Ridge to escape from the Holguin prison, and who was now very
nearly recovered from her wound.

At length the joyous day came when Ridge could be moved, and he was
carefully borne in a litter, by four of the stalwart negro troopers, in
whose company he had charged up San Juan Heights, through the streets
of Santiago to the waiting yacht. Besides the young trooper and his
proud father, the _Nun_ carried northward a score more of convalescent
soldiers, to whom Spence Cuthbert, and a group of her companion nurses,
also returning home from their glorious service, gave devoted care.

On the day that Montauk was to be reached, Ridge was strong enough to
be carried on deck, where, from a pillowed steamer-chair, he gazed
happily at the loved features of the nearing coast. He was the very
first to spy his mother, who again waited in trembling eagerness on the
wharf, this time not to be disappointed.

"And there are Rollo," he said, to the girl who stood beside him, "and
Dulce, and the Colonel. And oh, Spence, to think that but for you I
should certainly never have seen them again!"

For many days after the home-coming of our young trooper the Norris
cottage was strictly quarantined against a possible outbreak of
yellow-fever; but, as Rollo Van Kyp said:

"Who cares? I'm sure I don't; for all of the world I want to see just
now is held within these walls."

The very first time Ridge was allowed to go out, he was driven to the
Rough-Rider camp to be mustered from service with his regiment. On
this occasion he wore a lieutenant's uniform, at which his mother,
seated beside him in the carriage, gazed with such undisguised pride
that he laughingly accused her of being more susceptible to the
influence of brass buttons than any girl of his acquaintance.

Only once after this did our young lieutenant wear his uniform, and
that was when, two months later, he was married in a little Kentucky
church to Spence Cuthbert, who, at his earnest request, wore as her
wedding-dress the costume of a Red Cross nurse.

Dulce was, of course, maid of honor, while Rollo Van Kyp was best man.
When the simple ceremony was over, and they were all gathered to wish
the radiant couple God-speed on their wedding journey, Rollo unfolded
the great news he had received that morning.

"Teddy has been nominated for Governor of New York!" he cried. "And I
am to stump the State with him. When he is elected he is going to make
me a Colonel on his sta