Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-05
ALL ON ACCOUNT OF TOM.
BY M. L. RAYNE.

neu, SISTERS anu teachers, julia anu
| Georgia.
Their cousin Tom, who had been
brought up in the same family, was in
measure engaged to both.
Tom, the scapegrace, the ne'er-do-
well, who had kept them all on the
anxious bench until he enlisted, when
Uncle Sam took him by the scruff Of
the neck, shook him up and gave him
such taste of army discipline that the
young man pulled himself together and
made a very fair soldier, with occa-
sional doses Of guardhouse medicine.
1t was after one of those riotous re-
lapses that in spirit of penitence Tom
had written to his cousins suggesting
| that they come to Manila at the ex-
pense of the government, and inciden-
tally that he wanted q wife to keep him
in order, addressing the letter to Geor-
gia.
1t was memorable voyage for those
two, who had never in their lives be-
fore seen the world outside of the state
Of Illinois. They were surrounded by
| remarkable company of teachers,
who had been chosen from the many
normal universities Of the country, all
of whom were strangers to them and
to each other before meeting on the
| transport at San Francisco. Yet it is
| matter of history that thirty couples
became acquainted, engaged and stop
| ped at Honolulu to be married within
| period of ten days. The diversion of
these hurried courtships relieved the
| tedium of the voyage for the little
sisters
When the transport was anchored off
the mouth of the Pasig river, awaiting
| the visit of the American sanitary in
spector before steaming up to the
wharf in Manila town, the two girls,
shy and brown as quails. sat with
Toms last letter open before them,
reading directions and laughing over
his promise for their future comfort
Were to have gowns of pima CLOTH"
said Georgia, reading aloud, with reser-
vations, land we will ride in tram
| car where the conductor blows a horn
And he will take us to ride on
| quilez, in which the soldiers go on
| larks."
| "He won't go on larks any more"
said Georgia, with decision. I'VE must
| make his life so happy that he will
| find his best entertainment with u.s."
oh" said Julia, referring again to
the letter, "he says here that he has
engaged a Filipino girl to wait on us.
She wears short, picturesque gowns
| and has braid of lustrous black hair
hanging down her back and can say
| few Americana words. She is very
pretty, but half caste We must have
her picture taken and send it home. l
hope she likes Americanos."
Il wonder If Tom is as anxious to see
us as we are to see him." said Georgia.
NO. the dear fellow! 1t would not
| be natural. We have not been in any
danger in the past three years. have
heard teachers are favorable risk for
life insurance, so few of them die"
"Oh, do you think Tom will come on
board with the Inspector" Georgia
was getting very nervous.
The boat came out with the inspector,
but no Tom. He had been ordered on
duty, they said to each other, but it
was two lonely little schoolma' ans that
were finally landed in Manila and
found no one waiting for them. No
yes, young man in uniform of the
United States army came running for
ward from one group to another When
he saw the two little women, he took
his hat off.
You are expecting to meet Tom
Dewar?" he said haltingly.
Yes; he is our cousin" answered
Julia, who, though the youngest, was
| the bravest, land he knows We are
coming OH this steamer. Oh, do you
know him?'
I'VE belong to the same company,
fought side by side and drank from
the same canteen. He was my best
friend" said the young soldier solemn
ly.
"WasT' Georgia caught at his use
Of the past tense. Has something hap
pened to him? Is he
"How can l tell you? Oh. why was
this cruel duty put upon me? May
ask which of you was-was-engaged
to marry TOm?
Both Of u.s." said Georgia, who did
not know in the least what she was
saying.
Neither" responded Julia, drawing
herself very erect.
THAT is we'll" The young soldier
gave sigh of relief at Julia's stiff
denial. Then you will not be shocked
to hear that Tom Dewar is
dead" Both girls spoke as if one
voice and gasped for breath.
"No-married to native Filipino
girl, who has taken him home to her
people. I'm awful glad you don't mind
it, and since l was Toms friend hope
you will let me be yours and be OF
some service to you in his absence"
1t was manfully spoken. and the two
little, lonely, crushed women followed
him mechanically into the new, strange
world of the Philippines, from which
the enchantment of romance beauty
| and love had droDDpd forever leayjnp