Part 12 (1/2)
For a moment she stood there, menacing, at his bedside, looking down in almost malignant triumph on his amazed and incredulous face; and then, with an awful fear checking the beat of her heart and turning her veins to ice, she grasped at the flimsy framework that supported the netting over the cot, and stood swaying and staggering, her eyes fixed in terror on the man in the uniform of a colonel, who, quietly entering, stood between her and the door, two papers in his half-extended hand--a man whose voice, long and too well known, cut her to the very quick as she heard, in calm and measured tone the words:
”Mrs. Garrison, here are two reasons why you will do nothing of the kind.
Shall I hand these to General Drayton--or to your husband?”
CHAPTER XVIII.
The long wait for the coming of the big transports with the regulars was over. For the first time in history America was sending her soldiery past the pyramids and through the Indian sea, landing them, after forty days and nights of voyaging, upon the low, flat sh.o.r.es that hem Manila Bay, and shoving them out to the hostile front before their sea-legs could reach the swing and stride of the marching step; yet, to all appearance, as unconcernedly at home as though they had been campaigning in the Philippines since the date of their enlistment. This, to be sure, in the case of more than half their number, would have given them scant time in which to look about them, since raw recruits were more numerous than seasoned men. But no matter what may be his lack of drill or preparation the average Anglo-Saxon never seems to know the time when he doesn't know how to fight. So, with all the easy a.s.surance of a veteran, our Yankee ”Tommies” wriggled into their blanket rolls and trudged away to the posts a.s.signed them; and once more the army a.s.sumed the aggressive.
There were changes in the composition of the forces even before the move began. The Dudes and the ”Toughs” parted company; and the former, with Stanley Armstrong once more riding silent at their head, joined forces with Stewart's riddled regiment up the railway toward Malolos. Colonel Frost had succeeded in convincing the surgeons that he would be as out of place as his name itself in such a clime and climate, and was in daily expectation of an order home. Billy Gray, mending only slowly, had been sent to Corregidor, where the bracing breezes of the China Sea drove their tonic forces through his lungs and veins, and the faintly rising hue of coming health back into his hollow cheeks. The boy had been harder hit than seemed the case at first, said the fellows of the --teenth; but the wise young surgeon of the ”Second Reserve” and a grave-faced colonel of infantry could have told of causes little dreamed of in the regiment--were either given to telling the half of what he knew.
That something most unusual had occurred in the room of Mr. Gray the day that the sad-faced, kind old general visited the hospital at least half a dozen patients could have told; for an attendant went running for one of the women nurses, and the doctor himself hurried to the scene. It was on his arm that, half an hour later, Mrs. Garrison slowly descended the stairs, her flimsy white veil down, and silently bowed her thanks and adieux as the doctor closed the door of her carriage and nodded to the little coachman. It was the doctor who suggested to Colonel Frost that Manila air was not conducive to his wife's recovery, and recommended Nagasaki as the place for her recuperation until he could join her and take her home. The Esmeralda bore the White Sisters over Hongkong way within a week; and they left without flourish of trumpet, with hardly the flutter of a handkerchief; for, since the battle of the 5th of February, neither had been seen upon the Luneta. Their women friends were very few; the men they knew were mainly at the front. The story got out somehow that Garrison had asked to be relieved from further duty as aide-de-camp, and returned to duty with his regiment, and that Drayton would not have it. The General's manner toward that hard-working staff officer, though often preoccupied as of old, grew even kinder. He did not see the sisters off for China, he was ”far too busy” was the explanation; but he offered Garrison a fortnight's leave, and urged his taking it, and was obviously troubled when Garrison declined. ”You need rest and the change of air more than any man I know,” said he; but Garrison replied that change of scene and air would not help him.
There were two young fellows in khaki uniforms landed from the hospital launch on the back trip from Corregidor one warm March day. One wore the badge of a subaltern of the --teenth Regulars, the other the chevrons of a corporal and the hatband of a famous fighting regiment of volunteers; yet the same carriage bore them swiftly through the sentineled streets of the walled city, and the guards at the Ayuntamiento sprang to their arms and formed ranks at sight of it, then dispersed at the low-toned order of its commander when it was seen that, instead of stopping at the curb and discharging an elderly general officer, it whirled straight by and held two youths in field uniform.
”One of 'em's young Gray, of the --teenth; he that was. .h.i.t in the charge on the Pasay road,” said the officer of the guard to a comrade. ”But who the devil's the other? He had corporal's chevrons on. Some fellow just got a commission, perhaps.” And that was the only way the soldier could account for a corporal riding with a commissioned officer in a general's carriage. They had a long whirl ahead of them, these two; and the corporal told Gray, as he already had the General and Colonel Armstrong, much of the story of his friends.h.i.+p for ”Pat” Latrobe, of that poor fellow's illness at San Francisco, and all the trouble it cost his friend and chum. There was a strong bond between them, he explained; and the blush of shame that stole up in the face of the narrator found instant answer in that of Billy Gray. Determined to see service at the front and not return to punishment in his regiment, never dreaming that, in quitting a corps doomed apparently to inaction at home, and joining one going straight to the enemy's country, he was committing the grave crime of desertion, ”Gov.” Prime had spoken to some men in Stewart's regiment and was bidden to come along and fetch his friend; for they were just as ignorant as he. Having still considerable money ”Gov.” had bought civilian clothes, and all the supplies they needed while about town, and hired a boat that rowed them, with certain items contraband of war, to the dark side of the transport as nightfall came; and they were easily smuggled aboard and into uniform, and then, during the few days' stay at Honolulu, were formally enlisted and no embarra.s.sing questions asked.
And now poor Pat was gone and Prime's father had been cabling for him to return home; but there was that awkward matter about the desertion.
General Drayton was trying to have it straightened out at Was.h.i.+ngton; for he had been kindness itself the day of his visit to the hospital, where almost his first act had been to seek out the wounded young soldier who had been his beloved nephew's boon companion, and at one time sole support. The sentry was relieved of his surveillance, and Corporal Norton transferred to Corregidor to recuperate; and now that both lads were well on the road to recovery, Drayton had sent for them. Strictly speaking, some one should have seen to it that Corporal Norton of the Volunteers was s.h.i.+fted back to Private Norton of the --teenth, and the chevrons stripped from his sleeves; but no one had cared to interfere where the worsted was concerned, especially as the boy had won such praise for bravery at Concordia Bridge. So there the chevrons stood when the two were ushered into the presence of the gray-haired chief; and he arose, and stepping forward, held out a hand to each.
”I want you, boys,” said he, ”to be ready to take the next transport home. The doctors say you need a sea voyage, Gray; so there is the order.
The doctors say your father needs you, Prime; and the record will be duly straightened out in Was.h.i.+ngton--the charge of desertion, no doubt, will be removed. It's a matter of influence. To-night you dine with me here; and I have asked your good friend, Colonel Armstrong, to come.”
Again the blood rose guiltily to Billy's cheek. Not yet had he made his peace with his conscience, and that valued counselor and invaluable friend from whose good graces he seemed to have fallen entirely. Not once had opportunity been afforded in which to speak and open his heart to him. As for writing, that seemed impossible. Billy could handle almost any implement better than a pen. But even in the few minutes left him in which to think he knew that now at least he must ”face the music,” like the man his father would have him be, even though it took more nerve than did that perilous dash on the Tagal works that Sunday morning. Billy would rather do that twice over than have to face Armstrong's stern, searching eyes, and hear again the cold, almost contemptuous tone in which the colonel said to him the day the doctor led his vanquished and hysterical charmer from the room: ”Don't try to thank, man, try to _think_ what you risk--what you deserve to lose--for putting yourself in the power of such a woman.”
From that day until this, here on the banks of the swift-running Pasig, they had not met at all; and it seemed to Gray as though Armstrong had aged a year. There was a lump in his throat as he went straight up to the colonel, his blue eyes never flinching, though they seemed to fill, and bravely spoke. ”Colonel Armstrong, I have an explanation that I owe to you. Will you give me a few minutes on the gallery?”
”Certainly, Gray,” was the calm reply; and the youngster led the way.
It was a broken story. It told of his desperation and misery through Canker's persecution, of his severe illness, then of the utter weakness and prostration; then _her_ coming, and with her comfort, peace, rea.s.surance, gradual return to health, and with that, gradual surrender to his nurse's fascinations. Then her demand upon him, her plea, her final insistence that he should prove his grat.i.tude and devotion by getting for her those dangerous letters, and his weakness in letting her believe he could and would do so. That was the situation when they went on to Manila; and Armstrong knew the rest--knew that but for his timely aid she might have triumphed over his repentance; but Armstrong had come, had vanquished her and poor Latrobe's last wishes were observed. The fateful packet containing the three letters that were most important was placed in his uncle's trembling hand.
”But how was it--what was it that so utterly crushed her?” asked Billy, when the colonel had once more extended his hand.
”The evidences of her own forgery, her own guilt,” said Armstrong gravely. ”One was the order she wrote in excellent imitation of her husband's hand and signature, authorizing the changing of guard arrangements on the wharf the evening Stewart sailed. The other was a note in pencil, also purporting to come from him, directing old Keeny--you remember the General's Irish orderly--to search for a packet of letters that had come by mail, and must be in the general's tent, either about his desk or overcoat, and to bring them at once to room number so and so at the Palace. Of course neither the General nor Garrison was there when he arrived with them; but she was, and with all her fascinations. She got the Irishman half drunk and told him a piteous story and made him swear he'd never tell the General or anybody. If questioned he could plead he had gone out, and--”got a little full with the boys.” She gave him money--a big bit, too; and he got more than full.
”The very vehemence of his denials made me suspect him,” said Armstrong; ”but he was firm when examined.” The General never required him to remain at the tent at night. He could go to town any evening he wished; and to cover his appearing at the Palace where the General long had a room, and where he was well known, he could say he was only in to have a word with one of the housemaids, and to give Mrs. Garrison a handkerchief one of the ladies must have dropped. But one thing she failed in--getting the letter back. Keeny had left it at camp in the pocket of his old blouse, and when he sobered up and all the questions were asked he hung onto it in case the truth came out, in order that he might save himself from punishment. But it broke him--he got to drinking oftener, and the General had to send him to his regiment; and then when we heard of Canker's charge against you I saw the way to wring the truth out of him. He wors.h.i.+ped your father, as did every Irish dragoon that ever rode under him, and I told him you were to be brought to trial for the crime. Then he broke down and gave the truth--and her penciled order--to me.”
In the silence that followed the soldier of forty and the lad of only twenty-one sat looking gravely into each other's face. It was Armstrong who spoke again:
”Gray, it was manly in you to tell me your story and your trouble. I could help you here; but--who can help you when you have to tell it--next time?”
”Next time?--father, do you mean?” queried Gray, a puzzled look in his blue eyes. ”I hadn't thought, do you know, to worry dear old dad--unless he asked.”
Armstrong's grave face grew dark: ”You ought to know what I mean, Gray.
This story may come up when least you think for, and--would you have it told Miss Lawrence before she hears it from you?”
”Miss Lawrence,” answered Billy, flus.h.i.+ng, ”isn't in the least interested.”
”Do you mean that you are not--that you were not engaged to her?” The colonel had been gazing out over the swirling river; but now, with curious contraction of brows, with a strong light in his eyes, he had turned full on the young officer.
”Engaged to her! Do you suppose I could have been--been such an a.s.s if _she_ would have had me? No! She--she had too much sense.”
It was full a minute before Armstrong spoke again. For a few seconds he sat motionless, gazing steadily into Gray's handsome, blus.h.i.+ng face; then he turned once more and looked out over the Pasig and the scarred level of the rice fields beyond. And the long slant of the suns.h.i.+ne on distant towers and neighboring roofs and copse and wall, and the unlovely landscape seemed all tinged with purple haze and tipped with gold. The blare of a bugle summoning the men to supper seemed softened by distance, or some new, strange intonation, and gave to the ugliest of all our service calls the effect of soft, sweet melody; and there was sympathy and genuine feeling in the deep voice as he once again held out his hand to Billy.