The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-01-17
din of
NcNldnus
NJ
PHILIP MANILA

N dow Sill and looked out at the
white tropical moonlight and softly /
Vept She was going home the next I
day. Going back to ''the statess and /
far away from hot, dirty Manila. Yet |
she was crying.
She heard her mistress calling her, |
and hastily drying her eyes, Went back
into the front room Of the house, |
where the eolonefs lady was sitting in
state.
You were crying, Katie, SAID the
colonel's lady in q voice pitched seyr
eral tones above @.
Yes, ma'am, said Katie with an IL
disguised snufle.
Katie" asked the oolonel's lady,
are you crazy?"
Katie meelSly said she thought not.
"Then, Katie" went on the coloneIs
lady, "don't you see that there is noth-
ing for you to do but stop crying and
quit acting the fool2 You can't stay
behind in Manila. There is no place
for you here. You have no excuse for
staying. I,cannot pay your wages IN
til we get back to the states, and what
would you live on2 Katie, could 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
you?n
6 'Boo-hoo," mourned Katie in indlg'-
nant sobs.
'0f course not, Katie. You are 9
good, honest girl, and such news would
kill your father and mother. You
must 60 home with Us, and il that ras-
caIIy soldier thinks as much Of you
as he says he does he viii come back
as soon as he gets his discharge and
marry you in a church in proper
manner. Now let me hear no more Of
your crying.
The eolonel's lady, convinced that
she had settled things, returned again
to her book, and Katie retired to her
old place at the window and ssnp1ed
She was going away without even
saving aoodby 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 least2
Then suddenly she stopped crying, foE
shelheard her name called softly from
bebw.
Eyes. yes, she answered, while her
leart beat wildly. "Is it you, MF. Me.
hanus?"
'Tis the same" answered sergt
tBTcNTanus in a hoarse whisper. "An
4 will We come down into tn garden fol
~ a mint, Kitty? [ want to talk will
you"
In aIalost no time Katie was down n
the9sarden and standing in the shelter
I oTthe deepest shade that sergt. Nc
Z I4Ganus had been able to find
'And why didn't you come before? 2
she said, reproachfully, as he took hel
hand San me grieving for you all tn,
time and going home tomorrow"
"Phwy didn't I coom?'' asked Sergt
McManus "Phwy? An thot old divi
of a kernel awatchin' me loike a cat
would watch a mouse an akapin' m,
on outhpost duthy all tn tonne an
niver a chance to come for desertin' mi
post in TIL presinee of tn inimy, an be
ing bobtailed, e7 drawn en- quartered
er shot at sunrise, er something loik
thot."
90 gasped Katie. mo, Of courst
you couldn't come in that case. Blu
why did he do that?"
'Becuss, Kitty" said the sergeant
eshe knew well enough if I got jist wal
moore chance would make We MARI,
me, an then he wouldn't have an,
noice lady slavey loike you to take car
of his wheedlin' old wolfe an git he
safe back to tn states"
so, - gasped Katie, "thatsit, isit?"
''Yis," went on the sergeant, 'sbut
Katy, we can beat them all You shal
not go home tomorrow.
81 must" gasped Katie. There
no way; the eolonels wife said ther
was none. A good girl could not sta.
here just waiting for man
"Gwan wild yer idle talk" Sergt
McAfanus drew Katie to him an
kissed her ever so gently. "It'a ma1
ried we're agoin' TO be this night"
Visions of a justice of the peace o
some obliging chaplain intthe from
room of a Filipino shack Aoate
through Katie's head, 'No, no, sh
said. II could not"
"Ah, now, have no fear" said th
sergeant tenderly. Twin be in ia
church and by a priest, no matther
he Is as black as me old saddle. Al
sure am the banns have been publishe
fnthat same church, an 'tis my parisl
an everything is proper, an ye nee
not be afraid to trust to me. An I'Y
got little shack all ready in Manili
an here ye stay, as happy as We pleas
III wolfe Of Sergt. McAianus, and t.
morrow ye can snap yer fingers at ths
ole she dragon thets thryin' to tea
ye away from the man thot loves you
81 can't understand" said Kat
weakly. cts an SO sudden. And
the colonel wouldn't let gou leave p
line without being deserter how d
you get here to-night3.