The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-11-14

the pride or the inSurgent forces;
~Aguinaldo's remnant had scurried off
in another direction, and General TOno
was on the coast with what was left
of the s%catterc1 force.
The net about Gregorio del Pillar was
being drawn in and frightened. The
closing week in November saw him
driven to the last extremity. The trag-
edy of Tilad pass was near at hand.
Teresa Velasquez never faltered. new.
err tired. She proved herself to be no
incumbrance. Day after day the Off
Ger in command expected the expedi
ton which would take her back to
Manila. Forces came up from the
south, but none were ready to go back.
She was an inspiration to the camp.
Men who had forgotten their manners
completely brushed them up and
danced attendance upon the girl IN the
Filipino uniform.
Every man prayed for opportunity to
do brave deeds, and when chance came
she was permitted to witness herolsm
that savored Of the boyhood malady
known as showing of"
The reserved but c~Onsiderate Banse-
mer was her closest friend and conf
dant. One evening as they sat side by
side watching the preparations for
supper she turned suddenly and an
nounced that she knew he was dying
of love for some me. He started. and
his hand trembled.
Tell me about her" she command.
ed. There was a %piquancy, a gay i'm
polling force in this girl that GRIEF and
hardship had not been strong enough
to conquer.
NONSENSE" said Graydon. why do
you think that of me?"
Because everybody else thinks it, "
she said, land because l am a very
wise person. The men are not so
charitable as !, senor They say that
you Joined the army because of some
woman whom you could not marry. l
agree with them, except that it is she
who would not marry you. Forgive
me If / have hurt you?"
Impulsively she put her hand upon
his, her dark eyes full of pleading.
The touch Of her hand did not send a
thrill through him. Such contact, how
ever, caused the blood to tingle in the
quick veins of the girl. He merely sat
and stared into space. After a moment
she drew her hand away.
81 am sorry" she said.
"There is a girl, Teresa" he said
shortly.
Eyes, l know. Tell me about her"
az can't" he exclaimed bitterly. He
arose and walked quickly away. Te-
resa's dark eyes followed him in pity
and wo~nder-aye, affection. Then she
shook her head sadly and turned her
attention elsewhere-not piqued, much
to her own amazement.
Re-enforcements came up two days
later with the word that the command
err in chief expected the campaign
against Pillar to end within a week and
that hard fighting was ahead. The
Red Cross people were following hard
upon the heels of the regiment, and
field hospitals were to be established.
Every man in the band of newcom-
ers was singing the praises of a Won
derfully beautiful Red Cross nurse.
The stories told of her charms were
varied. but none lacked enthusiasm.
Some said she was the daughter of a
rich magnate come to do service in the
cause Of humanity; others were sure
she was a great and beautiful actress
who was sacrificing. everything to con
spicuous advertising. All, however,
were agreed in the praise of her noble
beauty,
The little detachment on guard turn,
ed up its collective nose and proudly
pointed to Teresa Velasquez.
Look at that" said Bob Spurrier,
"Can she stack up with the hiking
queen? Our girl is real quality. She's
no common American. She's a gran
dee's daughter. There's royal blood in
her. BY thunder, gentlemen, she's
blood kin to little Alfonso"
Teresa sought shelter from the curl
ous though admirlng eyes of the fresh
arrivals.
81 don't like these new soldiers" she
complained TO Graydon. 81 wish they
had not come. They talk of this beau
tiful nurse, and they laugh at me. Oh.
/ wish l had something else to wear"
Don't worry, little girl; you're worth
ten nurses" said he.
"Alas, though / am dressed as a man,
I do not feel rs bold as one" she la
mented.
The next day re-enforcements came
up, and the whole command advanced
upon Tilad pass, where Pillar, at last,
had been cornered. On the I'd Of De.
cember a desperate conflict took place
Pillar was ~intrenehed in the pass near
the celebrated rock known as FL Obs
pc, "the Bishop His resistance for a
time was valorous and deadly. Corpo.
raj Parry saw him mount his horse be
hind the barricade GOO yards away.
Parry was the best marksman in the
regiment and, turning to his chief Off.
Ger, asked Ii he should take a shot al
him.
He fred, and Pillar fell, face down