"Newty!" she cried, as she held out both hands in greeting. "Where in the world did you spring from?"
They stood there under the maples for a while, and the boy made her talk of herself, and, while they talked, a man, wearing the uniform of a lieutenant of infantry, came down the walk. He was a likeable-looking fellow, well set-up and soldierly, but very young. From his campaign hat to his polished puttees, he was new, new like the lately minted coin that has not long circulated. Lieutenant March was not long from the "Point," and he was at present stationed here as Commandant at the University. The sergeant, with his back turned that way, was deep in conversation with the girl, so that, as he heard a pleasant voice saying, "How are you, Miss Rawlins," he turned just in time to see the officer's lifted hat, and to catch the smile on his lips. But his soldier instinct was now second nature, and in the same glance he saw the "U.S.A." of the collar-ornaments.
At once, Sergeant Newt Spooner stood at attention, his heels together and his hand at his hat-brim in salute. The officer, too, was taking in those things which military men observe. He saw the service stripes and the two medals on the breast, and his eyes brightened. As he returned the salute he cheerily inquired:
"What command, sergeant?"
"Fifty-ninth Infantry, sir; late of the 26th Volunteers."
"Here on leave?"
"Recruiting detail, sir."
The officer's eyes were dwelling on the decorated breast.
"Medal of Honor man," he said. "What service was that, sergeant?"
The girl, whose less-trained eyes had not recognized the import of the little metal disc, flushed with pleasure. Newt flushed, too. It irked him to talk about himself; but the military ethics were ingrained, and he still stood upright, and answered respectfully, but as briefly as possible:
"The islands, sir. Province of Nueva Ecija." When the lieutenant had gone, the sergeant looked down in an embarrassed fashion at the white road.
"Minerva," he said, "I don't know whether it interests you, but I'm studying pretty hard myself. That's why I asked for this detail. That and one other reason. I'm only a non-commissioned officer, and you're almost a school-teacher. I'm on the wrong side of the line, but I've applied for an examination, and, when this term of enlistment is up I've got a good chance of a commission." He saw her looking at his medal, and heard her saying:
"I should think you would have, Newty."
"Oh," he hastened to tell her, "I mean that I've got an influential friend, who's going to help me."
"Who is that, Newty?" she demanded; and, as he answered, the young sergeant flushed.
"The best soldier in the service, Colonel Henry Falkins."
The girl looked down at the pavement and then up at the tender green of the maples. Her only reply was a low, "Oh!" but her voice said more, and presently she added a question:
"You said, Newty – " her eyes now held a challenging twinkle as she spoke – "that there was one other reason why you asked for this – what do you call it? – oh, yes, I know, this detail. What was that reason?"
The sergeant raised his face, and held her eyes with a steady gaze, until her own eyes fell, and her cheeks grew more rosy.
"That reason," he announced boldly, "is that I want plenty of chance to tell you what the reason is."