St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-11-29
,1sfN7Ol,ODEN
LADY'S LOVERS
4 story OF che Philippine
Nv w. o. MCCLELLAN.

THE Fifteenth Cazadores turned in
their arms and quartered them
selves in the Church of San Fernando
in the walled city. They accepted the
capture Of Manila philosophically. OF
course, the stone floor Of the church
was less comfortable than the cane
beds in their cool barracks, then occu-
pied by noisy regiment of American
volunteers, but it was certainly more
comfortable than the muddy trench
near Malate. Moreover, they were be-
ing fed at the expense of the United
States government on savory stews
made OF corned beef and hard tack, a
better ration than they had received
for some time.
The Philippines are pientifully sup
piled with churches; and, in. time OF
war, these houses of worship are ap-
propriated for various unseemly pur-
poses. The host is removed, and the
little red light that indicates its pres
enee ii distinguished. Then the church
becomes d barracks, prison, or a
fortress; Is the occasion requires.
Sargento Pedro Flores. of the First
Spanish battalion, selected little side
altar for his private apartment. Be
cause 81 his rank and reputation for
remarkable dizziness with the knife,
his title To- the place was not disputed.
Above the altar stood life-sized carv-
ing Of female saint, done hundrsds of
years previously BY some Filipino mas
ter Of the craft. The figure was tinted
in colOrs; III one period no doubt glar-
ing, but subdued by time into con-
summately natural, pale ivory. The
hair On TN head was human hair, and
fell about the shoulders in soft dark
masses. The face was rather pretty
/ than beautiful, thus serving to further
q the illusion Of naturalness. Pedro had
never beard Of Galatea. but, looking
at that figure IN the dim light that
struggled through the dirty, colored
windows, he 1T times almost expected
to see the half-shut eyel open, to see
the girl brush the dust Of two centuries
from the faded pima cloth dress with
4 her little hands, and request him to
assist her from the pedestal. But the
4 wooden lady remained motionless,
smiling pensivefy the same smile her
4 long-forgotten creator had given her
Il Close to the altar rail was little
voode "a box into which pious Filipinos
were won't to drop offerings OF cop,
II per coins and small silver. When re
dro hrst settled in the little altar ne
discovered that there was tidy little
snm in this box. OF course he realized
that It was ! crime nnspeakable to rob
the church. hut Pedro had not CEN
timo. and he was not altogether con-
tented with the American stew and
hard tack doIed ont each day. So in
moment Of tsmptation he thrust in
his hand and extracted large portion
&C., asun1 He looked up with
\ guilty cou1l lance at the wooden
l.dv. half afyS that there would be
look 81 ~ disapproval on her
4.ce Hut I'D oden lady continued
.crac;as n 8 he whispered, and
started Tor ~ shop.
- s.. hers Of worshipers
.s4;.o. .nd jpinos, visited the
vs.. ~. a. !. ~ den Lady, leaving Of.
49,. .rd rs continued to levy
+r;hr4e 8 syese ideally that the pa
=. who coIlea the money in the
-s.;n : ,otic< Increase IN the rev
Her gr,S I admirer no longer
said .sGracias, p ... . ao,as
rner;io. ~ wiic eans thanks Gar,
1;nrn and i edly familiar, no,