Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-12-03

tinkled on that river, and voices had
been lifted to latticed windows. The
air was laden with ghosts of every
thing but common sense and scruples.
A bugle across the river caused the
man to recollect that he was under
certain restraint. 81 must CO." he
said, but he did not release his hold
on the casco.
Simplicia's eyes were big and bright
in the moonlight. He stretched out
n arm and drew her face toward
him. She tore herself away and stood
breathing hurriedly through parted
lips.
"Manana por la noche," said the SOL
dier. He piled the paddle vigorously
and the canoe glided away. But he
looked back, longingly, for Simplicia's
lips were very soft and warm.
She stood gazing after him till the
canoe vanished into the shadow of the
Quartet Infanteria. The unseen bugle
softly walled TAPS" the call that bids
the soldier to rest. 1t is also sounded
over graves.
The sun beat down fiercely on the
Pasig. Canoes toiled up and skinned
down the river. laundering cascos,
their crews naked to their waists, were
poled painfully along. The Quiapo
market was astir with a babble of
tongues, the barking of dogs, and the
incessant challenge Of hundreds of
game-cocks. The little brown people
bought. sold and bargained with the
full strength of their lungs.
Simplicia, as purser Of the casco,
was in the market purchasing provi-
sions, but she spent most of her time
near the stall of a Chinese vender of
fabrics. After much haggling she be-
came the possessor of a dainty bodice
Of silk and pima cloth.
Most of the girls who visited the
market-place seemed to be drawn to
that spot, for there Simplicia met a
friend who had left the lake country
a little later than herself.
Ramon will come down the river
tonight" said the friend, breathlessly,
delighted to carry a message of that
sort. HE has written something that
he thinks they may print in La Liber-
tad. Isn't that wonderful? You must
feel SO proud of him. For a mar to
be able to write at all is wonderful
but for the papers!"
Apparently there were no words in
the Tagalo dialect strong enough to
express the girls admiration. Sim
plicia tossed her head, loosening the
hair, a frequent happening. She
caught the heavy tresses quickly, and
almost forgot for an instant everything
but the last time they had fallen.
"Are you not pleased?" asked the
other girl, in establishment. She was
dark, and not pretty from any point Of
view.
ooh, yes" drawled Simplicia, "but
Ramon is very tedious sometimes, and
the lake country is very dreary. We
will go into the city this afternoon and
see the Americanos."
They saw many Americanos-state
volunteers clad in blue shirts and
khaki trousers. The city was full Of
them. They occupied all the barracks
formerly the quarters of the Spanish
soldiers, and they crowded the drink
ing-resorts. Along the Gale Real they
came upon companies drilling, and on
the Lunetta they saw an entire regi-
nent on dress-parade.
Simplicia, though she scanned every
soldiers face, did not see the stranger
of the previous night, nor did she see
a face that seemed nearly as hand
some.
"They say" unused the other girl,
that the men of Aguinaldo will drive
they do not go of their own accord
soon.'
Simplicia laughed scornfully and
pointed toward the troops. The men
were in battalion front, standing at
present" and the sun glistened on
1000 bayonets.
But there are only a few Ameri-
canos and there are many thousands
Of Filipinos," said the girl.
"The Americanos will take what they
want and nothing can stop Them" an
nounced Simplicia, decisively. LET us
go to our cascos."
The twilight gathered or the river.
In the north the sky was lit by con-
tinuous flashes of lightning. Myriads
Of stars were overhead, and the south
ern cross was viceroy of the heavens,
for the moon had not yet come into
her kingdom. The water noisily
gurgled by and Simplicia waited.
Which would come first, the tedious
Filipino schoolmaster lover or the
stranger? Would the Americana come
again?
She watched every canoe that
passed, but they were all going up or
down. The moon appeared and clear
ly revealed the rivers surface. Sim
plicia fixed her eyes on the shadow of
the Quartet Infanteria. Something
emerged from it and glided rapidly
through the stream. 1t was a canoe,
and it was being padded with strong,
sure strokes toward her. Her heart
beat unanimously and she almost cried
out in her delight.
He came, and, fastening his canoe,
swung himself aboard the casco. Her
arms were about his neck in an in
slant, and her beautiful tresses escaped
The comb again.
They sat in the shade of the nipa
thatch talking in low tones. His arm
was round her waist. Her head rested
on his shoulder. He pulled with deep
breaths of enjoyment a cigarette that
she had daintily lit for him. The in
toxication of the country was in his
brain-the devil that whispers, 'There