Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29

w 1HEN the transport Reliance sailed from
Wv San Francisco she carried six brideelects
The day that she arrived in Manila, Teddy
Baxter of the Sixty-eghth Iowa Infantry stationed
at Bacoor got pass for three days leave and was
on the wharf waiting
There were five others of the BOYS waiting with
him. They didn't appear shy either Nnety-fve
per cent of all the unmarried soldiers in the islands
would have given quarters pay to have been
in their boots, providing the brides had been chosen
from the girls each had left at home. The other
five per cent. didn't count They were acclimated
The youngest prettiest bride in the lot was Ruth
Wayman When she sighted Teddy on the dock
she laughed and cried and lost her handkerchief
overheard waving to him. They were married by
the chaplain that afternoon, and Teddy took her
home to Bacolor She was the only pure-white
in the place, and Teddy was so proud he
couldn't even talk; only suffered and
grinned at everybody like a happy
boy Rw
He had fixed up a nest for her,
dollhouse of bamboo perched up five
feet from the ground with a garden of palm and
banana-trees around it, and a couple of little
Japanese servants to wait her 1t a bit of
fairy-land to Ruth When one has clerked for four
years at the candy counter in Sweet & Tafy's
ice-cream emporium at Maquoketa Iowa, it is
rather startling to find oneself playing princess
among the palms and bamboo.
She packed away her shirt-waists and let o Kio
San dress her up in marvels of pina-cloth, loose
embroidered marvels like the mestza girls wore
in Manila. She took down her pompadour and
let Kio San brush her long fair hair and coil it
in a soft fluffy knot the nape of her neck minus
the pompadour. And O Kio San would smile and
purr like pleased kitten over the dainty blond
ness of the bride, and squat a mat in front of
her with bright, enraptured eyes, until Mrs. Teddy
Baxter laughed and flushed and wished with all
her heart that some of the folks in Maquoketa might
see her state of sovereignty.
Teddy strutted proudly. 1t was something to be
the husband of the only white woman in town.
even if said town consisted only of a handful of
bamboo bird-cages and fringe of nipa huts
Sometimes when Teddy home they would
stroll parade through the streets-Teddy, six
feet two, a handsome loose lnbed boy in khaki
and Mrs Teddy in of her pretty bridal organ
dies, with white chiffon parasol over her head
that barely topped the khaki boys shoulder.
1t was charming and startling to Bacoor The
natives would out and watch the show with
eager solemn interest in various stages of dshabille
of the kidets," Teddy genialy remarked
without any dishabille He had an idea
that the chocolate-dipped crowd thought he had
captured a stray goddess, and bore himself accord
ingly-until one day they met Antonita.
She coming along the palm-shaded
street with a group of other girls from the market
place opposite the church, a small, slender figure
in white and geranium pink, her chin tilted upward
as she balanced broad fiat basket of fruits and
vegetables her head
Teddy knew her in instant and became pro-
foundry embarrassed. As they passed, he lifted his
hat but there sign of recognition from
Antonta. With one Slow full glance from her
dark eyes, she took in the brides ensemble from
the chiffon parasol to the little French heeled
white-canvas Oxfords; but Teddy was overlooked.
Who is she?" Ruth asked Isn't she dear?