Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-24
Ecopyrishted. 1900. by J. B. Lippincott Col
CHAPTER XIII.

ton had been to get on to Manila. The enforced sojourn at Honolulu had been, therefore, a bitter trial. He had reached at last the objective point of his soldier desires, and 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 gladdened 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- valescence 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 a keg of Malaga grapes duly powdered with cork, and several pounds of these did Stuyvesant levy upon forthwith, and, after being duly immersed in water and cooled in the ice chest, send them in dainty basket by a white-robed lackey, with an unimpeachable card bearing the 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- valescence, and Dr. Frank shook his head. Grape seeds were perilous stuff, and Mrs. Brent knew they would not last until Maidie was well enough to enjoy them, and so-they did not.
 Military duty for the staff was not exacting about Manila in the autumn days. It was the intermission. The Spanish war was over; the Filipino vet to come. There was abundant time for Hove and signing" 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 he 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, ob- viously to see her, just before that untimely illness claimed her for it's own?
 Farquhar of the cavalry, scion of 8 Philadelphia family well known to the Stuyvesants of Gotham and s.trotting in the same class" had come over from department head quarters, where he had a billet as engineer officer, to call on Stuyve- sant 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 ly an hour and winding up by dis sertation on Billy Rays pretty daughter and "Wally" Fosters in fatuation. Farquhar said it was the general belief that Maidie liked Wal ly mignSy we'll and would marry him were he only in the army. And Stuy- yesant wondered how it was, in all the years he had known Farquhar and 4nvied him his being a Vest Pointer and in the cavalry, he had never really discovered what a bore, what a wearisome ass, Farquhar could be.
 Then just as Miss Ray was report ed sitting up and soon to be able to ssee her friends"-with what smiling significance did Mrs. Brent so assure himl--what should Stuyvesant's gen. eral do but select Stuyvesant himself to go on voyage of discovery to Iloilo and beyond. The commanding general wanted competent officer who spoke Spanish to make certain line of investigation. He consulted Vinton. Vinton thought another voy- age the very thing for Stuyvesant, and so suggested his name.
 It sent the 1uckless Gothamite away just at the time of all others he most wished to remain. When he returned, within a dozen days, the first thing was to submit his written report, already prepared aboard ship. The next was to report him. self in person at Col. Brent's, to be asked into the presence of the girl he loved and longed to see, and, as has been told, ushered out almost immediately, self-detailed, in search of Sandy.
 He had found the lad easily. enough, but not so the man with the fit, whom, for reasons of his own and from, what he had seen and heard, Stuyvesant was most anxious to overtake. His carriage whirled him rapidly past the. parade ground and over to the First Reserve hos. .Pital, whither he thought the victim had been borne, but no civilian, with ior without fits, had recently been ad- lmitted.
 Inquiry among convalescent pa 'tients and soldiers along the road without resulted at last in his fnd- ing one of the party that carried the stricken man from the field. He had come to, said the volunteer, before they had gone quarter of a mile had