From their erect carriage and brilliant new uniforms the stranger might imagine they were battle-ship captains. But indeed they were only Ralph and Bollup and Himski, and despite their gorgeous uniforms we know them, and we believe we will always find their hearts the same.
We will take our last glimpse at Ralph on his homeward walk with Gladys. He was to leave in the early morning for San Francisco, there to take ship for the Philippine Islands where the natives were in insurrection.
“Gladys,” said Ralph, “Tom gave me voluntarily what he loved most, his stripes; had I known of it I would have prevented him. Here they are; they were sewed on Tom’s and my coat sleeves; first, for most of the year, on his coat and for the last two weeks on mine. I’m going to give you one set as a keepsake and I’ll keep the other myself.”
“Thank you, Ralph,” returned Gladys, gently; “I will be so glad to have it and I will treasure it always. It will remind me of Tom and of you.”
FOOTNOTES:
[1] An actual occurrence on a midshipman’s practice cruise witnessed by the author.
[2] This accident happened just as described during a midshipman practice cruise.
[3] “To bilge,” midshipman parlance for being dropped for failure in studies, or violation of regulations.
[4] “To bone” is to study.