Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-20

and then as he looked into the frown- ing muzzle of the Krag he answered quickly, "Fren'.''
 Advance, friend, and be recog- nized,' ordered the e7sergeant.
 "I'm Col. Francis, commandin' Shir- zie-sec' cav'y, shentry; who poshted you ou' herein my garden?'
 Pass, Col. Francis, commanding the Shirzie-sec' cav'y," ordered the ser geant without tremor.
 The colonel looked for moment as though he was going to make further inquiries, but his legs were unsteady and he seemed to realize the fact, so he drew himself up as stifhy as he could and continued his cratic progress.
 ''Now, Kitty begged the sergeant, 'she may sind a corporal around here in minute and I'll be caught. My horse is down the street. There's pony there for you. Will ye trust tn man that's risked everything for ye an go?"
 70, can't gasped poor Katie, with the direful warnings of the colonel's lady passing through her mind. Il can't, Jim. I love you" "Corp1 of tn guard.'' It was the voice of the colonel hallooing down the street. ..@-.. ( .-.
 ''The guard will come in a mint, said the sergeant, grimly. Here I'll stay, and they'll find me, an may hiven have mercy on me soul, fer the colonel will soak me wid all tn 300 of tn rules of war all to once."
 "Go," gasped Katie, "go, for you'll drive me crazy"
 you, Kitty said the sergeant. Either you go wid me to be married this night wid full benefit of clergy CT it's me goes alone to the. guardhouse to be charged with willful desartin' me post in tn prisince-"
 ''Corpor'l of tn guard" beloved the colonel again.
 "Yes, yes," gasped Katie, ''I'll go, I'll go."
 The sergeant bent and kissed her. Then taking her hand the two went and down the street to where he had his horses.
 A little later and they were riding down a lane towards the south. The sergeant explained that some friends of his were on guard duty there and would pass them without any noise. Once past the guard line around the city and they were on road along which they galloped without any at- tempt at concealment. For six miles they rode hard, and then two dark figures rose up and commanded "Halt." :"
 ''It's me, Murphy said the sergeant. 'Is Everything all right?''
 F''Tis that same," answered one of the figures. "Come on now" The two men in the road threw themselves on their horses, which they brought from somewhere out of the shadows, and led the way along a trail as black as pocket, fringed as it was with heavy jungle on each side. Suddenly Katie found herself standing in front of a church that looked somber and grand on the moonlight.
 ''This is the church, said the ser geant. F'I'm all roight now. 'Tis where I am stationed, and anything thet do here I kin boast of, for 'tis no wan has a betther roight to be here then meself. Come, now, Kitty. The little nfgger man is within, an the candles are lighted an 'tis all roight. Come, now, darlint."
 Through the open door of the church Katie saw the lights of the wax candles on the altar. A priest in full vest ments stood in the light of the can- dies, waiting. She was satisfied. With a tired little sigh she allowed Sergeant McManus to help her to the ground.
 ''Some of the boys are inside fer tn audience,'' said the sergeant, ''an' Fatty Martin, of the Fifth, is agoin' ter give the bride away. And Silver Jones is awaitin' up in the loft to play tn couple out of the church when 'tis all over. Come"
 A moment later Katie was standing in front of the altar. Soldiers, their faces bearing two or three weeks growth of beard and their khaki uni forms dirty and tattered, sat in the front pews. Four or five sick men looked wonderingly up from their blankets as they lay stretched along the wall. Slowly the little Filipino priest read the marriage ceremony and Katie made the responses like one in happy dream from which she was momentarily afraid of waking up.
 She was hardly conscious when the ceremony was over until the big ser geant bent down and kissed her, and she saw a thin faced soldier who had been peering over the railing of the gallery disappear and immediately afterwards the walls of the church reverberated to the stirring tones of q Want You, My Honey, Yes I Do." Y
 < Iris the weddin' march" said the best man. 'Face to the rear, forward march, and while the invited guests waved their campaign hats and gave hilarious cheers. MT. and Mrs. McMan- us walked proudly out of the church. r,-Chicagc Tribune.
 How He Escaped Wetfinge
 Prof Rlank who wa S horn f7J.u and