Republican farmer., 1909-04-02

ported him long enough Mrs. Harbin could never be anything more than [
 private in the ranks. so far as his es-
 timation of distinction was concerned
 His daughter. Ethel. had. by means of no uncertain favoritism. advanced .
 few points ahead of her mother and
 might have ranked as sergeant in the family corps.
 Mrs. Harbin played cards. drank
 highballs. nirted with the younger of1- cers, got talked about with pleasing emphasis and was as happy as any subordinate could be. They had not ever thought of such a thing as di- vorce. and the whole army wondered and expressed disgust The army's appetite for scandal is surpassed only
 by its bravery iE war. It is even hinted that the latter Is welcomed as a loophole for the former. War brings peace.
 The arrival of the Harbins and a stan of gay young cadets fresh from the banks of the Hudson put new life into the recluses. The regiment was to remain at the Presidio for several weeks before sailing. Que of the lieu tenants was Chicago boy and an ac- quatntance of Graydon Bansemer. It was from him that Jane learned that her sweetheart was . soldier in tho Eervice. doubtless now fn Luzon.
 A week before the sailing of Colonel Harbin's transport Jane suddenly an nounced that she had but one desire on earth. and that was to go to Ma nila with her aunt She did not pre- sent her plea with the usual claim that she wanted to be of service to her country. She was not asking to go out as q heroine of the ordinary type Instead she simply announced that she wanted to go as a temporary member of Colonel Harbin's family. to endure thusiasms. Mrs. Cable recognized the true motive. however.
 Her pleadings were in vain. The join them. Telegrams new back and forth across the continent. and David Cable came on to present his feeble objections.
 When the great transport sailed away. Jane Cable was one of her pas sengers. the ward of the regiment
 'Tts just for little while. dad" she said wistfuIly at the dock: "a few months. I'll think of you every minute I'm away"
 The blood of the man in the service was calling to her. The ocean was be tween them. The longing to be near him. to tread the same soil, had con- Quered in the eternal battle of love. After all. no matter how the end was attained. she was creature of life. brought into the world to love and to be loved. She put the past behind her and began to build a new future-a future in which the adoration of Gray don Bansemef was the foundation. The hope that makes all human aver ages was at the work of reconstruc- ton: youth was the builder. The months of destruction had not left a hopeless ruin as the heritage of dead impulses.
 The world grew brighter as the ship forged westward. Each day sent warmer blood into her veins and a deeper light into her eyes. The new life was not inspired by the longing to be his wife, but to see him again and to comfort him. She would be no mans wife. rs<>.
 At last one hot. soft morning in early July the great transport slipped past Corregidor and turned its nose across Manila bay. past Cavite. to- ward the anchorage which ended the l long voyage. The city of Manila lay out before them-Manila, the | new American capital.
 The troops were marched of1 to quar- ters. and the Harbins. with Jane Ca ble. repaired at once to the Oriente. 1 where they were to live prior to talk l lng a. house in Ermita or San Miguel. The campaign was not being pushed l at this time. 1t was the i rainy season. Desultory lighting was | going on between the troops and the | There were numerous | and exploring expeditions into the enemy's country.
 A week elapsed before Jane could l Ind the opportunity to make inquiries 1 the whereabouts of Gray ! lon Bansemer. Her thoughts had been | ,f nothing else; her eagerness had | ,een tempered by the diMdencs of the She and pretty Ethel Harbin had made life endurable for he gay young officers who came over 1 ,n the ship The pretty wives of cer- ain captains and Iieutenants had |
  lose range. Flirtations were hard to manage in space so small. The two ,irls were therefore in a state of siege i most of the time. The abject follow ng fell away perceptibly hen the broader field of action on shore gave heir married sisters a chance to ma .euver with some degree of security. faithful few remained in train. how yer. Ethel Harbin. like the ingenue D the play, had each finger ciumsily ut tightly wrapped with a breathing inform of blue. 1t must be admitted D shame. however. that she changed he bandages often and without con- cience or ceremony.
 lanes admirers were in love with er. She was not the sort to inspire
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