The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 202: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

672 praised—even by an inquisitive Fili- pino “ boy.” “And, supposing she is, what has that got to do with you?” exclaimed the lieutenant. Quick as a flash, Basilio’s expres- sion changed from gay to grave. He shook his head from side to side very slowly as he said: ‘“ There are many who think the seworita most beau- tiful.” “Of course, Basilio. I don’t mind telling you—no, not those shoes, the patent - leather ones— even in God's country there are not many girls you could put alongside Miss Edwards- That’s why every American around here is so crazy about her.” Basilio looked at his reflection .in the highly polished shoe and grunted an agreement. ‘‘ Also Don Julian,” he added without emotion. “Also Don—who?’” almost glared the young officer through a lather of soap and water. “Don Julian Santos, sefior—son of the hemp planter. He is very rich, 1s it not so? And Carmelita says he has told her he will perhaps ask the Amer- ican lady who is so beautiful to stop teaching those tiresome children and live all the time doing nothing in the big house of his father’s plantation.” Basilio had managed to finish his village gossip in spite of a bar of soap which landed harmlessly in his shock of straight black hair. Marker laughed at his passing fit of jealous anger. The debilitated fig- ure of the debauched and premature- ly aged half-breed son of the native planter was not calculated to impress a young soldier as a serious rival. Why, the girl with her healthy, clean ideas would regard the very sug- gestion as an insult. She was not of the kind that married such part-Span- ish, part- Filipino mestizos, as they were called, to be ostracized by the American women in the islands. “ Basilio!’ he said sharply. “Yes, senor.” “You tell Carmelita from me that THE ARGOSY. if I catch her or you repeating any- thing like that again I'll put you in- side that nice steel cage they’ve just shipped down from Manila. You savvy?” “Yes, seior, Basilio savvy.” “* See you do.” Supper over, Lieutenant Marker lost no time in making his way to the bungalow of Miss Edith Edwards, teacher of the little district school. Beginning with the first hour of her arrival, about six months before, the half dozen Americans stationed in and around Palaor had fallen head. over ears in love with the golden-haired, russet-cheeked, blue-eyed Massachu- setts girl. But all had been laughingly held at a safe distance. When not busy teaching her Filipino pupils most of her time was spent with her younger brother, Dick, whose hollow cheeks and unnaturally bright eyes told of the ravages of consumption. Dick was twelve; Edith was just entering her twentieth year. But sorrow and responsibility had made her a woman, the more bewitch- ing because she hid her troubles under a mask of light-heartedness. Most of her little savings had gone to pay doctors’ fees in the hope that Dick’s life might be saved. Now, be- lieving there was no hope, her one de- sire was to give the boy as much com- fort and happiness as the means at her disposal allowed. As Tom Marker turned in at the green painted wicket he saw the girl seated, as usual, with Dick on the veranda. The boy’s waxlike skin brightened with a warm flush of pleas- ure as soon as he recognized the vis- itor. Marker was a hero in his eyes, and on his “ good days ”—which had recently been few and far between— the lieutenant taught him to ride and shoot. “Just in the nick of time, Tom!” he cried, as Paulina, Edith’s Filipino servant, drew forward a low wicker COMicdoo S CO@