Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-20
Wedding of Sergt. McMdrlus
PHILIP MANILA

day Going back to 'the states" and liar away from hot, dirtyManila. Yet she was crying.
 She heard her mistress calling her, land hastily drying her eyes, went back into the front room of the house, where the colonel's lady was sitting in state.
 You were crying, Katie" said the Icoloneps lady in a voice pitched sev- leral tones above c. s-5.
 Yes, ma'am," said Katie with an i'll idisguised snuf1e.
 ! Katie" asked~the colonel's lady, tare you crazy?" .s Katie meekly said she thought not. .
 "Then, Katie, '' went on the colonel's i1ady, "don't yousee that there is noth- ling for you to do butstop crying and lquit acting the fool? You can't stay behind in Manila. There is no place for you here. You have no,excuse for Istaying. cannot pay your wages un- til we get back to the states, and what would you live on? Katie, could I tell your good old mother that you were hanging around Manila waiting for man to come, around some day when he got good and ready and marry lyou?''
 .sBoo-hoo," mourned Katie=in indig- nant sobs.
 "Of course not, Katie. You are a good, honest girl, andsuch news would kill your father and mother. You must go home with as, and if that ras- cally soldier thinks as much of you Ias he says he does he will come back las soon as he gets his discharge and imarry you in a church in a proper manner Now let me hear no more of your crying"
 The colonel's lady, convinced that ,she had settled things, returned again to her book, and Katie retired to her iold place at the window and resumed weeping.
 She was going away without even Isaying goodby to the one person in the entire group of the Philippine islands for whom she cared most. But it was his fault after all. Why did he not find time to come in from the line and see her for a few minutes at least? When suddenly she stopped crying, for she heard her name called softly from below.
 "Yes, yes," she answered, while her heart beat wildly. ''Is it you, MT. Nc tManus?"
 "'Tis the same," answered Sergt. McManus in a hoarse whisper. 'An' will ye come down into tn garden for a mint, Kitty2 I want to talk with you
 In almost no time Katie was down in the garden and standing in the shelter of the deepest shade that Sergt. Me Manus had been able to find.
 'tAnd why didn't you come before?" she said, responsibility, as he took her hand '.an' me grieving for you all the time and going home tomorrow"
 'Phwy didn't I coom?" asked Sergt. McManus. f'Phwy? An thot old divil of a kernel awatchin' me loike cat would watch a mouse an akapin' me on outhpost duthy all tn toime an sniver a chance to come for desertin' me post in tn presince of tn inimy, an be- ing bobtailed, CT drawn en quartered, ;er shot at sunrise, CT something loike ,sfhot."
 O." gasped Katie. F'No, of course you couldn't come in that case. But why did he do that?"
 "Becuss, Kitty" said the. sergeant, i''he knew well enough if got jist wan moore chance would make ye marry me, an then he wouldn't have any .noice lady slavey loike you to take care iof his wheedlin' old wolfe an git her safe back to tn states"
 "O,'' gasped Katie, that's itsisi it?''
 tsYis, went on the sergeant, 'fbut, Katy, we can beat them all. You shall not go home tomorrow"
 'sI must" gasped Katie. ''There is mo way; the colone1's wife said there was none. A good girl could not stay 6ere just waiting for a man"
 "Gwan wid yer idle talk" Sergt. McManus drew Katie to him and kissed her ever so gently. Its mar ried we're agoin' to be this night.''
 Visions of a justice of the peace or some obliging chaplain in the front room of Filipino shack fioated through Katie's head. "No, no,' she said. s.I could not
 .sAh, now, have no fear,'' said the sergeant tenderly. "'Twill be in the church and by priest, no matther if he is as black as me old saddle. An sure an the banns have been published in that same church, an 'tis my parish, an everything is proper, an ye need not be afraid to trust to me. An I've got a little shack all ready in Manila. an here ye stay, as happy as ye please, tn wolfe of Sergt. McManus, and to- morrow ye can snap yer fingers at thet ole she dragon thet's thryin' to tear ye away from the man thot loves you.''
 ..I can't understand" said Katie weakly. .'It's all so sudden. And if the colonel wouldn't let you leave the line without being deserter, how did you get here to-night?''
 q jest came,' said the sergeant proudly.
 But you'll be called deserter if they catch you, and you might be shot"
 70" said the sergeant, lightly, ssan' I will be, mebbe, if they catch me, but they're not agoin' to catch me, Kitty, dear. No wan knows but at this blissid moment I'm alayin' in a paddy field awatchin' the nigger gentilmen a sharpinin' their bolie knives"
 ssSh,v gasped Katie, suddenly. Then