Middletown transcript., 1904-11-12

the stamped and addressed envelopes she
was careful 10 enclose. But occasionally v
conrteous hote would accompany the
autograph, c1lIed forth by the evident
sincerity Of Her letters At such times
her faded check would glow with pride.
1T is generally the navy officers who are
most cordial, she would murmur "but,
mol am unjust, for / have notes from
soldiers, too.
When the revolt in the Philippines
broke out it promised to furnish Miss
Dale with more names to add to her roll
of honor. Many young officers, some
alrea iy distinguished, were sent out with
the new volunteer regiments to put down
the rebellion. Among these was Captain
Lee Peyton, Of Virginia, who had won
special mention and promotion by a
daring act in the assault upon Caney, in
Cuba, the previous summer. He had
been afterward attacked with fever and
only recovered in time to embark for the
Philippines with his new regiment, one
Of the first to be- sent out to reinforce
General Otis.
There he saw much active and perilous
service under General Lawtor, his idol
lied commander. The rainy season was
not over, but that indefatigable soldier
had already been on a weeks tireless
chase of the insurgents, and was now
returning to Manila to prepare for new
expedition.
"Great Scott r. exclaimed Peyton, as
he entered his old quarters in the city |;
''if this isn't luxury to see bed once
more and a roof over ones head, to say
nothing Of getting cleaned up again after
foundering inthat beast1y mud-Hello !"
Here his eye fell upon letter on the
table and he pounced upon it, longing for
news Of home.
But it was not home letter. This is
what he read after he had torn it open !:
Captain Lee Peyton. Sept. -, 1899
"DEAR SIR:-I take liberty in writing
to ask for your autograph; but / should
much value ii on account of your services
to the country by your brave act at Caney
last year, and by your present labors in
the Philippines.
"You and your fellow soldiers are en-
gagged in righteous war for civilization
as well as for our flag. notwithstanding
the narrow, traitorous criticism of few
at home. All true Americans are proud
of your splendid work.
Hoping you will pardon stranger for
thus addressing you, am,
"Very respectfully,
| ELLEN DALE,
"l31 East-Street, New York City"
"Jovep' he calculated, when he had
finished the letter. THAT girls brick
and no mistake! It puts life into a fel-
low to feel that some in Gods country
know this dreary business is not picnic
excursion. Ugh how we all hate it !"
He had lit his pipe and was putting at
it, thoughtfully. "I'd like to see that
girl he soliloquized /; "she must know a
good deal about the situation and the
war she has followed events and got her
facts straight. And she's lady, one can
see. Wonder if she's pretty, like that
Red Cross nurse at Camp Wikoff, who
pulled me through the Santiago fever /
owe my life to her-wish knew where
she was now !"
Presently his pipe went out, bnt he
forgot to notice it, my autograph? Of
course she shall have it, he went on.
"But that's very small return, for
such blessed note. Would it be imper-
tinent to send her something else2 No /;
| believe she's the sort that would be
honestly pleased to have something that
had been through Lawton's campaigns.
I'll send her the clasp on my hat" He
unfastened it and hunted around for q
box. Then he sat down to answer the
note.
He smiled to himself when he had
finished. "Believe I'm getting senti-
mental it doesn't take much to make
one so, so far from HONEYWELL, If she
doesn't like it, I'll never know ten to
one I'll leave my bones in this heathen
land anyway. I've such confounded
headache now / know I'm in for some
thing toughr'
A few months later Captain Peyton
found himself at a hotel in New York
City. After having fallen a victim to
fever in Manila and been through very
severe illness, he had been sent home on
sick leave. The long sea voyage had
greatly benefited him, but be was still
far from strong. He had stopped in
town expecting to see an old friend, and
had just learned that he was absent In
Europe.
While he was idly wondering how he
should spend the rest Of the day, the
bell-boy brought him litter which had
followed him from Manila to San Fran
cisco and across the continent. 1t was
Miss Dale's grateful acknowledgment OF
u
his autograph and the ornament she had
received.
"WhewW whistled the young man.
''if this isn't coincidence Here am I
in the very same city had forgotten all
about her, but now I'll look her up: it's
the least can do after such correspon-
dence." And he caught up his hat with
a boyish alacrity unlike his former Ian
quid movements.
He looked at the address and hailed a
cable-car. After short ride he alighted
at the street mentioned and walked along
studying the numbers Zone twenty.one.
twenty -three-why, it's a public build
ing! How can that be?
He stopped pedestrian and. indicat.
ing building of considerable size near
by, inquired if it was school or hos
pital. His astonishment at hearing that
it was the Old Ladies' Home struck his
informer as being out of all proportion
to the subject. He appeared dazed for
moment then, recovering himself, went
on and up the front steps slowly and
touched the electric door-bell.
aCan 7 see Miss Dale ?'' he askad