Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-11-25


he resumed his reading
"Do you think you will like 1t?'
asked the mother, "You will be SO
long away" and she looked st Dora,
the vision in muslin. '"Tell us about
the examination.
George would not understand any
allusion to Dora, and he had before
determined to take his success IN the
competitive examination as q matter
of course. George always laid down
rules for himself in advance, knowing
that in following SO good authority he
could never 90 astray. Accordingly,
he cut his description nonchalantly
short. The mother looked distressed.
care you going to rider" she asked
Dora.
George arose and fumbled at his
dogskin gloves, while Dora went for
her hat, and her mother sat thinking
that at least when George returned
from the academy he would have lost
some of his gauchery.
Dora had run up for her hat, and
now she ran down with her hat, and
it was seen at once to be very cap
tivating young hat 1t was one OF
those tremendously captivating hats
that are made only by poor and pref
ty girls whom kind poverty shields
from the unmeaning compositions OF
milliners. And when this hat had
been perfectly adjusted it took up it's
place in the buggy by the side OF Mr..
M. g somewhat old-fashined tile, and
the two went swaying off together.
care you going tomorrow" asked
Dora.
eyes, tomorrow" answered George,
rather fatty.
"Conldn't you come over yester-
day."
"Why, rather than to-day"
'FWhat said Dora, mystified.
"Why come yesterday instead OF to-
day? ?"
"I don't mean that; I mean both
days, of course"
Why ''of course?" Because, silly
child, she believed herself in love with
this .egotistic, mathematical Orson,
with the terrible but pretentious coat
and the ostentatious gloves.
And why had George not visited
Dora on both days? Simply because
he had decided not to. To be sure an
anticipated engagement with Dora was
something to be proud of when he was
only one of a hundred neighboring
farmers sons, and she the daughter of
"the country gentleman" but this
dazzling appointment to the Military
Academy had changed all that. Now,
in imagination, George saw the world
at his feet He was going to be IAN
army officer-the ideal Of the fair sex"
George didn't consider that any radi-
cal change must be made In him; he
took it for granted that by some mys-
terious but superficial alteration he
would step from West Point a glori-
fed combination OF Chesterfield and
Laplace. Then-as he understood a
"West-Pointer" might easily dO-he
would marry Madison Avenue
heiress. This is why he had decided
not to visit Dora on both days.
''I suppose we will write," said he,
keeping his broad face turned from the
little lady; and theremark was rather
cowardly, inasmuch as he had craftlly
determined to break off with her by
stopping the correspondence.
"You will be my only correspond
ent," answered Dora. 81 used to
write to my old grandfather, but he
don't like us now"
George had never before heard of
any relative. aud it was a matter Of
no interest anyway, still it was the
last day and he could afford to be
agreeable. "Ought to write to your
grandfather" he said with what he
thought a fine wit; che might leave
you a farm"
''Wel, [ think he might give papa
some out Of all he has" replied Dora,
innocently.
George thought very poorly of any
property this enraged grandfather
might possess. Hetalked of the fields,
the crops, and the cattle-his style of
topics for airy nothings and after O.
little, saying in his clumsy way, that
it was getting late, he drove her back,
and, with much relief, bade her good
bye at the gate.
A few days, and George Morris, rep
resenting the .'Ninth District pre-
sented himself at the adjutant's Office,
West Point. He blushed, in giving his
description, when asked his fathers
business No doubt at that moment
the father was thinking anxiously and
proudly of him, but George choked
when he answered ''farmer." The ad
jutant rewarded him with a look of
disgust for his snobbery, and sent MIN
off under charge of a messenger. The
latter conducted him to barracks, and
left him at the open door of a lower
hall room. George threw back his
shoulders, put the dog-skin glove up to
his side whiskers for moral support,
and glanced in. He saw a clipper
looking young fellow in white trousers,
gray coat, and q dark blue cap. The
young man, who had a very affable
turn to his head, was seated with his
back to the door and his feet on an
old, yellow table.
care you in charged" asked George,
at length.
eyes, yes, sir" said the young man,
hastily jumping up. eyes, sir; Pm in
charge while the generals out. Won't
you come in 2"
George made grave bow and en-
tered.
clay aside your valise and sit
down -