends to run alongside the flagship as she steamed slowly out to sea, and that was why MT. Stuy- Fesant stood so eagerly watching the blowing side-wheeler so swiftly com ing in pursuit. Already he had made out the double stars in the bunting at the jack-staff. Already he could distinguish the forms of several off cers whose commands were not yet ready for authorization and the fut- tering of garments of 8 score of women.
 Something told him she would be of the party, and as the Vanguard slowed down to let the headquarters boat run alongside, his heart beat eagerly when his general said: .Well go down, gentlemen, and board her. It'll be much easier than the climb would be to them
 So it happened that five minutes later he found himself at the heels of his chief shaking hands mechan- ically with dozen officers, while his eyes kept peering beyond them to where, on the after-deck, the smiling group of women stood expectant.
 And presently the general pushed on for a word of farewell with them, the aides obediently following, and then came more presentations to cor dial and kindly people whose names he did not even hear, for just a little e., -4s lol I,~r cavaliers, stood Mrs. Ray, the hand somest and most distinguished-look ing woman of the party, and close be- side her, petite and graceful, her dark beauty even the more noticeable in contrast with the fair features of her mother, stood Maidie. And then at last it came, the simple word that threw down the social barrier that so long had baked him.
 My aide-de-camp, MT. Stuyvesant, Mrs. Ray-Miss Ray" and with his soul in his eyes he looked down into that radiant face, smiling so cor dially, unrestrainedly into his, and then found himself striving to recall what on earth it was he was so anx- ious to say.
 He knew that he was flushing to the peak of his forage-cap. He knew he was trying to stammer something. He saw that she was perfectly placid and at ease. He saw, worse luck, that she wore little knot of roses on the breast of her natty jacket, but that they were not his. He faltered something to the effect that he had 1aon frxyi %0 ha1 e-in night of the fre-had so much to thank her for; and her white, even, beautiful teeth gleamed as she 1aughingly answered that the cher ries had. more than cancelled the score.
 He asked news of her brother. and was told that he had been too much occupied to come in again. They were going out to the Presidio that afternoon.
 And then he ventured to hope MT. Ray had sustained no great loss in the robbery of his quarters. and saw for the smile had vanished instantly, the lovely face clouded with concern, and he had only time to stammer: linen, probably, there was no truth in the story. merely happened to hear two nights ago that MT. Rays quar- ters had been robbed-about the time the prisoners escaped" And then he heard his general calling, and saw that the party was already chamber ing back to the Vanguard.
 ''I-I-I hope may see you when we get back from Manila, Miss Ray," he said, as he bowed over her hand. that" was the smiling answer And then Capt. Hawley grabbed him by the arm and rushed him to the side.
 Two minutes more and he was on the deck of the transport. The lines were cast off, the white side-wheeler, alive with sympathetic faces, some some fearful, and forest of futtering kerchiefs, dropped slow Iy astern, and all that long evening as they bored through the fogs of the Fara1lones and bowed and dipped to the long swell bf the sea, and all the long week that followed as they over a sunlit summer ocean, Stuyvesant found himself repeating again and aga1n her parting words, and wondering what could have been .he explanation of her knowing noth- ng of the robbery of her brothers quarters or what could have been her meaning when she said II think you may see me-before that"
 Only once on the run to Honolulu l was the fotilla of transports neared oy other voyagers. Three days out | from San Francisco the o. & O. liner Doric slowly overhauled and grad | lally passed them by. Exchanging signals: "All we'll on board she was soon lost in the shadows of the night | ong miles ahead.
 CHAPTER VII.
 There was trouble at the Presidio.