St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-30
THE TRUE FRIEND LOST.
ELLA WHEELER

had the reputation of being not only the
handsomest man in his regiment, but the
greatest nrt, and l laughed when he had
been presented TO me, and said to myself,
cit should in this case be diamond cut dia-
mond.n
Somehow my eyes had fallen under his
first admiring glance, but 1 fortified myself
with the thought:
$50 he always looks. 1t is the first move
in his attack.''
| met glance with glance, smile with smile,
and pretty speech with saucy retort, or senti-
mental repartee, according as one or the
other could be delivered with more telling
effect.
care you sincere?' he questioned, one
evening. "Answer me frankly. Iyou are,
tell me so now.n
Gin other Words" I answered, s'throw
down my weapon, acknowledge my unarmed
condition, and smilingly invite you to adj
vance to victory"
''No,'' he said. cat your hand I prefer
defeat You acknowledge, however, that you
hold weapons-in other words, that you wear
masks
''No,'' I replied, 'I wear no mask. I car
ry no weapon. Be meriful Colonel Lake"
He grew pale, and opened his lips as if to
speak, then hastily rising, and making a
brief adieu, he left me.
For the first time | was little frightened,
little in doubt as to its being wholly mat
ter of amusement to him-a little dubious
as to how Roger would regard my conduct in
the matter, for Roger played a very impor-
tant part in my life, even then, since
though 500 miles away-he had my promise
that on his return [ would become his wife,
and l determined on the coloneI's next visit
I would turn the conversation into other
channels.
But l had no opportunity to carry my good
intentions into effect The first act when
he entered the room next evening, where |
sat alone, was to cross directly in front Of
me, then stoop and take both my hands in
his.
'You asked me last night to be merciful,"
he began. Good help you if you do not
mean those words. They have been ringing
III my ears ever since. Child, do you know
do you dream-how love you! You have
raised in me the first passion of my life,
though | am to-day thirty-three years of age.
What little, frail thing you are, and yet
you hold in these little hands strong mans
destiny. Speak to me, Lowell Tell me that
my wife is before me?''
In that moment my coquetry took wings
and fed away, and in its stead came dull
realization of what l had done.
/ strove to draw my hands from his. AS
well might have tried to dislodge a stone
embedded for centuries in the mountain
side. My self-possession forsook me. In
my fright Numbered out the worst possible
thing could have said.
81 cannot do that. | cannot be the wife
of two men! 1 thought you knew was
engaged
A look of steely, icy contempt flashed into
his eyes. He wrung my fingers an instant
until [ cried out with pain, then threw them
from me and folded his arms across his
breast
''You dare tell me this,n he said in low,
concentrated tones. "Answer me one ques-
ton. What mean, pitiful motive has made
you do this thing!'
81 did not know you were N earnest
replied, remembering as l spoke how hard
had tried to make him think so-though new
er in my innermOst thoughts to. this extent
as the Great Father is my judge, to blast his
future, or to bring about his mouth the white
lines of agony now drawn there.
81 thought moment ago. he answered
then, very slowly, ''that in my life 1 had no
now, and that is that may live to see you
suffer through your love as yon have dealt
suffering to me through life"
His words seemed like curse. They filed
the room, and oppressed my very soul with a
nameless dread and haunting prescience of
the future.
Shivering, buried my face in my hands
When l lifted it was alone. Col. Lake had
left me.
''When Roger comes home I will tell him
about it." whispered to myself.
But somehow, when three months later
Roger came home 1 had so much else to
think of in the busy preparations for my
marriage, and my sky was so blue that 1
could not bear to risk upon it a single
cloud.
The colonePs words were idle now. As
though any misery could grow out of the
deep heart-love Roger and 1 felt for each
other. How small, how unworthy of him
and of myself had been my idle coquetres
of the past. Never mind, had all my fu-
Then came my; wedding day, when the
outer world gave me its smiling benson, in
bright sunshine and balny breezes.
was Rogers now-his very own-and
could have defed the universe in my exouis-
tie happiness.
Six months later my husband entered our
little sitting room, one morning, bearing in
his hand letter stamped with and official
seal.
''Be," he said-my name was Beatrice,
but | was too dignified for its possession,
and so they shortened it to Be-and his
voice trembeled little-''it is very soon,
darling, to remind you thaty are soldier
wife; but am ordered to report at once at
Fort D., under Colonel Lakes command.
They anticipate trouble with the Indians.
God knows how l hate to leave you, my
precious little wife, but there is no altern-
alive I must start within twenty-four
hours"
'Leave me?' I cried, starting to my feet
and throwing myself sobbing upon his breast.
''You shall not leave me! Take me with
you or you will break my heart.''
''Child, it will be madness for you to I'M
lertake the hardships of frontier life. l can
not consent
But pleaded so pitifully that at last he
Reluctantly yet gladly promised we should
start on the evening of the next day.
When / had time to think it over remem
bered he said the post was under Colonel
Lakes command. / shuddered He it was,
doubtless, whose influence had ordered my
husband from my side since he had not
dreamed of my accompanying him. Or what
further evil might he not work him. Was il
not my duty to tell Roger all, and warn him
My courage failed me-I would wait and
watch At least he could only strike at him
through me.
Our tourney lasted three weeks was