same monotony that existed before.

Captain Sever, hearing nothing more of Benito, sent the remembrances
given in his care to his wife in Manila, with instructions to deliver
them to their rightful owner.

Mrs. Sever had no difficulty in finding the dusky lass, and,
after gently breaking the painful news to the lovely girl with
sorrowful-looking eyes and beautiful jet black tresses, offered to
lend her any assistance she might need.

Grateful for the kindness, and anxious to earn her own living,
she accepted, and was soon domiciled with the "Senora Americana,"
as she was pleased to call Mrs. Sever.

One morning, after several fatiguing days on reconnaissance duty
waist-deep in mud and water, Company E, of the --th Regiment of
Infantry, like a lot of rollicking school-boys on a holiday, were
indulging in numerous sports outside their huts in the street. The
spirit of the soldiers was contagious--even the native venders seemed
to feel the reaction. Their voices, usually so harsh and unpleasant,
had a more cheerful ring as they cried their wares; and the customary
stoical expression of their black faces had actually given place to
a bearable smile, by this atmosphere of good humor and fine spirits.

The always-busy commander of Company E, Captain Sever, was engaged
with delayed papers and reports, and was writing with an energy seldom
seen in that enervating country, when he was interrupted by a bold
native at his elbow crying: "Huevos, leche, mangoes, lucatan. Quiere,
Capitan?" ("Eggs, milk, mangoes, bananas. Do you wish, Captain?")

The Captain turned abruptly, and was about to reply with usual American
brusqueness, but was halted by the broad smile and unusual intelligent
look of the invader of his privacy. As he studied the face trying to
recollect where he had seen it before, the expression changed for one
of disappointment. Then did he recognize in the strong and athletic
figure before him the shrunken and emaciated one he had seen borne
off the field of carnage, but four short weeks before.

"Hello, Benito! where did you come from?" he began, and offered a
friendly hand to the native; continuing, "You don't look much like
the chap I found in the cogonales, trying to hide from me a short
time back, beyond the north line. I thought you'd moved from this
land of strife, lizards, and mosquitos, and staked out a claim in the
celestial regions. Did not know you at first. You must have seen some
pretty tough times