The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 3, 1899, Page 28

SHE story opens with & scene in the Heights, ate : silk, but b clouds in salt erc leaping driving in through bursting high » base of the r from Santa ng and plunging € or two venturesome ewsrd rough far astern a froth- ted bay told atm om the dispaich hen it iné could be for the ng that 1 have 1o struggle with this r and remain, perhaps hay test indign Lawrence yet knew and, 1f she .hd, ations. Down the he urged his w, rger. marveling t ¢ cape of the se; t whirled over the sentr: d swished his cap off as he pre- arms to the tall soldier spurring guardhouse. “I envy no one who ut to sea this day.” said Arm- himself, as he turned to the reined up In fr f a little cottage peeping out from a mass s and roses. shivering In the wet Half a dozen strides took him sloping re his pet ¢ wind ecross the narrow walk and up the wood- of Army| ‘ B BRIGADITR-GENERAL CHARLES KING. Capyright by T Tenmyson Neety. en steps. With sh phasis be clanged the little 'onfldflcnwd to lheiu(‘k of the door and walted Im- patiently of the servant's coming. The; was no answer. He rang again and stil again, and no one came. A glance at the windows told that the white lace curtains hung there draped as pre as ever. Fresh flowers stood on he window sill. A shawl and a pillow, o latter indented as by a human head, y in the lounging chair on_the lttle r Another chalr stood but a few There was even a fan, though Fristo summer are less needed but nowhere saw he other sign mporary mistress of the house. t away He went round to a side window and rapped. No answer. Then he turned to the walk agal and, taking the reins, de the orderly inquire next door if Mrs. Garrison could be found. Yes, was the answer; went driving to Golden Ga Park with Mrs. Stockman an hour ago, and Mrs. Stockman was to leave for Los s that night. Odd! If Mrs. Garri- 1 drc den Gate Park the easiest est way was that along which he and he had met no carriage. In ot since that night at the Palace set eyes on Mrs. Garrison, or until ng of this sorrowful news ab: ad T red to. From all that he 1k was enjoying herself at erry having gone one way tee another, Mrs, Frar moned a the after fun and night in the mild sses of Mrs ast ex- the * could made 1 isgust eet car m harvest fr after reg m it 1 ‘l~r Ab‘. ered nooks about the in plenty were still whose wives and sweethearts were far away: and Mrs. F to console such as were €0 bereft The chafing dish a d soda were in nightly req and_even wo- men who dids ok, and = among themselves, W n “for ust a minut even- ings wore op hat with various visitors—it wi ome and poky over home with cep ho ,':. ”.‘rr.l' kened Mrs. G s door er the fir hey were those who deeply paration from and who, forhid env and even di n that she would =ail M a the moment the Queen of the I s ready. From what source—or cireur did ‘she de- rive her influence But with the edict that no more troops should ent came comfort to the souls of these bereaved ones. Transports would not go without troops, and Mrs. Frank could not go without transports, the jour- ney was far 100 expensi They wished her no_evil, of course; but If they were themsely lden how could they re- joice that uld be permitted? They w 1ctually ginning to feel a bit c le toward her when the ueen of the Fleet herself came In from Hono- lult with the latest news. The fifth ex- pedition_had been halted there and put in camp. The hospital held several officers. Billy y W down with brain fevér, and there had been a furious scene be- tween him and his peppery colonel hefore the breakdown: and by that same steamer Mrs. Garris® had got a letter that made her turn white and tremble, as Mrs. Stockman saw and told, and then shut herself up In her room’ an entire day. Now, for nearly a fortnight, the lovely I3 t had been daily hinting that she re- y must go home, “dear Witchle" was surely tired of her; and Witchie dis- claimed and protested and vowed she could not live without her devoted friend, ¢ v um of old garrison s to come and kesy house with hep THE SUNDAY CALL. But itac en had come letter n.‘d -m! e of and tactics. o e o= e ate of Iy Te: ockman, an atter fe xdnu-t g0, and Witchie oconsented wi ur. no pleasant mood ‘mount- ed and trotted for the east gate. road was lined with camps and volunteers at drill. Vehicles were frequently moving to and fro: but the sentry at the entrance had kept track of them, and In response to question answered promptly and posi- tively Mrs. Garrison's e had not come that way. “But,” sald he, “the wagon with the lady's baggage did. I saw the name on the trunks.” The colonel turned in his saddle and coolly surveyed him. *“Do you mean Mrs. Stockman’'s name?” he asked in a quiet tone. “How many trunks wers thers?" “‘Oh, some of them might have had Mrs. Stockman’s name, sir; but the two or three that I saw were marked M. G. This was unlooked for news. To her next door neighbor Mra Garrison had away with 4 strong “had r and to see at ngeles did not v they wes he Mrs. grave once. leave lunch afternc de direct staff might ieory; and one justified 1 happen to meet fust saw her z i the China.” Aboard the China!" exclaimed Arm- 1g, with sudden thrill of excitement. Mrs. Garrison? ou mean she is golng? “Didn’t ask her. They were hustling everybody ashore, and I had only time to dispatches to Purser; but she was on deck with friends’ when I came People wondered that day at ‘he speed with which the tall officer, followed by his orderly, clattered away down Market street. In less than ten minutes Arm- irong was at the crowded pler and_push- ing through the throng to the China's stage. Too late! Already {t was cwung aloft, the lines were cast loose and the huge' black mass was just beginning to back slowly from its moorings. The rail of the promenade deck swarmed with faces, some radiant, some tearful. Words of adleu, fluttering kerchiefs, waving hands, tossing flowers were there on every side Two officers, Honolulu bound, shout- ed Armstrong’s name and a cheery good- by; but he did not seem to hear. A gen- le’ voice, the voice of all others .e most longed to ke repeated the name and ove to call attention to his gesticulat- ing comrades on the upper deck; but Le was deaf to both. Eagerly, anxiously, in- credulousl) wi carching along that crowded rail, and all of a sudden saw her. Yes, there she stood, all gayety grace and animation, stylishly gowne and fairly burdened with roses; and it vas right at lim she was gazing, nodding, smiling, all sweetness, all confiding, trust- ing joy; with just a little triumph, oo, and a tinge of sentimental sorrow in the parting. Apparently it was all for him; for her blue eyes never faitered till they fixed his gaze and then, Kiss affer kiss she threw to him with the daintily gloved little hand and, leaning far down over the rall, lowering it toward him as much as possible, she tossed to him, standing there stern and =pellbound, a bunch+of beautiful roses she had torn from her corsage. It fell almost at his feet. for in his astonish- ment and rising wrath he made no effort to catch it. A man, stoo] lnxflulckly, res- cued and handed it to him. lechanically he said “Thank you.” and took it, a thorn prlcklnF deep Into the flesh as he uld so; and still his eyes were fixed on that fairy form now surely, swiftly gliding away, and over him swept the consclousness of utter defeat, of exasperation, of dismay, even as le strove to fathom her motives in thus singling him out for such consplc- wous — even affectionate — demonstration. Triumph end delight he could have under- &tood, but not, not this semblance of con- fidential relations, not at least until he felt his arm grasped by a cordial hand, heard his name spoken by a friendly voice, and Mr. Prime's pleasant inquiry, “Have you no greeting for other friends?’ Then the hot blood rushed to his face and. showed even through the bronze as, turning, his troubled eyes met full . the clear, placid gaze of Amy Lawrence. CHAPTER XIV. mmgn%tow. A.\I“Q'\.Ih‘!n o(lfllh. Fleet, . transport e Pacific servi thro: Wwith boys in blue at last orde: on to Manlla, lay at the whart at Hono- lulu, awaiting her commander's orders to cast loose. In strong force and _with stentorian voices, the Primeval Dudes olned In rollicking chorus to the crash- acoompaniment of their band and, could take time to rest, t! “ ore up & cheer. The H ational d, in spotless white, huge and melodious circle on Gk s 8 and swing of r s alrs. "I]ohl Ose! Aloha Oe!" the surging throng, afloat and &5 wreaths and lands—the leis the islanders—were twined or huns about some favorite ofleor or favore fi:“ The lmo.‘f- still held to service in watl shouted good will and good-by to those ordered on_to the Phillppine: The Dudes of the Queen, and the lads from the prairies and the mountains on other !rnnlgoru anchored In the deep but narrow harbor, yelled soldierly condolence to those condemned to stay. The steam of the 'scape pipe roared loudly and belched dense white clouds on high, swell. ing the uproar. Dusky little Kanaka boys, diving for nickels and pnddllnfi tireless about the ship, added their shrill cries to the clamor. The captain, in his nu!z uniform of blue and gold, stepped fort upon the bridge to take command, and raised his banded cap In recognition of the constant cheer from the host ashore on ero rong of blue shirts on the fore- The nother shout : undress uni- appeared upon that to the crowd, to the end below; the heavy iftly In, the massive screw began slowly to churn the waters ‘at the stern, and gently, al- most Imperceptibly at first, the Queen siid nolselessly along the edge of the dock, to the accompaniment of a little volley of flowers and ands tossed from eager hands, and a cheer of godspeed from the swarm of upturned fac And as a form red vas e: veteray of a scene and the: line tled then there uprose another shout, a shout of mingled merriment, surprise and applause; for all on a s there darted up the stairway from the crowded promenade to the pere defiant of the lettered warning, ers are not allowed upon the bridge,” a ainty vision in filmy white, and all in the next moment there appeared at the gen- cral's side, smiling, bowing, blowing kisses, waving adleux, all sparkle, anima- tion, radiance and rejoicifig, a bewitching little figure in the airjest, loveliest of sum- mer tollets. The Red Cross nurses on the deck below looked at one another and gasped. Two brave army girls, wives of wounded officers {n the Philippines, who by speclal dispensation were making the voyage on the Queen, glanced quickly at each other and said—nothing audible. The eneral, lifting | v, but looking both eprecation and e rassment, fell back and gave his place at the white rail to the new arrival. and colored high when she suddenly turne took his arm. The captain, trying not to see her or to appear consclous of this infraction of a stringent rule and invasion of his dignity. grew redder as he shouted rapid orders and swung his big. beautiful ship well out into the stream. The guns of lge Bennington boomed a deafening salute as the Queen turned her sharp nose toward the open sea; and almost the last thing Honolulu saw of her human freight was the tiny, dainty. winsome little figure in white, Waving a spotless kerchief as in fond fare- well. Once clear of the narrow entrance the big troop ship headed westward toward the setting sun, shook free the reins, as it were, and, followed by less favored craft. sped swiftly on her way, Witchle Garrison, the latest addition to the passenger list, entirely at home, if not acmnllf’ in command. Lean| "5 on the general's arm an hour later and deftly piloting that bewildered veteran up and down the breezy deck, she came, just as she had planned to come, face to'face once more with Stanley Arm- strong. Well she knew that under the es- cort of that exalted rank she was safe from any possibilty of cross-question or interference. Well she knew that had he heard of her sudden determination to go to Honolulu she could not have esca stern Interrogation, ssibly something worse; and her heart failed her when she realized that the man who had gauged her shallow nature years before now held a lash over her head in the shape of the paper that mad vanity had prompted her to write and send to the officer of the guard the day that Stewart sailed. What madness it was, indeed, yet how could she have dreamed it would fall into the hands of the man of all others she feared and respected—the one man who, had he but cared, could years ago have had her 1 who, because he cared not wofin hatel And, now that he held or had this paper—nothing less than a forged order name a3 aid de camp she could have terror of him, braved him with smil sweetness gayety, with arch me: ment and joyous words, quittin, moment the general's arm that she might extend to him both her little white-gloved hand Gravely he took the left in his left, while with the right he raised his forage us in combined salute to the woman and to his superior officer, Gravel. and almost instantly he it, an listened in helpless patience to her torrent of playful words; but his eyes weres on the general's face as though hes would ask could the general, know the true character of the woman he had honored above all her sisterhood on board, in thus taking her to the bridge whereon neither officer nor man nor nurse nor army wife had presumed to set foot on all the six %lyfl run from San Francisco, as though e would ask if the fenernl knew just what she was, this blithe, dainty, win- some little thing that nestled so co: fidingly—indeed, so snugly—close to his battered side, and who had virtually taken possession of him In the face of an envious and not too silent circle of her own sex. Truth to tell, the chief would rather have escaped. He was but an indifferent sailor, and the Queen’s long, lazy roll over the ocean surges was exciting in his Innee her husband’s eral Drayton, at his feet in her GENERALS SiDE room for Mrs. Garrison on the Louisiana, a safe old tub, if she was slow; but Mrs Frank looked so pathetic and resigned when this arrangement was suggestad that no one had the hardithood to ac- tually dwell upon it, and the Senator said it was a shame to think of it. With whom of her own sex could she assoclate on that long, hot voyage ahead of them? Why not transfer some of the Red Cross nurses to the Louisiana? Mrs. Garrison had no objections, but they had; and the surgeon in charge made prompt and vigorous protes He knew rs. Frank and sh new him, and did not in the least despair. She still had a plan. There was a cozy dinner one evening—just the evening before the departure of the ueen, and the gallant captain of the ehip, the veteran general, the quarter- master In charge of transportation, the member of the Senate Military Commit- tee, some charming girls—but nons so charming as Mrs. Garrison—were of the part; here was some sentiment and much champagne, as & result of which at 1 a. m. the ig-hearted sea monarch aforementioned swore by the bon: of his encestors in the slimy grasp r-f_l’\n\ Jones that that sweet little woman shouldn’t have to go a-begging for ac commodations on his ship. If the gen eral would condescend to move into his yoom. by thunder, he'd slesp up in his foul-weather den next the chartroom and Mrs. Garrison—God bless her!—could Mo HERE APPEARED AT THE SMILING NT®T SOWING , BLowing KISSES WAVING ADIEUX 3 CHING LITT THE AIRIEST OF consclousness a and chan longing for cracked He had known d in ice her b port, ag the few days the Qugen rem. coaling and preparing for the onward voy age across the broad Pacific; but functionary of the General had told him a pathetic ta jovernment the very day of his first peep at the Royal Hawalian Hotel, had given him a capital dinner at that famous hostelry, wnereat -she ap- peared in charming attire, and in a flow of Spirits simply irresistible. Her sallies of Wit had made him roar with delight; her mimicry of one or two conscientious bu acidulated dames who had come over on the Queen, bound as nurses for Manila, had tickled him to the verge of apoplexy but when later she backed him into coolest corner of the “lanal,” with plash of fountain close at hand. and the Sweet music of Berger's famous band floating softly on the evening air, anfd told him how her father had loved to talk of his, the general's, dash and daring in the Breat days of the great war, and led him on to tell of his campaigns in the Shenan- doah and the West, listening with dilat eves and parted lips, the campaigner him- self was captivated,'and she had her will A great Senator had told him how she had come thither to nurse a gallant young of- ficer in her husband’s regiment, how she had pulled the boy through the perils of brain fever until he was now convalescent and going on to rdjoin his comrades in Mantla, and she, she was pining to reach her husband, now serving on Drayton's staff. Other women were aboarc the Queen; could not General Crabb find room for her? Tt is hard for a so refuse a pretty woman—or a pre member of the committee on military falrs. There was not a vacant stateroom on the ship. Officers were siecping throe or four in a room, so were the Red Cr nurses; and the two army wives alr aboard had been assigned a little cubi hole of a cabin In which only one could dress at a time. There were only two apartments on the big craft that were filled ta their capacity—the room occu- pled by that sea monarch, the captain, and that which, from having been the Ladies’ Boudolr' 'had been fitted up for the accommodation of the general. he plano had been wheeled out on the deck, the writing table stowed away, and a fine new wide brass bed- stead. with dainty white curtains and mosquito bar, a large bureau and a wash- stand had been moved in, and these, with easy chairs, electric fans, electric lights and abundant air, made it the most de- sirable room on the ship. Even Arm- strong, colonel commanding the troops aboard, was compelled to share his Mt- tle cabin with his adjutant, and the gen- eral's alds were bundled into a “‘skimpy”* box between deck: There really seemed no place for Mrs. Garrison aboard, es. pecially when it was found that the passenger list was to be Increased by three, & surgeon and two officers going forward from Honolulu; and one of these was our old friend ‘and once light- hearted Billy Gray, now.nearly conval- escent, but weak and, as aM—could see, feverishly eager to get on to Manila. All this was explained to the Senator. It was even suggested that there was REWIT~ FICURE IN SUMMER take the g of the ship of queens—by alth with 4 sldier, irse, Cc e no ¢ gallant than ,a T, espe 8 room a bit bett Boudoir'” and an lcechest & that the 1 campaigner wa N to con. queer her had his own. = The agreement wis ched that very night fore ti party broke up: and little Mrs. Frank shed tears of gratitude upon the general's coatsleeve and threw kiss after kiss to the handsome sailor as she hung over the balusters of the broad veranda and waved them away in their swift-running cabs, and then danced off to her room and threw herself on the bed fte a mad pirouctte about the spacious apart- ment, and laughed and laughed until real tears trickied from her and then guve orders to be called at 7 o'clock. She meant to be up and aboard luggage before at s with all the morning sun—bet either soldler or sailor could change his mind the women her To the umazement of al- ready aboard, to the grave annoyance of Colonel Armstrong, to the joy of poor Billy Gray and the mischievous merri ment of several youngsters on the com- missioned list, Mrs. Frank Garrison, the lat arrival, became sole occupant of the finest room on the ship: and it was a bower of Iilies and tropical fruit and flow- ers the breezy day she suiled away from the bay of Honolulu No time need be wasted in telling the effect of this ignment o quarters. Prolific a source of squabble as is the cus- tom ashore it becomes intensified afloat, and when coupled with it came & shak up and rearrangement of seats at ta ail hope of harmony vanished on the in- stant. The two brave young army girls still retained their séats at the captajn's table; but two most estimable young women, Red Cross nurses, were dropped therefrom and transferred to that of the second officer on the port side. much ta the comfort of a rather large percentage of their sisterhood, who had regarded their previous elevation with feelings of not unmixed gratification. Then officers who had been seated with the general's staff had to vacate in favor of Mrs. Frank and Dr. Prober and Lientenant Bllly Gr whose father and the chief were long-time chyms, and the Red Cross nurses who had been at the first officer’s table fell back to that of the third. It was every bit as good as the other, but it didn’t sound so, and they couldn’t see it; and there were faceg sour as the product of the ship's baker when that evening all hands went down to dinner, and the silence maintained, or the ominously sub- dued tone of the talk. at the other tables was in marked contrast with the hilarit that prevailed where sat the fl--‘--h-lr i roddy-cheeked old chief and the laughing coterie that listened to the fun that felf from the lips of Witchie Garrison. Arm- strong, silent and somber at the captain's right, looking forward from time to time, saw only one face at the general's tabls that was not lighted up with merriment: it was the face of the boy he envied, if envy of this kind ever heart, and he wondered Billy's curly head what over that glad young a shadow on hi One night, just one week r strong’s, eyes were opened. More once In Me meanwhile he had invi young officer’s confidence, and Billy three months earlier had been al grati tude and frankness, protested there was nothing on his mind. He had been ver 1ll, that was all. As to Ca arges they were simply rot. He hadn’t the fa est inkiing what had become of the § loined letters any more than he ha the whereabouts of his Delta Sig f young Morton, now officially proclal deserter. But Armstrong heard more tales of Witchie's devotions to him in his fliness, and the slow convalescence tha ensued, noted how the boy’s eyes followe her about the deck, and how many a ti he would seek her si even when otl were reading. walking or Armstrong looked with that was eclose allled t credulity and pain. Was it 7 this blithe lad, who had t warm interest in the heart of s [ 8s Amy Lawrence Jd be her, falthl by this selfish ar was incredible’ But was {t? Th ter, the nights cl decks sti high and close had taken to sn steamer chairs the port side of the given up to them after at the women f board side was not washing had been far 1 breathless night to se condition of things In the forecastle. The crowded with sleepin who found it Impossibl below: %0 on his retur tinuing along the gangv climb the fron ladder the promenade deck at the forward end on tha There he could smoks a and quiet. It was high time was asleep But as his head and level of the deck he aware of a counle huddled in the shelter of a cans Aer the stens leadine He knew Gray's volee at Raa men nt s to her, and ¥ ol was pleading. He knew he, and she was imperat! A with obvious impatience. for. almost at the fnatant of his arrival she e low yet distinctly: “Do as T say: do as T he when we reach Mantla. and the you come—and see haw T can rew CHAPTER XV Manla at last! Queen city ago, and Manila again besicg eliest of the winter montr T Luneta and the Paseo de Santa close to the sparkling wa every evening with the music of mental bands and thronged w riages of old-time residents and ir new and not too welcome visitors. . dames and damsels - hours, drove or strolled al to enjoy the cool breezes tha from the beautiful bay and wist{ul peeps at the daint ilet the belles now arriv kong. All the t look and soldiery of 1 liest Interest and ¥ and daughters of his soldiers upon the and there was one ‘ riage about whick w ne t a little swarm of officers toward which at any time a w directed—that . in the old wa districts iguel north ¢ 0 and Erm iments were statl press the first sig confidently predict boat dise toward place when Sam gave urios but declared war uj Beatrr T the ar bidder: th and seekir ernment spite their row . . “oming Hnes, the equipmen soldiers of the Uni Stat ' ' stalwart t f A the city were or drive up others that ne from th e of the outpe supports. Such was the e w e art’s regime far t rd works at the east the Primeval Dude the [ lining the estuary that formed forbidden with Canker a 1boo thick happened that Billy ( but little of & fortunate ver ided his wh and - » the latter . ance of Mrs. Garr ) me served throughou v b m fon and power of that of brief duratic the case of a w for her undivided and by far the steame A cabin for a_week’s voy would have here for a double the while other sweltering three had cost but a smile. The captain hac him of his magnanimity befo s of Honolulu faded out aster al began to realize that he had amour cat's paw of and, his he had essa i t tic dignity of that becamre I wh b with the a of se: was even noticeable aversion on the par of some of the officers of the Dudes having made the journey from to Honolulu with the women p army wiv Red Cross nurses aly 1me recipients of efffertained by these ladies. Q it slow to seem to see, Mrs. F lost no time in begging one of soldler wives to share her big and broad and comfortable be lady rred the heat and betwe cks to seps frien 1 Mrs. Gar the run of her cabin ening; suggested. indeed, ti s they come to sleep the bed afid one on the couct . thanked her! but—never came. She ecod dled the reneral with the ool cup when he was in the taroes mer and held him prisoner with her ¢iva clous chatter w to _care to talk whe after serious trouble seemed to ec Bui ing Billy Gray at respectfu sought her side day after strong’s mild amaze, as has .and when he could not be with moody--even flerce and ug! he whose disposition had niest in ull that gray, sh ¥ sojourn at the San Francisco camp But once falrly settled in Manila, the White Sisters seemed to regain all the old ascendency. Colonel Frost .ad taken a big, ¢ool roomy he surrounded by spacious grounds, down in Malate and close to the plashing waters of the bay Dutles kept him early and late at his office in the walled city it every even ing, after the drive and dinner, callers came thronging in, and all Witchie's witcheries were called into play to charm them into blindness and (o cover fitful and nervous moods, now painfully apparent. ' Frost's face was at times & thundercloud, and army ofrcles within® the outer circle of Manila saw plainly that all was not harmony betwixs that veteran Benedict and that fragile Qluttering. baby wife. The bloom of Nita's beauty was gone. She looked wan, even haggurd. A e T e—ai— (Continued Next Week) Nita's almost