Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-30
Tbe Sentry of
 CuloocdD
By ALEXANDER BOYLE.

NCopyrI8nV, ISUSs 0y Od41y StoEy Tup Co.1 TT WAS night in the forest of | Caloocan. The rain fell with dreary monotony. Not single star shone out of the clouded sky to cast one ray of cheering light upon the night.
 A sentry in rain-soaked khaki uniform paced back and forth along a soggy path of oozy mud just within the shadow of the trees at the edge of the Luzon jungle. Each time he turned at the farther end of his beat he impatiently looked toward the spot in the darkness where he knew the path turned suddenly and led back toward the American camp. Several times the sentry drew a watch from beneath his army coat and vainly tried to distinguish the time.
 "The relief's late or something" he murmured discontentedly to him. self, "just my luck--Ah, here they come"
 A moment later 8 half dozen black shadows came plodding through the darkness and mud. There was 8 salute, one of the half dozen new corners dropped out of the ranks, the rain-soaked sentry fell into the empty place and then the little squad moved into the darkness, leaving the new sentry alone in the Caloocan forest with two hours of picket duty before him.
 The tramp of the guard grew dim in the distance. At last a faint shout away of to the right reached his ear. It was the challenge of the next sentry as the relief squad zReached him. Then all was silent ex- cept the moaning wind and the cease. less batter of the rain in the pud- dles.
 The young sentry glanced up at the black sky that he felt rather than saw.
 "She said she'd come rain or shine,' '' he said happily to himself. "Too bad for her to come out on such a night. But she wished to come. She even suggested it herself. She knows the meaning of the word love. In another month the regiment will be .homeward bound and she goes with me, What, I wonder will father say when I tell him found my wife in the beautiful daughter of one of the Spaniards we came to conquer. When he sees Arlene, though, he will for give me"
 Suddenly the rain ceased. A rift appeared in the black canopy that hung over the forest. "Arlene will not get drenching after all, bless her." the soldier said aloud. "She is my queen. An, how love her, love her."
 Are you sure, quite sure, my hand some Americana" asked a voice close behind him. A girl hooded and yelled and with long cloak dropping to her feet stepped from behind the trunk of great tree and running to the startled sentry, threw her. self into his arms and pressed her lips to his.
 Arlene" he cried. "My darling my love. How you startled me. ] did not hear you come. had no idea you were here until you spoke''
 He caught her up in his arms and carried her across the muddy ground and set her down gently by the tree She threw back her hood and veil Her unbound hair dropped about her shoulders.
 ''You are the most beautiful of all women, adored one," he whispered gently stroking her hair.
 The wind swung a bough against Q tree trung back of them with a sound like cracking of twig. The girl leaped from the soldiers side with cry of fright.
 "Oh," she cried. "I thought, ] thought" She stopped
 'tWhat?" he asked, in alarm.
 "Oh, I feared someone had dis. covered us. It would ruin me. l was foolish" she replied recovering herself with an effort.
 'sSomeone in the Ca1oocan forest to-night!" he exclaimed. "You must be mad. We are safe from observa- tion here, my love-"
 "But I am afraid. Come back a little farther from the clearing, where the moon will not reveal us:" she pleaded.
 "No, I must not leave the picket line," he protested. II should be there. not here. now"
 Would you be there while I an here?" she asked, playfully stroldns his hand. Yet as she spoke kee, observer might have detected con straint of manner, 8 nervous tension in her voice.
 You know I would be with yol always" he answered. Arlene tel me again you will go back with m, to my country when the regimen returns. He drew her closer t lhins