Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-22

before the time when the government
could come TO give other graves in
other lands to these who had given
their lives. Velasquez was laid beside
the Americans. Teresa. shivering.
sobbing little figure in the garb of an
insurgeut soldier. was supported by
big Graydon Bansemer There was no
service except the short army ritual:
there was no priest or pastor: there
was but one real mourner-a pretty,
heart broken girl who lay for hours
beside the rude mound on the hillside.
Word came back at nightfall that
the detachments We're to form a JUNG
ton at one of the big villages west
ward in two days. The Instructions
were that the wounded F'ilipinos
should be left in the village, where
native women and doctors would care
for them
What in thunder are we to do with
| the girl was the question that came
/ from the officer in command. More
than one man scratched his head
thoughtfully and looked toward the
disturbing element that had come into
the army. She was sitting alone and
disconsolate in front of the church.
There's no way to send her back to
! her friends. and we can't leave her
| here" said Bansemer.
| But, gee whiz. We can't take her
on a hike like this" protested the ser
geant. shell be in the way. and
she'll give out, and all that. Besides.
what would we do with a woman
around all the timc:'
Il fancy she can hike all right" said
Graydon. Major March wouldn't ex-
pect us to leave her behind. That
would be heartless.'
Be- the time the party and guides were
ready TO start on their forced march
; the opinion unanimously expressed
was that Teresa NelasqUez should go
forward also, come what might. She
had pleaded SO hard and so effectually
that the men were fairly swept off
their feet in storm of sympathy.
IF she gives out we'll carry her,
roared deeply impressed young man
/ with long red whiskers.
! And when we get up to the COM
mard well make them derned corrc-
spondents take turn about waikiki, so
she can ride pony all the time.
They've got no business ridin' any
how"
And so with rosy confidence in the
fitness of things and a just belief in
the charity of Major March, the de-
tachment marched out into the hills.
the ward OF the company trudging
bravely beside the tall and envied Mr..
Bansemer, who, by the way, aside
from being politely attentive. did not
exhibit any undue signs of eHaltation
The presence of woman-and q
very pretty one at that, with n sad
ness in her eyes that was appealing
served only to send his thoughts
bounding back to the girl he had left
;, behind. He grew more and more
morose and silent as the day wore on
At times the tired. lonely girl at his
side Jagged and cast wondering. piteous
glances at him. Her woman's intui
ton told her that this man did not be
long where he was. 1t told her also
that he had secret and that one OF
! her sex was deeply involved.
The events of the next two weeks
| are of small consequence in this mar
rative. which deals not so much will
the history and mystery of the cam
paign i'll the fall of 30 as with the
welfare and emotions of a single sol
der at the front. Aguinaldo and Pila
(, had become refugees by this time
hunted and bounded from place Il
place with relentless fervor Pillar wa
somewhere in the hills with his men
the pride of the insurgent forces
Aguinaldo's remnant had scurried of
in another direction, and General Ton,
was OH the coast with what was lef
} of the scattered force.
The net about GreGoro del Pillar wa
being drawn in and frightened. TIL
closing week in November saw lin
driven to the last extremity. The tras
: cdy of Tilad pass was near at hand.
Teresa Nelasquez never fa!tered, new
9 err tired. She proved herself to be n,
: incumbrance. Day after day the Off
: Ger in command expected the cxpedi
, ton which would take her back t
Manila. Forces came up from tn
: south, but none We're ready to 90 back
She was an inspiration to the camp
| Men who had forgotten their manner
completely brushed them up an,
; danced ATTENDANCE upon the girl in tn
! Filipino uniform. ~ -
: Every man prayed for opportunity t
do brave deeds. and when chance cam
: she was permitted to witness heroisn
that sayored of the boyhood malad.
known as Showing off"
7 The reserved but considerate Bans,
t mer was her closest friend and cont
dant. One evening as they sat side b
: side watching the preparations fo
;. supper she turned suddenly and al
c nounced that she knew he was dyin
it of love for some one. He started, an
s his hand trembled.
# Tell me about her. she comman,
If ed. There was a piquancy, gay in
polling force in this girl that grief ar
10 hardship had not been strong enoue
% to conquer.
| ia 4, ssyx-l,,, ,