Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23

They were cousins-Paul Burton and
Frank Lincoln, both officers in the
Twelfth Infantry, and stationed in the
spring of 1877, at Fort -.
Wonderfully alike were these young
men in form and features, the coloring
and expression, however, rendering
them SO very dissimilar that l have
heard very frequently the remark: II
never saw persons so much alike and,
at the same time, so very different
from each other in my life"
Yet SO it was. Paul, with his raven
locks and dark, almost black eyes-so
earnest, grave, and almost melancholy
In expression sometimes grew merry,
and then the likeness to the blue-eyed,
auburn-haired, frank, jovial cousin
was, as / have said, wonderful. Or
when Frank grew earnestand thought
fuI-times which came oftener after a
while, and lasted lOnger-then we
would almost think that, by some
magic power, Paul was with us, his
dark eyes grown blue, his hair chang
ed to a brighter hue. Their voices
were the same. |, knowing them SO
long and well, never could tell which
was speaking unless l saw the one or
heard laugh. Then | knew well
enough. Paul often with a gentle
smile | saw, but never heard him
laugh right out. But there was one
who said she could distinguish their
voices.
There was tone in one never
found in the other"
| knew what she meant and thought
she was sure Of. The time came when
she knew better, and felt keenly the
mistake she had made.
1t is we'll known by everyone who
has spent any time at those far-off
forts, with what pleasure the arrival
of any lady is hailed; and when she
proves to be young and beautiful, you
may imagine she is received with en-
thusia5TI,.
Ada Reyburn, the sister Oh uuI COZ
onel, was one of the most beautiful
girls | have ever seen. Tall and slen-
der. vet well-rounded and graceful in
form, features delicate and classical in
their beauty; with a complexion so
fair and transparent that you could
trace the blue veins in their course on
the temples and brow. About the
cheeks was the soft delicate blush of
the sea-shell; her dark brown hair
worn in heavy braids, and browning
the beautiful head; eyes that we were
told were grey. but varied with their
emotion, seeming at times the deepest
blue, again quite black, shaded by
lashes long and dark; beautiful dreamy
eyes were hers, that seldom or ever
flashed, always gentle and loving in
their chances.
"Madonna-like," and ''spirituelle,'
they called her; and every officer, I'M
married or unpledged, was in love with
her-ready to die for her-within five
days after her arrival. All but one
Lieutenant Atridge, the gayest fun
loving fellow of our number-who, in
answer to my question, How is it you
have not gone the way of all the rest?
Surely, YOU must admire Miss Rey-
burn?" replied:
admire Miss Reyburn, I do, most
truly. | could spend hours gazing on
such beauty. But | would never dream
of woOing her, nor opening the door
OF heart or home, and trying to win
her entrance. No, no. She seems
something too much for each. Yes,
truly too spirituelle. Give me some
thing more material; somebody I
should not fear to ask to brave the path
OF life with me; a little body that can
Hash up and snap, and be coaxed and
careSsed back 10 smiles. Not a fair
saint. Something like myself; of the
earth bit. Aud | don't care if her
nose is little retr01SSe, and her skin
not so fair or so clear. All. you re-
member what Wordsworth said about
a \ creature not TOO bright or good
That's tie sozt of girl [ want. But
here comes Frank. Poor feIlowi he's
clean gone. And do you know I be-
lieve he will be the lucky one? All,
he is not coming here just now. I'm
glad of it. want to have you few
moments longer to myself, and con-
tinue this theme. Do you think the
love they both, these cousins, bear her,
Miss Reyburn, will result in their con-
tlnued friendship? In Il word, do YOU
not believe the success of one will be
death to the other? You know hereto
fore they have loved each other with
more than brotherly love, / may say.
Now will it stand this test?"
''Yes-that is, l believe Frank will
not be the lucky one, and, if not, that
he will bid Paul Godspeed and 90 his
way, still loving" l was answering,
when the merry officer interrupted me,
saying:
''But. bless you, dear madam, YOU
are altogether wrong. She loves Frank,
If anyone. She always calls for him
or sends to him. Everyone with half
an eye can see she likes to have him
with her. Now, how will Paul stand
itP'
81 cannot answer that. In the first
place, do not know. And, besides,
I'm sure it will not be as you say. a
woman without even half eye can
feel and know by the perfect freedom
of Miss Reyburn'S manner to Frank
that it is not he she loves"
What more Lieutenant Atridoe
might have said was interrupted BY
Franks approach. A few moments
after, when we were alone, our CONVEX
sation fell on the only one of interest
then, at any rate to him.
Ada sat out on the portico surround
ing her brothers quarters. We could