The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-05-21
'Gnanila Romance.

here: no more sea air for me-" were
some of the remarks heard as the U. S.
transport Hancock sailed into Manila
Bay after thirty-one days of very
stormy weather en- route from San
Francisco. A close observer would
have noticed a lad who may have had
the same thoughts as expressed by his
fellow troopers, but never word
passed his lips. His thoughts seemed
far away, and tears dropped slowly
from his eyes, as he thought of his
mother and sister who begged and
pleaded with him not to enlist, to stay
at home for their sake as they needed
his help. He told them not to worry;
he would write once week, and that
three years would soon pass. WheE
he came back he would never leave
home, but now as he heard orders to
stand ready, he thought of the many
hard days ahead.
"Come on, Curly; here's place for
y0u," and he dropped in where some
friend had made room for him.
"Burke, before we left San Francisco
you and l said we would mess to-
gether, and that if anything should
happen to either of US, the other was
to send word home. have been
watching you, old man, but for heav-
ems sake brace up; the worst is yet to
come"
"Well, Jack, I got to thinking of
home and naturally l felt blue. left
q little girl back there and she intends
to do what she promised she wouldn't.
This will surely part us, and we had
made plans to be so happy. That is
why am feeling so blue"
From there on up the river no one
would have imagined that these jolly
boys were the same ones who were sc
homesick few days ago. Witty re-
marks were freely passed back and
forth, and not one of them knew where
he was going. All day long the boats
were forced up the river by natives
with long poles, and towards night
they arrived at their new quarters.
A far different scene was to be en-
acted by other passengers who lef
Frisco on the Hancock. They hat
registered at Hotel Alo Colonial il
Manila as Mr.. Allen E. Hook ant
daughters, Boston, Mass. You coult
easily tell by looking at the daughter
or father that their passage had beer
far different than the troopers who ar
rived on the same ship, Cold, proud
and wealth were written all over them
at least two of them. In Manila, lik
all Spanish cities, everything is don
in the cool of the day, and maps on al
afternoon are the proper thing. Tha
evening the Misses Hook, while wait
ing in the parlOr for their father befor
going to dinner, were discussing tn
events of the day.
r "Daisy, what IN the world is the mat
ter with your All day and even te
night you are sitting around starin
into space. Are you in love, and VIII
iS the lucky cnapr
"No, Ruth, 1 am not in love; but
cannot get that boy with curly blon
hair out of my mind"
"Boy with curly blond hair! Wh
is it? DO you think am min
reader? Come, come, Daisy, and te
me your secret"
81 have no secret; but today just b
fore we left the steamer there was
lad, curly-headed boy right below n
sobbing as if his heart was broke. Il
was standing all alone looking towart
San Francisco. Despair was write
all over his face, and all day Ion
wherever look, see that boys fac
Don't laugh, Ruth, and call me sill
1 cannot get the misery and sorrow
that face out of my mind-it haun
me-"
"Look out, Daisy, or you will be 10
ing your head and heart to nobod
mere private in the army. We
here is dad and I am as hungry as
bear. Shall l tell him we are to 10
our little sisterP"
"What is the matter girls9" al
without waiting for an answer,
continued: II have the informati'