Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-06

there was also another elemeutl IN the little
romance.
1t seemed tina: Cons gray eyes had been
working havoc with the affections If a
certain young ship carpenter who worked
in ward fellow the fort. am not certain,
but think his uaUla was Jack
The sergeant evidently favored his n.
teut!Ops, tor ON several occasions he brought
Jack up with him and rNouested Con 20
show him around the grounds
She always started immediately, but
with a buSineSS.hke air that argued in for
any sentimental conversation poor Jack
might be contemplating.
/ One day, the sergeant being absent,
/ Jack came by himSe { and CARED Con of.
In little while was surprised to see him
return without her, anG take his stand al.
rectly before me, There was evidently
something on his mind, and yet he did not
know how to say it,
/ waited patiently, and finally he came
to TIE point with startling ahruptneSS and
evident confidence IN my full knowledge
Of the situation.
"She talks a lot to you, he said. us
there any other tellowY'
was aware, of course, that there
was another fellow, but | thought il inst
as well, perhaps, to keep the knowledge TO
myself.
81 suppose you mean Constance, " said,
you should ask her
81 nave asked her, he cried excitcdly.
I've asked he to marry mel We asked
her to love me--and she Just opens them
ewes of her'n wide and laughs at me.
Mother man'd hate her for it. but m
that burned bic n fool Id love her If she
killed me. Why, there amt no man can
love her as do"
,'Cepung her father, boy-'eeptlng her
father
1t was the little sergeant who hal come
up quietly while Jack was talking, SO |
gladly left him to the trSl of comforter.
At the gate Con was waiting for me to
say goodby; but was so provoked with
her that | pretended not to see the little
outstretched hand, and couldn resist say
ing:
"Jack is worth six of your fine ieuteu-
ants, Con- you're a fool not to marry
him.
Really, was the fool---to expect a girl
to love the man she ought to. Con was
only following the law of nature--or what
seemed to be,
Nor nearly two months circumstances
prevented my going to the fort; when, one
day, was exceedingly surprised to receive
d visit from the sergeant.
When he came in he seemed to be
struggling between intense excitement
and desire to retain military CON.
poSure.
He stopped just inside the door and
saluted
MADAM, " he said, "A have come to take
Constance home with me-
| looked at him in blank amazement
Constance" | repeated; "shc isn't
here, haven't seen her.
My words seemed to take all the strength
away from him, and he dropped into a
chair.
Mon Deu, Madam!' he cried appeal
ingly; don I say that again. she must bo
with you.
81 assure you am telling the truth, Ser
geant. But what has happened?"
"What has happened? Alas! ma petite
Con has left me, 1t happened thus. madam;
Three days ago called to her in the morn
ing. She did not answer | knocked at
her door, Still 30 answer. | went into
the room She was not there"
"EverywhcTe | searched for her The
man who had been on duty at the gate in
the early morning said that about an hour
before sunrise she went out and walked
toward the city. This is all the clue |
have to find her, for she hasn't any friends
outside the court went 10 Jack, but he
has seen nothing of her.
"He loves her, madam, yet he says hard
things OF my little girl Things that !
have ordered him out Of my sight for say.
ing tho old man added proudly.
Then, madam, thought OF you. Per
haps Con had got tired of the fort and
her old father, who's dull company at
best, and ha1 away TO pay you visit
for LITTLE holiday. 1t has taken me
three days to find you, madam. Itwasn t
duiful Of her to leave me without a
word "
Then he suddenly remembered that he
had not found her, and he got up with
grOana;
"W"t," said. "What are you going
to do now? Has she no relatives she
might have gone io2'
He looked at me sadly and shook his
head The tears were running down his
cheeks ANA he seemed Incapable OF speak
ing. He evidently knew nothing Of Com
love affair, but began 10 have a grave
suspicion that the brave lieutenant was at
the bottom OF the my stery,
After a moment he took a newspaper
from his pocket and lain it on the table
81 found that on her bed, - he said. II
noticed it because Cons not much at read
ing.
The paper was a week old, and one Of
the marriage notices had been cut out.
knew it vas the notice that bad been
wanted, because the reverse Of the column
was the middle of a political article.
made the sergeant 20 down and take
glass of wine, while | sent for another
copy of The paper He waited in patient
silence, his eyes fixed on his cap. which he
held tightly clasped, and his hands pressed
between his knees After waiting an
eternity--as it seemed-the paper came,
and there was the notice, just what bad
feared, vet expected 10 see
"WARWlCK-WlLBURN--O On Tues
day, July Is. at Rochester, bv the R'y.
Dr.. Cotton. Henry Warwick, U. S. N, to
Catn rine Merritt Wilbun,"
Poor little Con had seen that notice and
gone at once TO find out if it we're true. He